Task Force Members Feel Left out As Northeastern Readies IMP Filing by Stephen Brophy on Campus
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January WWW.FEnWAYNEWS.org 2013 FrEE serving the Fenway, Kenmore square, upper BacK Bay, prudential, longwood area & mission hill since 1974 volume 39, numBer 1 decemBer 27, 2012-JANUARY 31, 2013 Topping-off Moves Berklee Dorm Goal Closer task Force members Feel left out as northeastern readies IMP Filing BY STEPHEN BROPHY on campus. As a result they spread out and ortheastern University has been occupy a big proportion of rental apartments meeting with a task force of in the Fenway and Mission Hill. This not only representatives from the Fenway, drives up the rents in these neighborhoods, Mission Hill, and Lower Roxbury but it has also driven up overall property asN it prepares to file its new Institutional values, making it much more difficult to buy a Master Plan (IMP). The most recent meeting residential building on Mission Hill now than took place on December 20, and task force it was 15 or 20 years ago. members reportedly joined some city Councilor Mike Ross, who lives on councilors to express some dissatisfaction Mission Hill, criticized the school for the with the situation. many promises it has made to rectify this The IMP is part of the price institutions situation, promises that have not yet come pay for being located in Boston. The Boston to fruition. Councilor Jeff Sanchez, who Redevelopment Authority (BRA) requires represents part of the Back of the Hill section every university and hospital to file an of Mission Hill, joined Ross in this criticism. IMP outlining the institution’s plans for its Both argued that the university needs to physical plant for the next decade. The IMP become more transparent in its dealings becomes a public reference document on the with surrounding communities; that it follow institution’s plans and a blueprint for its future through on plans for community benefits Early last month Berklee College of Music “topped off” the stell framing for its 16-story physical growth. When an IMP expires, promised in previous IMP filings; and that it building under construction at 160 Massachusetts Avenue. When the building opens institutions can find it difficult to get licenses upgrade the priority of on-campus housing in for the fall semester this year, Berklee will mark a milestone: housing all of its entering and permission to do even the most basic of the latest filing. students for the first time. In addition to expected dorm features—370 beds, practice improvements until they submit a new one. While the perennial problem of students rooms, common rooms, a fitness center and a dining hall—the building will add some Northeastern currently operates under in the rental market was rehashed, Task Force only-at-Berklee bells and whistles, such as a performance space, recording studios, a 2000 IMP, as amended five times and members reported being more concerned that and music technology spaces. The ground floor will contain retail space, and the entire extended through the end of 2012. The first the university had filed its Project Notification project carries a $100 million price tag. five years of the university’s new plan stresses Form (PNF)—the first step toward BRA on-campus construction, largely of academic approval of the IMP—without giving the and scientific buildings. It defers construction group a chance to review it. Although this of dorms, planned as mixed use, to the filing had to happen by the end of the year, second five-year segment. the Task Force has been meeting since spring, Regina PizzeRia Buys uppeR CRust’s West Fens assets As the university has expanded, it and many members were annoyed by this has come into increasing conflict with its situation. They were even more annoyed Good news—maybe—for Fenway pizza fans: The shuttered Upper Crust location on West neighbors because it hasn’t made sufficient that the current document no longer covers Boylston Street will reopen under the Regina Pizzeria moniker after Boston Restaurant provision for enough of its students to live NortheasterN task force on page 3 > Associates bid $175,000 for the location lease and equipment in a bankruptcy auction held on December 19. Upper Crust, once the darling of Boston foodies, began to unravel in 2008 when employees accused the firm’s management of exploiting Brazilian kitchen workers by violating employment laws on working hours and overtime. The workers later sued the firm for siphoning from their paychecks the overtime pay Upper Crust had been Pulling Out All the Stops at St. Cecilia ordered to pay. As investigations of that allegation continued, the ownership group had a falling out, alleging the founding member diverted corporate funds for his private use, depriving the firm of money it needed to pay suppliers, landlords and other creditors. Now for the “maybe” part: Regina Pizzeria, long known as an authentic North End pizzeria, has refocused its business on shopping-mall food courts. How will that model jibe with Upper Crust’s gourmet aspirations? Stay tuned. niCe WoRk iF you Can get it Two of Boston’s most prominent institutions of higher learning—both with campuses that reach into the Fenway—paid their presidents more than $1 million salary in 2009- 2010. The information comes from a nationwide Chronicle of Higher Education survey of presidential pay at private colleges with budgets of more than $50 million. Northeastern’s Joseph Aoun earned just under $1.1 million in 2010, a figure that includes bonuses and incentive pay worth about $165,000. BU’s Robert Brown also pulled down close to $1.1 million, although that figure includes the value of the president’s university-supplied house in its calculations, and a five-bedroom “mansion” (to use The Boston Globe’s term) Brookline would not come cheap. According to the Chronicle, of nearly 500 institutions surveyed, 36 paid their presidents more than $1 million in 2010. HonoRs to east FenWay’s kamal FoR WoRk on ReneWaBle eneRgy Massachusetts Interfaith Power & Light honored a local hero at its tenth anniversary on October 28 at First Church in Jamaica Plain, Unitarian Universalist. East Fenway resident Sajed Kamal received the group’s the Rachel Carson Award for over 25 years of working to educate the world about the importance of moving from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. MIP&L advocates environmental stewardship and renewable-energy use among tfaith communities across the state. PeterboRougH senioRs Donate to CenteR FoR Homeless VeteRans Charlene Pontbriand, liaison for the New England Center for Homeless Veterans accepted a check in mid-December from the Peterborough Senior Center. Matti Kniva Spencer and Maria Rodriguez staged a fund-raising breakfast at the center in December, with all proceeds going towards the homeless shelter. In addition to the check, the seniors baked wonderful homemade cookies, for the homeless vets to enjoy. CHang-Díaz ReCeiVes national eDuCation aWard Organist Richard Clark was a happy man on Christmas Day after performing on a On November 29, State Senator Sonia Chang-Díaz received the 2012 Walter G. Turner newly installed second-hand console organ in the choir loft of St. Cecilia Church. A Award from the National Association of Educational Service Agencies (AESA). Chang- fund-raising drive began in September to replace a worn-out console dating from Díaz and her Education Committee co-chair, Rep. Alice Peisch of Wellesley, were honored 1929 with a used but technologically up-to-date model. Parishioners responded for their work reforming the state’s system of education collaboratives. The collaboratives generously to the fund-raising campaign that began September, raising $24,000— allow school districts to pool resources to achieve shared goals, such as serving severe-need double the original goal—and doing it quickly enough to assure installation by special education students or professional development for teachers. State officials and Christmas. The replacement console came from an Aeolian-Skinner organ at the the public called for immediate action last fall after investigations by the state auditor and Episcopal Cathedral of St. Phillip in Atlanta. Timothy E. Smith installed the retrofit Neighborhood NewsliNe on page 3 > for the 1999 Smith & Gilbert Organ, which he designed and built.. 2 | FENWAY NEWS | JanuArY 2013 On December 18, at about 7:20am, olf Boston Police responding to a call found w the body of a deceased male seated on a bench in the Fens near the Fire Police Seek Leads in December 18 Homicide Department’s dispatch center at the photo: steve top of Westland Avenue. Police set up a crime scene investigation and canvassed nearby residents and schools in search of any information they might have. The Boston Conservatory was asked to submit surveillance videos it might have produced between midnight to 7am. The man was subsequently identified as Stephen D. Hill, 54, of Boston, and BPD confirmed that he died of stab wounds. Boston Police asked that anyone with information that might contribute to the investigation call the Homicide Unit at 617-343-4470. If you wish to report information anonymously, you can call the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 800-494-TIPS or text the word ‘TIP’ to CRIME (27463). The department “will stringently guard and protect the identities of those who wish to remain anonymous.” GUN THREAT AT BURIED TREASURES sergeant arrived with they spoke with two that a diaper bag, her handbag, and wallet At about 1pm on Dec. 5, District 4 units a firearm-detecting victims who reported had all been stolen from the front foyer of the responded to a radio call about a person dog and searched the store with no success. that they had left their apartment at 4pn. and building. The wallet contained ID and debit with a gun at Buried Treasures, the small The caller said that when he tried to enter returned at about 5:20pm to find the front cards, as well as a green card.