Dorchester Reporter “The News and Values Around the Neighborhood” Volume 30 Issue 31 Thursday, August 1, 2013 50¢ Menino: Key Uphams Corner parcel should be re-developed Maxwell site called “lynchpin” to boom along Fairmount Line By Bill Forry with the previous owner over eDitor unpaid taxes. A pivotal Uphams Corner A working advisory group property became embroiled in (WAG) appointed by Mayor a fast-moving controversy last Thomas Menino and managed week after neighbors learned by the Boston Redevelopment that the city of Boston planned Authority has been working to convert a now-dormant for the last year and a half on industrial site into a Public redevelopment ideas for the Works storage yard. The news site and other targeted parcels prompted outrage and fast near the corridor. All of the action from local stakeholders, possible scenarios explored who have targeted the three- so far include building a mix acre parcel once occupied by of housing and commercial the Maxwell Box Company as or light industrial uses on a “lynchpin” redevelopment the Maxwell site. None of the project along the Fairmount scenarios have envisioned commuter rail corridor. the property’s use as a city The 120,000-square foot street light depot— an idea property — which sits adjacent that emerged suddenly last to the Uphams Corner station Wednesday at a meeting of the A new “hero square” was unveiled on Monday in memory of the late Sgt. Alberto D. Montrond, on the Fairmount Line— is Uphams Corner WAG. a native of Cape Verde who moved to Dorchester in 1996 and attended Madison Park High. today a sprawling warren of Michael Galvin, the city’s Shown, l-r, Mayor Thomas Menino, Sgt. Montrond’s mother, Mrs. Maria Montrond, Councillor run-down warehouses. But its Chief of Basic Services, told Tito Jackson and Alberto Montrond, the sergeant’s cousin. Photo by Bill Forry proximity to the commuter rail the Reporter last Friday that stop makes it a prime location the Maxwell site was needed to ‘Hero Square’ honors at home for so-called “transit-oriented house the street light division development.” The site is because an agreement with owned by the city of Boston, the MBTA was prompting the for Dot man killed in Afghanistan which took control of it in 2010 city to move from its longtime after a protracted standoff (Continued on page 6) By Bill Forry Sgt. Alberto D. Montrand Boston Police Color Guard and eDitor was killed — along with three remarks from Mayor Thomas The city of Boston installed of his fellow soldiers— when M. Menino, City Councillor a new “hero square” at the an improvised explosive device Tito Jackson, Veterans Ser- It’s now time to scramble intersection of Massachusetts destroyed their Humvee in vices Commissioner Francisco Ave. and Columbia Road on Feb. 2006. Sgt. Montrond, who Urena and Sgt. Montrond’s Monday as a permanent me- was 27, left behind two chil- cousin, Alberto Montrond. in the mayoral campaign morial to a former Dorchester dren and his widow, Krystal. The event also served as By Gintautas Dumcius Boston only. And state Rep. resident who lost his life while His mother Maria Montrond the debut of a new element news eDitor Marty Walsh used Roxbury’s serving in the U.S. Army in was on hand for the brief to the city’s “hero square” One month, three weeks, Madison Park Vocational Afghanistan. ceremony, which featured a (Continued on page 21) and two days. That’s how Technical High School as a long the Boston mayoral backdrop for the unveiling of candidates have to lock down his school maintenance and Studio plan for St. Peter’s convent site their support as they jockey, construction plan. By Bill Forry vie, and maneuver through Meanwhile, the number of eDitor the neighborhoods outside of forums continues to grow, with Work has begun on a $3 million renovation their own. the Dorchester Board of Trade project at the former St. Peter’s convent on City Councillor At-Large and others hoping to get some Bowdoin Street that will convert the five-story Felix Arroyo, hoping to be- (Continued on page 19) building into an apartment complex managed come the city’s first Latino by the Pine Street Inn. The re-brick building, mayor, had a fundraiser with which once housed as many as 40 nuns next Pulitzer-winning author Junot to the Catholic church of the same name, has Diaz. Fellow City Council- been largely vacant in recent years. lor At-Large John Connolly The building was sold earlier this year to claimed the support of an East Trinity Green Investments, a Milton-based Boston state representative, development firm headed by attorney Tom who flipped from supporting Broderick and architect Tim Russell. The Suffolk District Attorney Dan Developers Tom Broderick and Tin Russell partners bought the convent for $1 million after Conley due to a disagreement All contents copyright outside of the former St. Peter’s convent on over whether a casino vote © 2013 Boston (Continued on page 5) Bowdoin Street. Photo by Bill Forry should take place in East Neighborhood News, Inc. Now open in Your bank is headed in a new direction. Roslindale Maybe it’s time you headed for the exits. If you’re looking to simplify part of your life, say goodbye to banks with complicated fee structures and impersonal service, and hello to Meetinghouse Bank. We’re the only community bank in the area, and we plan to keep banking simple and stress free. Call or stop by today. 2250 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester, MA 02124 · 617-‐298-‐2250 4238 Washington Street, Roslindale, MA 02131 · 617-‐942-‐8500 Member FDIC Mortgage Line 617-‐322-‐3100 · meetinghousebank.com Member SIF MB Exit Ad-Roslindale Address10x2 4c.indd 1 4/20/13 5:54 PM Page 2 THE REPoRTER August 1, 2013 Reporter’s Notebook On The Record Legislators give Patrick Steeple lift-off their Romney treatment set for Tuesday By Gintautas Dumcius economic development and small news eDitor business issues. Gov. Deval Patrick, who traveled the country bashing former Gov. Mitt Write-in candidate in bid Romney during the 2012 presidential for 12th Suffolk House seat election, must have felt a special Ruthella Logan-Cruz, a Democrat kinship with his predecessor in the who lives on Hebron Street, is mount- last few weeks. Patrick, a close friend ing a write-in bid in the race to replace of President obama, frequently now-state Sen. Dorcena Forry in the critiqued Romney and the one term 12th Suffolk House District. The Aug. Romney served before making a run 13 primary will give way to a Sept. 10 at the White House. general election. Romney, a Republican, touted the Logan-Cruz had pulled nomination fact that during his time under the papers needed to gather signatures Golden Dome, he wielded the veto pen and get on the ballot, but just three grandly, striking at the budget and Democrats made it onto the ballot: various initiatives hundreds of times. Dan Cullinane, Stephanie Everett, But the Democratic supermajority in and Mary Tuitt. So Logan-Cruz the House and the Senate frequently apparently has decided on a write-in overrode Romney’s moves, restoring bid, dropping campaign materials on line items and initiatives. voters’ doorsteps. So there was a ring of familiarity on The Aug. 13 primary is expected Beacon Hill last week and this week, to be a low-turnout affair, with just particularly when the Senate voted, several thousand voters showing up to 35 to 5, and the House voted, 123 to the polls. The winner of the primary 33, to overturn Patrick’s veto of a tax will face two independents, Lincoln bill aimed at helping transportation Larmond of Mattapan and Edmond There’s a new lift-off date for the First Parish Church steeple: Tuesday, Au- finances. The governor had wanted Romulus of Milton, in the September gust 6. The steeple — which was taken down from the historic structure as more revenue packed into the bill. final. part of a massive renovation project in 2006— has been carefully rebuilt on a The legislation, which went into The 12th Suffolk District includes vacant lot across the street from the church atop Meetinghouse Hill. Church effect this week, raises taxes on parts of Dorchester, Mattapan, Hyde officials say that the steeple will be craned back into place on Tuesday morn- cigarettes ($1), gas (3 cents a gallon), Park, and two precincts in Milton. ing, with work beginning on the Parish Street location around 6 a.m. “The along with a sales tax on some software. steeple should be flying between 10 a.m. and noon,” according to a posting No Democrats in deep blue Boston Cape Verdean political group on the church’s Facebook page this week. Above, a view of the steeple as it stood with the governor. “Although I states aims made its careful descent in November 2006. Photo by Bill Forry have concerns that a hole may arise A political organization aimed at in this financing structure in coming engaging “Cape Verdeans to develop a years, the votes weren’t there in the political voice that supports local and Legislature to sustain a veto,” said national emerging leaders” quietly Two women accosted near Ashmont T station state Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz, a came into existence last week. The The Boston Police Department is investigating two separate incidents of Jamaica Plain Democrat who shares group, which calls itself “Cape indecent assault and battery near the Ashmont T station on Friday and Monday. representation of Dorchester and Verdeans for Political Action,” singled According to police, a woman was walking from Ashmont station around Mattapan with Sen.