“Plaid shirt, beard, winter hat, skinny jeans, a man purse. An excerpt from How to Accessorize like Every Dude in Allston.” @sarahiscrazy
“Homeless man just poked me, I am now one with the city.” @Maddiewashere
“When you walk into FroyoWorld Frozen Yogurt Lounge in Allston you feel like you are in Disneyland http://b.globe.com/17bLdWD” @BostonGlobe
Harvard University’s negotiations with the community continue, with task force members unhappy with the lack of a specific benefits package tied to the Barry’s Corner project. The task force consensus was that renovations to Smith Field be linked to approval of the development.
Several disagreements ended in fights last week. Among them:
A dispute over something, perhaps the alleged theft of what one lady claimed was a $70,000 engagement ring, erupted outside the Brighton Brighton Beer Garden on Friday, March 29. The incident began when the two women were outside smoking, and the victim dropped the ring when she was took it off to show the other. Somehow it disappeared, leading to fisticuffs. The police arrived, spoke to both women and a witness/friend of the victim, and searched the suspect. The ring was not found, despite a search of the area by the police. Perhaps they weren’t looking too hard since the victim had directed a obscenity laced tirade at them.
Also on the 29th, an argument between two women over stolen drugs went from words to fists at 40 Atkins Street. After smacking the victim in the face multiple times, she fled but returned a short time later. By that time an ambulance had arrived to treat the victim, and officers were not inclined to let the suspect hunt around for her missing drugs and keys. Despite being told to call it a night and head home, she left only briefly and returned again. Again she was told to leave, again she departed but wasted little time before heading back toward the apartment. At that point she was arrested after screaming “I’m going to kill the f’ing bitch!” The booking process turned up two outstanding warrants, both for failure to perform jury duty. Probably just as well she wasn’t part of the jury pool.
Finally, officers broke up a twelve person brawl involving guys and at least one woman at 51 North Beacon Street at around 4AM on Saturday, March 30. Three were arrested and charged with affray.
Is the 37 North Beacon development a done deal? I haven’t been able to confirm this, but there is talk that proponent Sebastian Mariscal’s option on the property has expired. A new developer may be in the mix. Either way, this site needs a better designed building that is less dense. The city’s Guest Street planning area, which encompasses this site and big swath of the neighborhood, calls for guidelines for height and size that this proposal ignores.
There were two robberies involving knives in Allston last week, one successful, one not. Both occurred shortly after 1AM on Thursday, March 21. In the first, near the corner of Glenville Avenue and Harvard Avenue, two men, one white, the other race unknown, made off with the victim’s mobile phone and wallet. The second incident, in the vicinity of the corner of Linden Street and Commonwealth Avenue, was foiled when the victim ran from the three men who were threatening him. One had first asked for a light, but followed up with “Give me everything you got.” After fleeing to the Linden Superette, he met the responding police and gave his report.
The plans for a 450-seat Russian restaurant at 14-20 Linden Street are on hold for now, at least until the owners meet with Allston Civic Association and the BPD. The Zoning Board of Appeal deferred yesterday’s schedule hearing to May 7, according to Adam at UH.
This expansion almost certainly would require approval from the Licensing Board.
A 20-year old student had a knife held to his throat after being knocked to the ground near 21 Quint Avenue, Allston on Monday, March 18 around 7PM. After threatening him with the knife, the two thieves made off with his wallet and iPhone. The suspects were described as two white Hispanic males, both 18-22 years old, one being around 5’9″.
The ever-evolving Russian Benevolent Society at 14 Linden Street, Allston wants to become a 450-seat restaurant and lounge with live entertainment, as well as adding a patio that would accommodate 90 patrons. It started out as a private social club, but has gone from that to serving the public three days a week, and last year to a seven-day-a-week operation. Apparently there was a steam room in the building as of 2010, but no mention if this is still part of the operation. The hearing will be Tuesday, March 26 at 9:30AM before the Zoning Board of Appeal in City Hall.
A spate of injuries and deaths of bicyclists has prompted the city to take a look at the stretch of Commonwealth Avenue between Kenmore Square and Packard Corner. On an experimental basis, Brighton Avenue will be getting enhanced shared bike/car lane markings, according to Boston Bikes. It involves adding signs and markings in phases starting this spring.
I’ve wondered if having bike lanes on side streets where possible, rather than main roads, would make for a more relaxing, and safer, road for bike riders. The few times I have ridden from Oak Square to Kenmore have been harrowing. On a visit to New York I found traveling along Manhattan’s avenues on two wheels was similarly scary, while the cross streets were fine.
The body of a woman was found on the property last night, according to the Suffolk County DA’s office. The identity of the 29-year-old New Hampshire resident has not been released. The case is being investigated by the State Police.
Building approved with parking developer didn’t want
The building originally intended for the carless has been approved by the BRA, but with 35 parking spaces for the 41 apartments, along with two spots for bikes per unit. It will occupy the property at the corner of North Beacon and Everett Streets. The final approval is up to the Zoning Board of Appeals, but is extremely likely. Too bad there weren’t any changes to the size and design. Five storys is too high, and the exterior is just ugly.
The no-parking aspect always struck me as a bit of greenwashing and not a new concept. Commonwealth Avenue and its side streets are packed with parked vehicles from residents of the parking-free buildings that line it. This, despite the B-line that runs up the middle.
The Harvard Allston task force voted Tuesday night to support the plan to relocate the Campus Services facility, but only if the school agrees to move the facility again once the Western Avenue science complex is complete. The building would be home to a number of functions, including managing Harvard’s fleet of vehicles.
Thanks to Matthew in Boston and the Brighton Allston Historical Society, this collection of photos shows views of places in Allston, today and days past.
Matt’s version is here, Boston.com has the same photos but allows you to slide over an image, giving you a different view of the location.
Hat tip Adam at UH.
Mt. Washington Bank, a division of the mighty East Boston Savings Bank, has opened a branch in the CVS plaza on Brighton Avenue. Services are offered in several languages, including Albanian. Now that is niche marketing.
The party where a BU student was found unconscious and later died was hosted by a fraternity, Sigma Alpha Mu. The chapter has been suspended. It is the latest in a series of serious incidents involving BU frats.
Apple MacBooks are at the top of the list for burglars. Three MacBooks were lifted from 90 Easton Street, two from 28 Quint Avenue, and one each disappeared from two different apartments at 29 Cummings Road. Another vanished at 6 Camelot Court. Plus three at 115 Glenville Avenue. Activate that tracking application on your laptop, kids, it’s there for a reason.
The perennial party scene in the Ashford Street/Wadsworth Street area brought the attention of police to 34 Ashford, 66 Ashford, 8 Wadsworth and 85 Linden. All locations were found with underage drinking and upwards of 100 people in the basement.
“Uncle Crummies,” an underground drinking and performance spot in an apartment at 30 Penniman Road in Allston, was put out of business when police paid a visit. There was a $7 donation to enter, about 75 people listening to one of four bands on the night’s lineup and a bar manned by two bartenders.
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.
A BU student was found unconscious in a Wadsworth Street apartment in Allston around midnight today, according to Boston.com. He was later declared dead at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center. This is the second death this year in that area. Police believe there was no foul play involved.
A few weeks ago someone was knocked to the ground and literally stomped in the head as he left Redneck’s Roast Beef at 140 Brighton Avenue, at the corner of Harvard Avenue. The victim was bleeding heavily and vomiting by the time an ambulance arrived. The attack occurred around 2:30AM on Friday, February 8. It was witnessed by a police officer on his way to another incident, and the perpetrator was arrested.
And some people think we need to let Allston’s bars and fast food restaurants to stay open later.
Charlie Vasiliades, a.k.a. the mayor of Oak Square, took the above photos looking toward Oak Square from his porch. Matt Rocheleau at Boston.com has a story about sledding down Brainerd Road, which brought back memories of doing the same down Bigelow Street. Of course, we didn’t wait for a driving ban. It was all in the timing, and occasionally avoiding a car. Adam at Universal Hub has a series of before and after shots, including these taken locally, here and here, and a really great night view.