I look forward to your comments.

Since the Brewery ramped up operations the pedestrian traffic here has been growing exponentially. This is a good thing, but getting across the street here in the past has been a little like playing Frogger.

As I said, I believe the crosswalk is only temporary until a more permanent traffic and parking solution is created. I am very pleased that the city was able to see that a temporary solution was better than no solution. Big round of applause for Mike Halle, Mike Santry and everyone who made this happen.

Washington St. bike lane

Matt is one of those guys that bikes to work rain or shine all year round for the most part. A real die hard. Matt, his wife Rachel moved to Roslindale from Jamaica Plain a couple years ago when it was clear that they needed more room for a growing family. I was their buyer’s agent and helped them buy a cute single family home. They’re very happy there but miss the convenience and community of Jamaica Plain. However, being a stand-up guy, “Matty” insists on cycling to work and doing his part to save the planet.

Matt "Matty" McGlinn

Living in Jamaica Plain right on the Southwest Corridor for the last 15+ years I’ve definitely noticed the increase in two-wheeled activity over the years. I have a great deal of respect and admiration for the brave and noble souls who take their lives in their own hands every day and pedal their way to work. While they are working every day to take part in the economy, they are reducing carbon emissions and all the bad stuff that goes along with the petroleum and auto industry, as well as staying healthy, which must play some role at least in not exacerbating the health care situation.

I was pleased to hear that the city was taking some action finally – making a stand for the righteous cause of cyclists. Protecting a noble breed. In the past, the Pacific Northwest has led the way with bicycle friendly streets. To a lesser degree, even our neighbor, Cambridge has done their share to improve bicycle safety and convenience. I started doing a little poking around and it seems that until recently there were no bike lanes on Boston streets. studies have shown that regular cyclists use main thoroughfares as opposed to “bike paths” which are usually fraught with bumps and curves and obstacles that slow down the commute. This is why it’s so important to have designated bike lanes to protect these folks.

The first two lanes in Boston apparently were from Comm Ave to the BU Bridge , one on the American Legion Hwy (things that make you go hmmmmm) and now it seems there is one that was just finished last night from Forest Hills Station to Roslindale Village. Matty reports the city just painted the new lines last night. In addition, the city has added new bike cages at Forest Hills and Alewife stations.

photo by Doug Mink of rozziebikes.com (click  for more info)

A huge round of applause to the city for these efforts. However, I’m a little confused by the choice of American Legion Highway as the second bike lane in Boston. It seems rather odd doesn’t it? If you haven’t ever traveled this stretch of road you probably wouldn’t think much of this decision. Another blogger (and biker) was equally vexed – Harrumph! also notes in a recent post that the decision to spend 67K painting bike lanes on this stretch of road seemed ill-timed. I’m not sure how these decisions are made, or by whom, but it seems that the right way to go about choosing bike routes would be based on use, or congestion, or consensus, or anything that resembled community process. Understand, I know very little about this process or about the process that precipitated painting lines on American Legion – and I welcome any comments in explanation. As you know if you have read any of my previous posts, I am a Realtor and dare I say a bit of a cynic. What some of you may not know is that there are two large developments that this newly paved road passes through – namely, Harvard Commons (Cruz Development) and Olmsted Green (Lena Park & New Boston Fund). As Flaherty recently said of Menino’s email debacle, “a fish rots from the head down”, and I have to admit, I smell something fishy. Not only did the city spend 67K putting in a bike lane, but according to Harrumph!, they didn’t do a very good job.

• There are no markings or signs of any type indicating what the bike lanes are.
• Drivers don’t get it and many encroach into the lanes.
• Neither side has NO PARKING signs, and many cars use the Blue Hill end by Franklin Park as a parking lane, endangering both cars and bikes.
• The newish 30 MPH limit is, shall we say, not fully in the public consciousness. Biking the route today, I estimate that the average speed was 45, with many going faster.
• Cyclists don’t yet know it is there.
• It’s not the best example of where people live to where they want to travel.
• The bike lanes are broad, as in the picture at Walk Hill (click for a larger view) where they piggyback on a bus zone, but narrow in the Northern region to perhaps 3 or 3.5 feet, not really adequate.
• The travel lanes are quite broad and should have each given another foot to the bike lane to make it safe.

It seems rather ill-planned, no? Was this just a developer pulling strings so they could say they had a bike lane from their new “green” development? Listen, don’t get me wrong, but wouldn’t that money have been better spent on Huntington Ave, on Centre St in Jamaica Plain, in the South End, anywhere other than American Legion Highway? I would like to know how many cyclists are using that path on a daily basis right now – as compared to some of the more congested parts of the city? I sincerely welcome comments here. I am ignorant as to the overall plan and would very much like to understand it.

I am really excited about the prospect of Boston becoming really bike friendly. Not only would it be good for the environment and traffic reduction, but it would be nice to sit with front-runners Seattle and Portland in the progressive movement toward sustainability. As Boston becomes a more pleasant place to live, more people will move here and more jobs will be created. Everybody wins.

Our new neighbor, ZipCar

I’ve been considering selling one of my Subarus for about a year now, but being a Realtor the idea of always bumming rides with my clients or riding my bike doesn’t exactly seem “sustainable”. I had considered the ZipCar model in the past, especially when I learned that they have a business plan. Until now, however, the cars have been too far away for me to give it any real serious thought.

There are three locations in JP now (I think) and ten makes including Volvo, Nissan, Honda, Toyota and Mazda with the nearest being just a few doors down from my home at The Brewery. There are two cars there and at least 10 others in the neighborhood. I think I may have to look into this a bit more now. It seems too convenient to pass up – although I said that about the Mike’s Gym too.

Mayor Menino Announces Jamaica Plain,

Centre and South Streets Redesign

City Will Work With Citizen’s Advisory Group to Create a More Vibrant Transportation Corridor

Mayor Thomas M. Menino today announced that Centre and South Streets, from Jackson Square to Forest Hills in Jamaica Plain, will be redesigned by the City of Boston.  To launch the redesign effort, the City has selected a citizen’s advisory group and a team of consultants and will kick-off the work with a public meeting on July 15 at Curtis Hall, 20 South Street, Jamaica Plain.

“The time is right to re-envision Centre and South Streets in Jamaica Plain,” said Mayor Menino.  “We now have the opportunity to create a more vibrant transportation corridor through Jamaica Plain, providing safer pedestrian, bicycle, transit, and vehicle connections, as well as a livelier street environment that will promote local business.  Today, I am proud to announce that we will be working hand in hand with the community to upgrade Centre and South Streets.”

The project area runs along Centre and South Streets between Forest Hills and Jackson Square, encompassing both Hyde Square and Monument Square.  Heavy through and local traffic, and the corridor’s busy intersections, currently present many conflict points for vehicles and pedestrians.  The City will redesign the corridor to improve traffic flow, simplify and improve pedestrian crossings and sidewalks, explore the addition of bike lanes, and create space for usable street furniture, landscaping and art.

The redesign is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2010.  The Boston Transportation Department (BTD), in partnership with the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA), will lead the City’s effort to develop a consensus design.  The consulting team of McMahon and Associates has been retained to work with the City and the community.  Von Grossman & Company, a landscape architecture firm that also worked on the Dorchester Avenue Roadway Design Project, is part of the design team as well as the engineering firm of HDR Engineering.

The Centre and South Streets redesign process will work in tandem with the MBTA’s ongoing effort to improve bus service on Route 39, which runs along Centre and South Streets, through the consolidation of bus stops and the addition of new bus shelters.

BTD and the BRA have held three community meetings since November 2008 to identify key issues and to develop a scope of work for the consultant team.  The citizens’ advisory group, consisting of local business owners, residents, and representatives of neighborhood groups, has been actively involved in the process.  At the July 15 community meeting, work will begin with the consultant team to develop an overarching vision for the corridor that will guide the design process.  Additional items in the scope of work include the development of corridor-wide streetscape guidelines, the redesign of major intersections, such as Hyde Square, and a parking management strategy.

Boston Transportation Commissioner Thomas J. Tinlin said, “The City will work with the community to make sure that Centre and South Streets will accommodate all modes of travel and be an asset for local residents and businesses.”

James Lionetti

Businesses like this should be supported in Jamaica Plain. Write Jamey and tell him how much you want to see his business at the Brewery, or better yet email the Brewery and ask them to provide a fair rent to help support this business. What’s more important than good, quality food? Nothing!

clipped from www.lionettesmarket.com The solution to the country’s dangerous food supply is quite simple: Stop eating food from supermarkets.  Stop eating food from around the planet.  Eat local and buy it locally.  Rather than manage and regulate a broken and dangerous food supply, we should spend our money and support the people who supply healthy and nutritious food.  Remember, Americans pay less per capita on food than anyone else on the planet.  So if we just learn from everyone else and focus our income on what we need to survive and not what the latest cell phone will do, it will become much easier to pay the appropriate price for food. Lionette’s Market

After fifteen years as an award-winning restaurant, entertainment complex and neighborhood institution in the Boston area, (raising some $500,000.00+ during their tenure for local charities and non-profits), Bella Luna Restaurant and The Milky Way Lounge officially bid farewell to its current location of 403-405 Centre Street in Jamaica Plain on March 21, 2009.

Bella Luna Parade Video by Joe Porcelli

While March 21, 2009 will be the official last show at Centre Street, March 22, 2009 will mark the official “transfer of love” to their new location in style. The public is invited to join in the process which will include a New Orleans Style parade from the old location to the new. Guests of all ages are invited to gather at the current location of 403-405 Centre Street at 1:00pm for a farewell ceremony with the parade slated to begin at 2:00pm. The parade will include stilt walkers, performers of all kinds and marching bands including: Second Line Social Aid and Pleasure Society Brass Band and Bloco Afro Brazil! Guests are asked to bring their own musical instruments if they’d like to help make some noise, as well as, umbrellas, signs and anything else they’d like to add to the festive nature of the 7-block long march. The parade will conclude with cupcakes and hot chocolate at the new location.”We’re looking forward to all our friends and regulars joining us for this fun event rain or shine,” said Carol Downs,” Co-Owner,” and we welcome any new friends to join in as well in this historic celebration and parade.”

Willowbank Phase 1

Phase 1 consisted of 2-4 bed units all selling well over a million dollars. The developer, Chris DeSisto of Maplehurst Builders does outstanding work – unrivaled in this area.

The next phase has an affordable component consisting of a two bedroom and several much larger units. The Maplehurst website aptly states, “Nestled in the midst of Frederick Law Olmsted’s Emerald Necklace, Willowbank’s second phase will witness the restoration of a gracious, vintage brick mansion and the addition of a complimentary new construction two-unit building. Blending the charms of period detail with thoroughly modern, premium kitchens and bathrooms, the mansion will offer the choice of a commodious single-level 1st floor unit or a grandly-proportioned two-level, 4-bedroom home with delightful sunset pond views. For homeowners seeking a private oasis near the heart of the city, the newly-crafted duplex homes are a perfect choice. Each home will contain 3-bedrooms (one a 1st floor guest suite with full bath) and 3.5 baths and offer a secluded brick patio among the property’s mature trees. Enjoy the quality construction and elegance of Willowbank II, while savoring evenings at the nearby theaters, symphony, museums, and bistros.”

Willowbank Phase II

The kicker is that there is a preference for Boston residents, households with at least one person per bedroom, and first-time homebuyers. The income guidelines are as follows:

(1) two-bedroom unit available for immediate occupancy

Maximum Income Per Household Size

Income Requirements may be subject to change based on new HUD Income Limits being issued prior to income certification.

Applications must be picked up in person only at 76 Pond St., Jamaica Plain (rear of brick bldg formerly known as 80 Pond St., opposite the boathouse at Jamaica Pond):

· Thurs-Friday, February 19-20, 10am – 5pm

· Saturday, February 21, 10am – 4 pm

· Mon & Tues, February 23-24, 10am – 5pm

· Including Late night Mon, Feb 23 until 7 pm

Deadline for completed applications:

In Person by 4 pm Fri, March 6, 2009, or by mail and postmarked by Wed, March 4, 2009

to Chris DeSisto, Pondside Development Co, 891 Centre St., Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

Selection by lottery.

Asset, Use & Resale Restrictions apply.

Call William Brokhof 617-828-7956 if you have further questions and I’ll try and get them answered for you!

City Feed and Supply (www.cityfeed.com) is celebrating Valentines Day by offering a free small cup of Organic, Fair Trade coffee from Equal Exchange, the Love Buzz blend.  Or a free sample of Organic, Fair Trade Dark Chocolate from Equal Exchange with the purchase of any cafe drink.  This deal will be available at both locations all day Saturday, February 14.  Pass it on.

Mixed use development by Maplehurst Builders

The project seemed to get through all the usual complicated hurdles such as the JP zoning committee and the BRA zoning board. The Maplehurst website shows the last news on the project as being a lawsuit filed by Carlysle Engineering late in June at the Superior Court.  Personally I’m hoping that the recession and the complications with the less than popular Carlysle Engineering hasn’t stopped this project completely. The Brewery District desperately needs the Amory Corridor to be developed. The existing junkyard look of the stretch from Green St. to the Foundry Lofts is terrible for the neighborhood. Even the anti-gentrification folks couldn’t argue that improving this length of Amory could only do good for the neighborhood. The billboard on the lot ajoining 154-160 Green St. came down a few weeks ago as well. It previously had a sign stating that there was future commercial space for rent by Denenburg Realty but there is nothing about it on the comapany website currently.

Just down from these projects, across the Green St. and adjacent to the T station is a new building that appears to be for various commercial offices and such.

It’s fairly plain but a fairly attractive piece of architecture. It’s clear that this side of the tracks is less afraid of a little modernization. The new building in the area seem to be trying to mesh fresh, clean lines with brick to call out to some of the historic buildings nearby.

It is my distinct hope that this area will continue to develop with this unorthodox Boston architecture as I am tres bored with the 1800’s! There I said it.