THE BOSTON GUARDIAN November 10, 2017 Vol. 2 Issue 25 Nichols Is New Director At the Esplanade Assn Image: Courtesy of Boston Properties A rendering of the proposed development Gateway Project to Give $134,500,000 by Mark Fuechec plan would also include the partial re- The current proposal for the Back development of the 165 Dartmouth Bay/South End Gateway Project Street Garage. would bring in about $135 million Schrock presented a breakdown of in public benefits, according to Me- the project’s expected public benefit Photo: Courtesy of the Esplanade Association lissa Schrock, senior project manager during a Citizens Advisory Com- by Mark Fuechec skill set and record of success in mis- public finance and community de- at Boston Properties (BP). mittee (CAC) meeting last Thursday, The Esplanade Association’s (EA) sion-focused government and non- velopment before becoming research BP seeks to develop about two weeks before a Boston Planning board of directors named Michael J. profit work.” and policy director to the Boston 1.26 million square feet of residential, and Development Agency (BPDA) Nichols as the organization’s execu- After receiving a law degree from City Council. retail and office space around Back hearing and vote on Thursday, tive director. the University of Connecticut, Nich- Nichols will join the EA after serv- Bay Station (BBS), which includes November 16. Nichols will begin work at the ols began a long career in public ser- ing for the past two and a half years a new office building with ground The project’s public benefit is EA on Wednesday, November 29, vice. He served as chief of staff and as chief of staff at the Rose Kennedy floor retail space, two new residential made up of $42.7 million in af- bringing with him what EA board legal counsel to two state representa- Greenway Conservancy, where he buildings and a 1- or 2-story retail fordable housing creation and/or chair Alexi Conine called, “[a] broad tives in Massachusetts, specializing in Continued on Page 2 expansion of the existing station. The Continued on Page 2 Victories for Flynn, Zakim and Mayor Walsh by Mark Fuechec Edward Flynn will be joining the District 2 City Council following his victory on election night, and District 8 City Councilor Josh Photo: Courtesy of the Fenway Community Center Zakim and Mayor Martin Walsh secured another term. Former District 2 City Coun- Torres Resigns from cilor Bill Linehan’s decision to not seek re-election made his seat the most closely contested in this Community Center week’s election. Flynn and oppo- by Mark Fuechec “After careful consideration and nent Mike Kelley’s campaigns were Daniella Torres has resigned after discussion with the board, I have out Tuesday trying to get their more than four years as executive decided to resign and pursue new supporters to the polls. director of the Fenway Community opportunities,” read her resignation Flynn’s victory over Kelley came Center (FCC). Continued on Page 2 Continued on Page 2 Photo: David Jacobs THE BOSTON GUARDIAN 2 | November 10, 2017 Gateway the BPDA indicated general support the current condition of the pro- “MassDOT has recommended said Ted Landsmark, CAC member. for the project, and the one members posed development site as a “traves- this closure to the Federal Highway “The only thing we need to be con- Continued from Page 1 began drafting after the meeting will ty” that “has fully underserved our Authority and is awaiting their re- cerned about as a CAC is the fact that be similar in tone. community.” sponse,” said Laura Sesody, Market- nothing happens in that area until we contribution, $37 million in im- Despite a few points of lingering Pamela Humpfrey, a Back Bay res- ing Director at BP. have a solution.” provements to BBS, $36 million in concern, at least one CAC member ident, said the project’s potential im- One of the project’s as-yet-unan- BP is also in discussions with the transportation-related and public felt strongly that the project’s benefits provements would not make up for swered questions was how ventilation Massachusetts Historical Commis- realm improvements delivered with justified the group’s full support. the negative impacts it would have. of BBS would be handled. Curtis sion (MHC), which requested the “This thing needs to be approved “You say public benefit, I hear mit- Nikitas, MassDOT project manag- air rights parcels, $15 million in new project not move forward until the ASAP,” said Meg Mainzer-Cohen, igation,” she said. “There’s no way er, said modeling and design of the tax revenues, $2.7 million in trans- issue of shadows created by the proj- president and executive director of we’re going to mitigate traffic with MBTA’s track-level ventilation sys- portation, water and sewer mitiga- ect falling over the city’s historic re- the Back Bay Association. “We have this development. You’re adding tem has begun and that the project tion and $1.1 million in jobs linkage fully vetted this to the greatest extent 3,200 people to a space the size of a will probably go up for bid in a year. sources, primarily Copley Square and payments. possible. This should move forward postage stamp.” CAC members want to be sure the Trinity Church, is resolved. “This is a substantially larger to the BPDA at the soonest possible Traffic concerns would be com- ventilation issue is solved before the Michael Rooney, BPDA project amount than you would see with moment to get this project in the pounded during construction of the project begins. manager, said that is a fair concern most projects,” Schrock said. ground because of all the improve- project, which is likely to require the “The ventilation question is a very and one the BPDA takes seriously, Elliot Laffer, CAC chair, said a pre- ments it will bring.” closing of Clarendon Street’s access to serious problem because it seems so but the Article 80 process and the vious CAC comment letter sent to Mainzer-Cohen characterized the Massachusetts Turnpike. difficult to come up with a solution,” MHC process are separate. Election and under Fenway, where he won End, South Boston, Bay Village, was spread throughout the city, registered voters cast their votes in more than 73 percent of the vote. downtown and Chinatown. even in his lowest performing area, Tuesday’s election, reflecting low Continued from Page 1 Flynn said he ran a campaign Victory in the mayoral race was Ward 12. This area includes Jack- voter interest following limited based on meeting with residents more pronounced. son’s constituency as City Coun- campaigning and public debate in down to a little more than 500 and listening to their concerns. Walsh defeated challenger and cilor, yet Walsh received nearly the mayoral race. votes, a 3.5 percent difference, with “We ran a good campaign all former City Councilor Tito Jack- 40 percent of votes cast. Zakim’s victory over first-time more than 14,000 total votes cast. summer,” Flynn said in a campaign son with more than 65 percent of Walsh’s share of the vote rose candidate Kristen Mobilia in the Flynn has enjoyed strong sup- video. “It was based on listening votes cast. He pointed to a record above 80 percent in parts of Bos- District 8 City Council race was port in South Boston’s Wards 6 to residents across the district. We of job growth, safer neighborhoods ton’s downtown neighborhoods, equally dramatic. and 7, where he received 5,318 of learned about their concerns. They and better schools in his first term with about 68 percent of Back Bay With 67 percent of the vote, the 7,458 votes cast in his favor. want good schools, safe streets and and promised to continue pursu- and Fenway voters in his favor. Zakim will continue to represent Outside of South Boston, Kelley parks, access to a good quality pub- ing an inclusionary Boston in his That number rose to nearly 75 per- the neighborhoods of Back Bay, won more than double Flynn’s lic education for their children. second. cent in Ward 3, which encompasses Beacon Hill, Fenway, Kenmore votes, with a particularly high level Most importantly, they want to be “Tonight, we commit once again Chinatown, the Financial District, Square, Mission Hill, Audubon of support in Ward 4, which en- treated with respect and dignity.” to be a city for all of us,” read his Government Center, the West End Circle and the West End. compasses the area around Copley As District 2 City Councilor, victory speech. and the North End. Slightly under 6,000 votes were Square and stretches west just past Flynn will represent the South Support for Walsh’s second term A little less than 28 percent of cast in the District 8 race. Fenway Center arts, wellness, personal enrichment there are dozens of sponsors. center has a robust membership developing a community space that and civic engagement. Torres had been the sole staffer base and will continue to support offers diverse programs and builds Continued from Page 1 The center is a product of a of the 2,700-square-foot room at the Fenway community. strong community partnerships,” unique private-public partnership 1282 Boylston Street that makes “The FCC is in a pivotal stage read the letter. letter. “It has been a true honor to that encompasses local community up the FCC, and the FCC website at the moment, and as we steer Torres will continue to live in work alongside the board.” groups such as the Fenway Civic notes it will only be open for lim- towards long-term financial stabil- the Fenway and remain involved Financed by The Abbey Group as Association and the Fenway Com- ited programming for the rest of ity, we’ll continue to change and in the community, her letter read, a community benefit, the FCC acts munity Development Corpora- November and December.