While the neighborhood wrangles with the developer over the future of the long-closed Circle Cinema, the Boston Police will be using the place for a simulated bank robbery and hostage taking this Saturday. It’s part of a 24-hour training operation that will have the BPD, and other police agencies from the area (staties, the Coast Guard, and more) contend with pretend emergencies across the city. The show is paid for by the Department of Homeland Security. Maybe they could do a training exercise involving MaryAnn’s.
October 16, 2012
Still standing: 10 Parsons Street
Faced with opposition from neighbors and preservation-minded residents, the owner of 10 Parsons Street, Babak Veyssi, has decided to withdraw his application to demolish the property. In his letter to city representatives he stated his desire to incorporate the house into his plans for the site, which includes the adjacent property that formerly housed Minihane’s Florist. Upper Parsons Street was cited in a Mass. Historical Commission survey as possibly eligible for National Register of Historic Places status.
Kudos to the Brighton Allston Historical Society, neighbors and Charlie Vasiliades for their work on this. And to Mr. Veyssi for reversing course and pledging to work with the community.
October 8, 2012
Columbus Weekend Tweets
@invisiblelady65: Overheard on the #57 #Allston/”I had to break up with her, her over- enunciating drive me f*cking nuts!”
@zeynepx: I hear people outside my window screaming in a new language every morning #Allston
Jesi @messyjesi I’m at Boston Police D-14 (Brighton, MA)
(editorial note: no explanation as to why the mess was there)
October 8, 2012
Missing person alert
Jonathan Dailey, a 23 year old resident of Gardner Street, has been missing since the evening of Tuesday, October 2. His absence was first reported by his roommate on Friday. Contact the Boston Police if you have information.
September 30, 2012
Foot traffic
The New Balance headquarters planned for the Market and Guest Street area may sport a rooftop running track, according to the company’s director of real estate. Construction is scheduled to start in the spring of 2013.
September 24, 2012
Soon to be demolished?
The owner of this property at 10 Parsons Street, Brighton Center (it’s the last house on the right before Washington Street, next to the Sovereign Commerce Bank parking lot) wants to knock it down. His request is the subject of BRA hearing this evening.
Kandu Development purchased this property and the adjacent 423-425 Washington Street in January 2011 for $1.5 million. The property includes the former Minihane’s Florist building, the Sovereign Bank branch, and the parking lot.
September 21, 2012
Not so fast
The hotel/high-end condo/office/retail complex proposed for Cleveland Circle ran into a roomful of opposition at a meeting last night. It’s too big, will create traffic and parking problems, and some people just think it’s damn ugly. Boston, and Brookline, will need to sign off before anything gets built.
September 19, 2012
Final reviews on former movieplex
The BRA is holding its final public meeting on the plan to turn the long-defunct Circle Cinema in Cleveland Circle into a mash-up of hotel, retail and residential space. Stop by the Hamilton School, 198 Strathmore Road at the corner of Chestnut Hill Avenue, at 6PM on Thursday, September 20.
September 5, 2012
New liquor store, Mexican restaurant seek support
The Brighton Allston Improvement Association’s September meeting is crammed with stuff, including a major presentation for the redevelopment of the old Cleveland Circle movie theater, a new liquor store at 1550 Commonwealth Avenue, and a Mexican restaurant up the road at 1620. More information here, the meeting will be held this Thursday night at 7 PM at the Elks in Brighton Center.
July 28, 2012
New saloon owner looking for support
Mike Conlon, the new owner of the now closed Stockyard Restaurant property, will be attending the Brighton Allston Improvement Association meeting on Thursday, August 2. Also on the agenda are requests to open a massage spa, a medical office and convert a two-family to a three-family.
July 11, 2012
Stockyard has its last roundup
The Stockyard Restaurant, a Brighton landmark for years, has closed. Not much to report, except that employees were notified by phone on Monday. I was a lunch regular, there about once a week or so. Maybe ten years ago I saw former state treasurer (and before that, a Brighton state rep) Bob Crane dining with former Boston mayor Kevin White. I was always treated well there, and wish the staff the best.
June 19, 2012
Over someone’s dead body
The former McNamara Funeral Home at 460 Washington Street, Brighton will be the focus of a BRA hearing tonight, June 19 at 6:30PM, at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 321 Washington Street. The most recent iteration of the plan is to convert the existing structure to four residential units, and build 24 new units behind it. There would also a parking garage and outdoor parking.
June 7, 2012
A Subway for Comm. Ave.
The BAIA’s monthly meeting will discuss a request to open a Subway sandwich shop at 1440 Commonwealth Avenue in Brighton. Also on the agenda is a proposal to build a single family home at 8 Gordon Street, Allston. They meet tonight, June 7 at 7 PM, Brighton Elks, 326 Washington Street.
June 7, 2012
Like a train coming through
The train that left Brighton when the Mass Pike was built fifty years ago is coming back. New Balance and the Massachusetts Transportation Department have signed a letter of intent to get a station built.
This is great news, and it is good to see new transportation added in conjunction with such a huge project. Of course, there are those who think what we really need are bars that close at 3AM.
June 6, 2012
New Balance meeting tonight
There will be a meeting tonight, June 6 at 7 PM, at the WGBH facility on Guest Street to discuss the latest New Balance plans, including that train station.
June 1, 2012
Next stop: Brighton station
New Balance has filed an updated plan that will make rail aficionados swoon. They are promising to design and build a new commuter rail station. It will be a separate project from the collection of office building, restaurants and a hotel and stadium they aim to build, but be situated nearby.
May 29, 2012
Used records vs. gourmet wines: which is more hip?
The Oak Square space now home to a used record and book store will have a new groove as a fine wine and gourmet shop come September, if all goes according to plan. Currently the space is occupied by Diskovery, whose owner announced earlier this month she will be closing. Too bad she isn’t staying and the new upscale shop moving into another space in the square.
On the hipness scale, does Oak Square move up a notch or is it a demerit? Maybe these crusaders for coolness can let us know.
May 16, 2012
No cure for ugliness
St. Elizabeth's Hospital, circa 1915.
What is perhaps one of the ugliest buildings in Boston is about to get bigger. The BRA has approved a three-story addition to the emergency and urgent care building at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center. The expansion will add 23 beds to the current 252. A bit of landscaping is also planned, but it will be behind the new addition. Can’t have greenery disturb the fortress-like structure looming over Brighton Center.
Years ago, when the hospital was seeking another expansion, the architect of the Cardinal Medeiros pavilion admitted he “wasn’t proud” of it. No kidding. (photo via Boston Public Library)
May 16, 2012
Radar trap ends with cop on car hood
A Boston police officer was hit by a car while he was pulling over speeding vehicles around the 2000 block of Commonwealth Avenue, Brighton. That driver is so busted.
May 14, 2012
Back to school
The official opening of the former Presentation school building in Oak Square as a community center is this Friday, May 19 from 3:30 to 8PM. The ceremonial ribbon-cutting, speeches and whatnot will begin at 4. The Presentation School Foundation has been working for eight years to raise money, renovate the building and attract service providers.