Plans for a hotel, apartment and retail complex on the site of the long-closed Circle Cinema site have been altered once more in an attempt to win approval for the going-on-two-years effort, according to Boston.com. Since the property spills into Brookline, both municipalities get a say. The BRA is hosting a meeting this Wednesday, April 3 at the Hamilton School, corner of Chestnut Hill Ave. and Strathmore Road.
March 11, 2013
Back in the day, seems everyone was taking pictures of Brighton
Boston.com is featuring two sets of photos, one of Brighton that compares the same sites today and in years past, and another of Cleveland Circle that illustrates past photography and future plans.
Kudos to Charlie Vasiliades of the BAHS for putting together the Brighton series.
March 10, 2013
Cleveland Circle bar cited for overcrowding, serving a minor (no, not Mary Ann’s)
A visit by the BPD on March 1 to the City Side bar turned up 35 more patrons on the second level than the 95 allowed, along with a very drunk guy who was using someone else’s canceled Mexican passport as an ID. Violations issued, expect a hearing at the Licensing Board in the future.
March 7, 2013
Woman has handbag stolen, then threatened with gun
A woman had her purse snatched as she entered her apartment building at 50 Englewood Road on last Thursday at 5:30PM. As she chased the thief down Strathmore Road, hollering “Give me back my bag, I’ll give you all my cash,” he stopped, turned and pointed a handgun at her, demanding “Give me all your cash or I will shoot you.” At that point an unknown man shouted to leave her alone, causing the thief to drop the bag and flee in his car, which was parked on Strathmore. Despite a call to area police vehicles they were not able to apprehend the suspect. Information obtained from BPD report.
March 3, 2013
More bricks and mortar
The developers of a mixed hotel and residential development for Cleveland Circle will give an update on their plans this Thursday, March 7 at the BAIA meeting. Also on the agenda are 103 units for 75 Brainerd Road in Allston and a proposed food pantry for 575 Washington Street in Brighton. The full agenda is here.
February 28, 2013
Overheard at Mary Ann’s: “You know half of this bar is underage tonight”
The above quote was addressed to police during an inspection shortly after midnight on Friday, February 22 at Mary Ann’s, the preferred watering hole of the underage, especially at Boston College. Mary Ann’s has been around a long time. Apparently it was established shortly after BC was founded 150 year ago, and the party hasn’t stopped. Among the 261 patrons present (61 over capacity) were fourteen people who gained entrance with fake ID’s, or ones borrowed from people who don’t look like them. Violations issued, hearings will be scheduled before the Licensing Board.
November 1, 2012
Hostages to be seized in Cleveland Circle
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.
September 25, 2012
Cleveland Circle, still developing
ClevelandCircle.org has a good run-down of the objections to the proposed hotel and condo complex, from the Brighton and Brookline perspectives.
In case you missed it, here is a photo essay on the development of the area.