A one-alarm fire destroyed a basement one-bedroom apartment at 1144 Commonwealth Ave. in Allston yesterday afternoon, according to the Boston Fire Department. No injuries, but $100K worth of damage. Pics here and here.
Drink deeper and later, in Allston but nowhere else
Union Square’s Deep Ellum today received permission to extend its operating hours, allowing it to serve food and alcohol until 2AM from the current 1AM. They will also be be allowed to keep their outdoor patio open until 11PM during warm weather.
With this decision and the one allowing the Avenue Bar and Grill to join the 2AM bar brigade, the Licensing Board has established that it will approve the latest close possible for any bar in the Harvard Avenue area of Allston, as long as it can claim that it is run responsibly.
Why just Allston? There are plenty of bars in Brighton that are run well and have to turn off the taps at 1AM.
Why was the South Boston Dominos Pizza denied when it asked to sell and deliver pies until 3AM, but the one in Allston approved?
South Allston doesn’t vote in local elections. North Allston, Brighton and South Boston do.
It wasn’t dreary until Harvard got involved
Harvard’s submission for developing its tracts of land in Allston were released today by the Boston Redevelopment Authority. The Globe article refers to Allston as a “dreary section of the city”, but the biggest drag on the neighborhood has been Harvard’s practice of purchasing property, emptying it of tenants, and leaving it vacant for years. And let’s not forget the huge hole on Western Avenue, the someday site of a science complex.
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.
Harvard’s dog’s breakfast development model
Harvard University has announced its latest ideas for North Allston. A hotel and conference center and basketball stadium are proposed, along with additional buildings for the business school. Construction would occur over a ten-year period. The university will submit its plans to City Hall next week.
Harvard seems to be using a dog’s breakfast model for developing its Allston demense, tossing in various uses and structures with no real vision of how it will all work together. There was no hint of a basketball stadium until the team became much more successful in recent years.
Such sad news
The body of Jonathan Dailey, the missing Allston grad student has been found in the Charles River.
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)
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.
Party on
The BU Free Press reports on a couple of incidents that drew the attention of police this past weekend, including a stabbing at a Hano Street bash and a loud party on Allston street.
Worst nickname for a pet, ever
I really hope this cat makes it back to its owners. Really, I do. But please stop calling it by that name. The feline used to live on Islington Street, near Ringer Park.
More room needed for all those underage drinkers
The Joshua Tree, which is looking to increase its capacity and was recently named one of Boston’s 25 worst bars, today had to explain why there was an underage BU student on premises, Corona in hand. Universal Hub has the story. This isn’t the first time a visit from the authorities has uncovered underage drinking.