The Boston Home Team Blog » New Development

Whole Foods gets hung on the cross

William Brokhof — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 21:16:00 +0000

Mural on Hi-Lo in Jamaica Plain

Reblogged from Boston.com

By Matt Rocheleau, Town Correspondent

A Jamaica Plain group studying the planned Whole Foods grocery store is recommending that the company create a fund to support affordable housing, among other steps aimed at helping the store’s workers and surrounding neighbors.

The ad hoc group formally submitted the 69-page document to the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council Tuesday night. The council did not officially weigh in on the report or its findings, but voted to reconvene at a special meeting July 12 – time and locale to be determined – to discuss next steps about how the council will use the report.

Whole Foods plans to open in Hyde Square in late fall in the space formerly occupied by the Hi-Lo grocery.

Among other recommendations for a community-benefits agreement with Whole Foods: creating a fund for local organizations to use for foreclosure prevention, tenants’ rights counseling, and creating and preserving affordable housing; providing bonuses for employees who are first-time homebuyers in JP or nearby neighborhoods; and allocating funds for to train youths on financial literacy.

The report also asks Whole Foods to commit to hiring a staff made up of 75 percent JP residents at this location over the first five years the store is in operation; and commit to hiring all former Hi-Lo workers interested in working at Whole Foods at positions equivalent to or higher than their former positions.

Other recommendations include that the company commit to the “broadest acceptance” of food programs and coupons; expand a salad bar program to more JP schools; fund a program to assist low- and moderate-income residents in buying healthy foods at locally-owned food sellers; and create a workforce development/small business fund for training programs that target low- and moderate-income residents.

(To read the entire report, click here.)

Aside from recommendations to Whole Foods, the report also makes recommendations to the community, the council, and elected officials, and Whole Foods.

The report and its recommendations are split into six “broad” categories: “affordable healthy and culturally-appropriate food; gentrification; local and livable employment; small businesses; traffic and parking; and alternative uses of 415 Centre Street.”

“It was a difficult process,” the sub-committee’s chair Steve Laferriere said of creating the report during Tuesday’s council meeting. “I don’t think there’s a single person that agrees with every word in that document. Nor is there a single word in that document that everyone agrees with.”

Both Laferriere and the council’s chair, Andrea Howley, expressed sincere thanks for the volunteer efforts made to compile the report that spanned nine meetings and countless hours of research, debate, writing and editing over a three-month period.

In early March, after passing by a one vote margin a measure to publicly opposeWhole Foods’ plans to open a store in Hyde Square, the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council formed the ad-hoc committee to further explore the future of the supermarket space at 415 Centre St.

Whole Foods said after a chaotic community meeting in early June that the company looks forward to seeing the sub-committee’s report and plans to meet with the council soon. Company officials were not immediately available Wednesday morning to comment on the report, the recommendations or a possible future meeting with the council.

Council members said at Tuesday’s meeting no date has been arranged yet for the council to meet with Whole Foods.

The 20-member JPNC is designed to represent residents on public issues, including development. The public stance the council took earlier this spring has no direct impact on Whole Foods’ plans. But it has been a symbol of opposition and also an indicator of future hurdles Whole Foods may face if the company winds up needing additional city licensing or other approval to open.

The council, a volunteer advisory group, would take a separate vote on such matters and pass a majority recommendation to city officials who make the final call to approve or deny requests.

The 15-person ad-hoc committee meanwhile is a mix of five of the JPNC’s current elected membership and 10 neighborhood residents who are not on the elected council but were selected specifically for the ad-hoc group. Three of the 10 resident members of the ad-hoc group resigned during the process of creating the report.

“The debate around Whole Foods replacing Hi-Lo has so far been contentious, emotional and divisive,” the report concludes. “Too often neighbors who share a desire to see their community thrive have found themselves pitted against one another as they debate the potential impacts of Whole Foods in Hyde Square.”

“This report is an attempt to move beyond the divisive debate and begin a new conversation. Such a conversation must recognize that our community is changing, and Whole Foods’ desire to open a store here is a reflection of that change,” the conclusion continues. “With or without Whole Foods, our neighborhood will continue to evolve. Many of the issues raised by the Whole Foods debate are issues that have been boiling beneath the surface for several years. As Whole Foods has drawn considerable attention to these underlying issues, we have a unique opportunity to discuss them as a community of neighbors, and begin working toward solutions.”

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Below is an edited, condensed list of the report’s recommendations. To read the entire report, click here.

Recommendations for the JPNC and the Community

Affordable, Healthy and Culturally-Appropriate Food

Recognizing Whole Foods may increase the community’s access to healthy food.
The council should continue its “strong support” bringing a grocery store to Forest Hills
Partner with a public health organization to help evaluate healthy, affordable, and sustainable food needs in the neighborhood
Identify other healthy food opportunities
Identify ways the council can promote healthy eating and strong local food economies

Gentrification

Continue to support the creation of new affordable housing
Establish the goal of developing more affordable housing in the next ten years than the previous ten (190 units)
Prioritize the creation of affordable rental housing.
Hold residential developers accountable to the affordable housing policies of the council – “Inclusionary Zoning, Transit-Oriented Development and Healthy Housing Guidelines”
Work to reduce condominium conversions by considering promotion of a tax or fee levied on those who convert apartments to condominiums
Make a priority to preserve all existing affordable housing units

Local and Livable Employment

Support and, if necessary, provide training opportunities to former Hi- Lo employees
Continue supporting organized labor and every employees’ rights
Work with other community groups to partner with Whole Foods on recruitment and hiring as well as post-hiring support

Small Businesses

Monitor the effect of Whole Foods on the surrounding business district for at least five years,
Support locally-owned small businesses
Support local nonprofits that support local businesses
Support events that promote local businesses
If Whole Foods applies for a common victualler license or zoning relief to provide takeout, consider the impact these licenses and variances may have on local restaurants.
The council should establish guidelines to inform its commercial licensing and zoning decisions

Recommendations for a Community Benefits Agreement with Whole Foods

Affordable, Healthy and Culturally-Appropriate Food

Commit to the broadest acceptance of food programs and coupons
Provide non-branded education about the benefits of eating fresh produce, related nutritional information, and healthy cooking
Provide a salad bar to the Curley School (as planned) and expand this program to other JP schools.

Gentrification

Create a fund to be used by credible local organizations for anti-displacement work, foreclosure prevention, tenants’ rights counseling, and the creation and preservation of affordable housing.
Provide bonuses for first-time homebuyer employees who purchase homes in JP or immediately-abutting neighborhoods.
Allocate funds for financial literacy youth training and development

Local and Livable Employment

Commit to hiring, across all staffing levels, 75 percent JP residents at this location over the first five years the store is in operation.
Commit to hiring all former Hi-Lo workers interested in working at Whole Foods at positions equivalent to or higher than their former positions at Hi-Lo. Provide appropriate training to help workers advance
Partner with local organizations on recruitment and hiring as well as post-hiring support
Employee demographics at all staffing levels should reflect the racial, ethnic and linguistic demographics of the Hyde/Jackson Square Neighborhood, based on the 2010 Census.
Offer a living wage, as defined by the City of Boston, and a competitive benefits package for full-time workers.
Develop training and employment opportunities for local youths

Small Businesses

Fund a program to assist low- and moderate-income residents in buying healthy foods at locally-owned, retail food sellers and farmers’ markets
Share parking with neighboring business tenants after hours.
Create a workforce development/small business fund for training programs that target low- and moderate-income residents.
Prioritize purchasing products made by small food manufacturers and other local businesses

Traffic and Parking

Provide the traffic study requested by the City of Boston, which should include: traffic flow; peak hour traffic management; parking impact on surrounding community; environmental impact/air quality; deliveries
Commit to addressing any issues raised by the traffic study prior to opening
Commit to a community meeting to discuss traffic and parking one year after opening
Develop programs and incentives to encourage use of alternative transportation means and delivery, including providing bicycle parking, serving as a Hubway kiosk, and offering grocery delivery by bike

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To read the entire report, click here.

E-mail Matt Rocheleau at mjrochele@gmail.com. You can check out Boston.com or patch.com for more on Whole Foods in Jamaica Plain.

Developers won’t confirm or deny new Harvest

William Brokhof — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 21:25:57 +0000

Reblogged from The Gazette:

Harvest Co-op plans new JP store

By John Ruch April 29, 2011

FOREST HILLS—Harvest Co-op Markets is planning a new grocery store as part of a retail/office development on Washington Street south of the Forest Hills T Station.

The new market would be 9,000 square feet and could open in late 2012, Harvest General Manager Mike St. Clair told the Gazette. The existing Harvest at 57 South St. would remain open, though its offerings might change, St. Clair said. Harvest, a member-owned co-op based in Cambridge, recently announced the new store on its web site. Also announced is a new Harvest Co-op for the Fenway as part of the Yawkey Station redevelopment.

The new JP store “will offer a full variety of fresh and organic produce, meat, seafood, deli, grocery and health/wellness products,” St. Clair said in an e-mail to the Gazette.

“We have been looking to grow in Jamaica Plain for years to better serve our members and customers with a bigger store, larger product offering and dedicated parking,” said St. Clair, when asked whether the expansion has anything to do with Whole Foods Market coming to JP.

The South Street store is in a good location, but “it is quite small and a challenge to offer a complete grocery shopping experience,” he said. That shop is in a storefront attached to a house with no parking lot.

“We hope to be in this location for a long time,” St. Clair said of the existing JP store. “Our plans are to refine the product variety to best suit the needs of the neighbors in such a challenging facility.”

Last year, Harvest attempted to open a Milton store as part of a development including a CVS Pharmacy. The town meeting rejected that plan due to noise, traffic and property-value concerns, as the Quincy Patriot Ledger reported at the time.

While St. Clair would not name the development team for the new JP store, he confirmed that it is planned for a vacant MBTA parcel on Washington Street at Ukraine Way. Jamaica Plain-based WCI Corp. has a longstanding plan to build a retail/office building there featuring a grocery store.

WCI spokesperson Brian McGinley declined to comment on Harvest’s new store announcement and not confirm or deny its involvement in the WCI plan. He referred questions to Harvest.

The announcement at www.harvest.coop says that the grocer has signed letters of intent with developers on the JP and Fenway projects, and that “neither [project] is certain” to happen.

“The developers selected Harvest because of our excellent reputation in the Metro Boston area for our high-quality and healthy foods, our many years of community involvement and our commitment to environmental stewardship,” the announcement said.

A city-led community planning process for several vacant MBTA parcels around the Forest Hills T Station, which last years and wrapped up in 2009, pegged a grocery store as a top local desire, as the Gazette previously reported.

WCI Corp. won development rights to two of the MBTA lots flanking Washington Street at Ukraine Way.

Its plans for the western parcel, known as “Arboretum Place,” included a 32,000-square-foot building, including a grocery store, with a plaza in front. The plan for the eastern parcel, on the T station side of Washington, involved a 12,000-square-foot office building with ground-floor retail.

The plan includes about 50 on-site parking spaces on the two parcels, as well as on-street parking. Nearly half of the parcels’ area would remain open space.

In community meetings last year, the WCI plan was favorably received, but traffic was a local concern.

“There’s a lot of stuff up in the air,” McGinley said when asked about the status of WCI’s redevelopment of the parcels.

WCI is a developer and contractor whose work includes various residential and commercial buildings around JP, including the company’s headquarters at 500 Amory St.

***

I for one am all for Harvest and pretty much any of the improvements outlined for Forest Hills.

Casey Overpass – makes it or breaks it for Forest Hills

William Brokhof — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 12:17:07 +0000

I’ve been following the online conversations about Casey Overpass and speaking to a few locals. It seems the overpass is a crucial design problem for local authorities. In my opinion, it’s a make it or break it challenge for the future of Forest Hills. An outstanding design that is welcoming and solves the unbearable traffic issues in the area would transform the area and produce revenue and strengthen property values and the tax base for decades. On the flip side, get it wrong and Forest Hills could easily go down the drain.

There are so many design challenges in this city that go unmet. Instead of holding out for the long ball, impatience and short-sighted frugality tend to ruin the process. I’ve seen it many times right here in Jamaica Plain. I sincerely hope the Forest Hills residents are vocal and get some say in how they want their neighborhood to look and function. I’m reblogging an article from Patch here for your convenience:

On a dreary, cloudy day, the Casey Overpass looks even uglier. Large brick-red scabs of rust spot the I-beams along its side. The towering concrete supports are streaked with brown and orange runoff. A look up to the underside of the overpass reveals flaking, crumbling brickwork.

Jamaica Plain’s Monsignor William J. Casey Overpass is an eyesore to say the least. But its increasing structural deficiency is what began to worry the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. And now, after 57 years of mounting disrepair, the state is making plans to tear the thing down.

MassDOT has launched a six-month study of alternatives to replace the Casey Overpass, during which there will be committee meetings, as well as forums open to the public. The first of these is public forums will be held Wednesday at 6:30 in the Agassiz Community Center.

“The project’s been in the works for some time,” says Adam Hurtubise of MassDOT. “We haven’t decided on a course of action yet. One of the reasons we’re having these community meetings is to get feedback from neighbors so that we can develop a repair project that can meet the needs of the most people.”

Neighborhood groups, green advocates, motorists, bicyclists, pedestrians and state officials all have an opinion on what should replace the overpass, whether that be an at-grade redesigned intersection or a new, smaller above-grade overpass.

The current overpass is both higher and wider than is needed, after being built over elevated train tracks that have been long closed. It was recently reduced to one lane each way due to unsafe outer lanes.

However, some community members are unimpressed with the communication so far. Frederick Vetterlein, co-chair of the Stonybrook Neighborhood Association Steering Committee, has attended several meetings regarding the overpass’s future but has yet to see examples of what might replace it.

“I was disappointed that there hadn’t been concrete work done to show up traffic patterns,” he explains. “The process is only six months long and we’re already a month into it. I just wonder when the actual engineering work will be done to show where the traffic is going to go… so we could see ramps or how many surface lanes and traffic lights would be necessary, where the exits are, how the traffic is processed.”

Hurtubise says those concerns “are all things for which we’re soliciting public input.”

Because heavy traffic on the Casey Overpass affects roads deep into the surrounding neighborhoods of Forest Hills, Stonybrook and others, Vetterlein asserts that traffic control needs to be the number one priority in the redesign of the intersection.

“It’s already a mess there – the traffic jams up twice a day and it’s like a giant wall that blocks and separates Jamaica Plain and makes Forest Hills very inaccessible to the rest of Jamaica Plain,” Vetterlein says.

Sarah Freeman, a longtime JP resident on the working advisory group for the project, is hopeful that they will be able to reach a solution that meets the needs the various user groups of the area in a greener way.

Freeman, who also represents the Arborway Coalition, sees the renovation of the Casey Overpass as a way to reconnect a section of the Emerald Necklace and re-open Franklin Park to much of JP. Currently, it is largely cut off from residents due to the size and backed-up traffic of the overpass.

“From an Emerald Necklace point of view, the function that’s needed is to connect the Arboretum with Franklin Park in a way that doesn’t negatively impact other uses but achieves the goal of safe and inviting connection between the parks,” she says. “There are neighborhoods that have ‘their’ neighborhood park and much of JP lost that with the overpass becoming a barrier rather than a connector.”

While generally residents are hopeful about the project, Vetterlein also harbors concerns about the affect a smaller or nonexistent overpass will have if Jamaica Plain continues to grow.

“We are not against taking down the overpass. It would be a beautiful thing to be able to do it, but we want to be convinced that it will work, that this isn’t something that will continue to plague us in the future,” he explains. “There is a vast amount of development that’ll happen in this area. If this overpass doesn’t fit in to a plan for growth for the area, it is just going to continue to be a dividing point.”

For more information, visit the Mass Dot Casey Overpass Project Web site or attend the first meeting, April 6, 2011 from 6:30 to 8:30 at the Agassiz Community Center, 20 Child St.

Blemished to Bling?

William Brokhof — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 22:36:43 +0000

Reblogging this from Boston.com:

By Matt Rocheleau, Town Correspondent

The Internet network MSN has listed Jamaica Plain among 10 “revitalized” neighborhoods from across the country.

In a photo-and-text web gallery published last week in the Microsoft-run site’s “Real Estate” section, the Boston neighborhood is seventh on a list dubbed “From blighted to bling.” There is no explanation or methodology for how the list was compiled, nor does it claim to necessarily be a top 10, or ranked, list.

The gallery was created by SwitchYard Media, which according to its website produces multimedia content for various web publications. The media company and its writer who compiled the list were not immediately available to comment Wednesday afternoon.

The list was released as concerns stirred by a new grocery store swirl over the current and future state of gentrification in Jamaica Plain.

The slideshow begins:

Run-down, dilapidated, crime-infested and drug-ridden are descriptors that homeowners typically avoid attaching to their neighborhoods — unless those terms describe what the area was like before its revitalization.

Now, many of the urban neighborhoods that were forsaken in the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s are staging a resurgence. Frequently, artists seeking affordable work spaces have been at the forefront of this urban renaissance … Usually, it doesn’t take long for developers to get in on the action.

About Jamaica Plain, the list says:

A 1960s proposal to build a highway through the “southwest corridor” of Boston’s Jamaica Plain neighborhood accelerated white flight to the suburbs. The road was never built, but during the project’s planning stages, hundreds of businesses and families were uprooted, shaking the community.

Many of the former factory workers’ homes turned over to Cuban, Dominican, and Puerto Rican immigrants, giving the neighborhood an eclectic mix. But abandoned factories left the neighborhood in a state of neglect.

The turnaround started in the late 1980s, when cheap rent attracted students, artists and a vibrant lesbian and gay community. In the past decade, conversion of commercial spaces into condos added to the neighborhood’s appeal for new residents. Now Jamaica Plain, a 4.5-square-mile community, has become one of the hottest neighborhoods in Boston, leaving some local boosters wondering if they can afford to stay.

E-mail Matt Rocheleau at mjrochele@gmail.com.

Plaza Meat Market in Jamaica Plain now selling local pork, eggs, butter and milk!

William Brokhof — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 23:11:07 +0000

I am very excited that each week, fresh, local food will be arriving at the Plaza Meat Market. Located at 207 Boylston Street, between Amory and Washington, just a short walk from Stony Brook station. A whole pig arrives every other Friday for now. Every cut will be available including offal and bones. They should be able to offer very competitive prices because they are buying the whole pig. They also have local butter, eggs and milk! They hope to also patronize City Growers produce when the season begins in June.

The Plaza Meat Market has been in the neighborhood for 30 years and they hope to expand their local food stocks if the interest is there. Vote with your dollars!

First Whole Foods, what’s next? Celebrity sightings?

William Brokhof — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 23:37:06 +0000

In case you couldn’t find the whole letter, here it is. From Laura Derba, president of the North Atlantic region for Whole Foods, to Jamaica Plain:

Dear Residents of Jamaica Plain,

We are very pleased to be opening a Whole Foods Market on Centre Street. We have met with city officials and followed the media coverage so we understand that while many of you are excited that we’re coming to JP, there are also a number of concerns and questions. As the regional president of Whole Foods Market, I want to take this opportunity to have what will be the first of many communications that I hope will serve to clarify several issues and ease your concerns.

HERE’S WHAT HAPPENED: When we learned that the aging ownership at Knapp Foods was closing Hi-Lo Foods and making the lease available, we jumped at the chance to be a part of such a diverse, neighborhood with a passion for great food. Prior to signing the lease, however, the news was leaked to the media, along with a lot of false information.

Celebrity sightings in JP?

We were enormously disappointed that you were not informed in a more respectful and organized manner. Ideally, we would have had the opportunity to communicate with city and neighborhood officials prior to our announcement, as is our standard policy.

Our design plans will begin when we gain access to the building in late March. While the interior requires extensive renovations, we have absolutely no plans to change the structure of the building or the exterior features that are so important to the community — the mural, the awning and the clock – will all remain intact.

HI-LO STAFF: We understand and appreciate your concerns for the future of Hi-Lo’s staff. We have already hired several Hi-Lo employees in our stores, and we are working with the local unemployment office to make sure that the remaining employees know that Whole Foods Market is guaranteeing them priority interviews at any of our store locations and facilities.

NEW HIRING: Once renovations are underway and we have an opening date set, we will be holding job screenings at the store location that will be open to the public, as is our standard practice. We plan to hire around 100 Team Members—approximately 70 percent of those positions will be full-time with benefits.

PRODUCT OFFERINGS: We believe that everyone has the right to have access to affordable, high quality, clean food free of artificial ingredients and additives. This includes carrying a wide variety of Latino products. As with all of our stores, we will carry products that cater to the diverse demands of the community. If shoppers express interest in a product and it meets our quality standards, we will carry it.

YOUR COMMUNITY MARKET: Being a community partner is a responsibility we take very seriously. We are eager to show our support and commitment to the wonderful organizations that make up the fabric of the JP neighborhood. As a company we give 5 percent back to our local communities through non-profit organizations and community and education groups.

When we solidify our plan for the store, we will host community meetings to answer all of your questions. Please know that our intentions are to be productive and positive members of the JP community and to provide you with high quality food and exceptional customer service at great value. We understand that we will only be able to prove our commitment to you with our actions.

Sincerely,

Laura Derba

President – North Atlantic Region

Whole Foods Market

Stoked for Tres Gatos – new Jamaica Plain tapas and books!

William Brokhof — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 23:10:12 +0000

If you haven’t already heard the buzz, there’s a new guy in town. Tres Gatos will be serving tapas, music and books. I think it’s a marvelous idea and I wish them well. I won’t try and get all shmarmy describing a place I’ve never been yet – I’ll let you know what I think after I visit. I hope to make it by on Wednesday night if they’re not too crowded. It should be fun to see how they handle first night jitters. Good Luck Tres Gatos!

Tres Gatos opens Wednesday night at 5p! Credit David Schafer

Bartlett Square to be Cornerstone of Jamaica Plain’s Brewery District

William Brokhof — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 22:18:30 +0000

Jamaica Plain kicks off 2011 with the addition of Bartlett Square

2010 was box office year for Jamaica Plain real estate. There were certainly some ups and downs and working with the banks has been no cake walk – but Jamaica Plain homes have held in there for the long haul. JP has that certain je ne sais quoi that can be found no where else in Boston.

Although the commercial side of Jamaica Plain had some shake ups along Centre and South Streets, and there’s some controversy over the new Whole Foods market scheduled to fill the Hi-Lo space, the east side of the MBTA tracks is still decidedly lacking restaurants, cafes, bars, shops, etc. making those locations somewhat less desirable due to the distance to amenities. However, it look like Jamaica Plain might be inching closer to a balanced commercial and retail base as several large projects move forward

Over the last 15 years the “hot spots” in Jamaica Plain real estate have migrated. Obviously there will always be strength in the Pondside, Mosshill and Sumner Hill markets, but there seems to be some real interesting growth in the Brookside neighborhood (more recently referred to as The Brewery District), Parkside, Stony Brook, Jackson and Hyde Squares and of course Woodbourne. It’s exciting. While one always hopes that development is fair and equitable, it’s nice to see what would otherwise be empty lots repurposed.

While I reserve my opinions on some of the proposed and partially completed projects for a later date, some of them I find downright exciting. I happen to live on Amory Street near The Brewery and the new project at Bartlett Square has my eye.

I attended one of the community meetings when the project was in the planning stage and I was immediately impressed with how well Maple Hurst Builders handled the design integration with the surrounding buildings not to mention the complicated traffic and parking issues in the area. I held my breath that the project would pull through and maintain the overall “spirit” that had been proposed at that meeting. It has surpassed all expectations thus far.

I was immediately impressed with how well Maple Hurst Builders handled the design integration of Bartlett Square with the surrounding buildings, not to mention the complicated traffic and parking issues in the area.

I’ve done a lot of traveling throughout the United States, paying special attention to the architecture and infrastructure of various places along the way. It’s something I find very interesting, and to be frank, after visiting some of these places, parts of Boston are underwhelming in terms of development. It seems that often in an attempt to maintain strict planning and zoning rules in an effort to maintain a rigid historic Boston vernacular – the overall city suffers. I yearn for more creativity and variance but it is so rare.

Enters Bartlett Square. Don’t get me wrong, it’s no Frank Gehry fantasy (not a fan actually) but rather a very well designed addition to the neighborhood. The project fits nicely with the rows of old brick buildings between Amory and Washington Streets while tipping it’s hat to a more and more eco-conscious, modernist market.

I have been a fan of Maple Hurst Builders since I began my real estate career. The workmanship is noticeable, attention to detail is evident and the materials are high quality. The company ethos is apparent and sets them apart from much of the competition. Here’s an excerpt from the Maplehurst website – might as well let them ring their own bell:

Specializing in the redevelopment of under-utilized urban properties, Maple Hurst Builders has earned particular acclaim for the development, design and construction of in-fill projects that enhance their respective Boston neighborhoods by artfully blending classic architecture with contemporary details.

Each residence crafted by Maple Hurst Builders is distinctive, featuring amenities and workmanship typically reserved for custom-built homes.

Respect for the environment has always been an integral element of the design and construction of every project. Green building and sustainable construction are not merely marketing terms at Maple Hurst Builders. Resource and energy conservation, judicious use of materials and permanence of the structure are paramount. Maple Hurst Builders always will strive to deliver properties of unsurpassed value and enduring beauty.

The development at Bartlett Square is pursuing a rigorous eco-conscious design including solar panels that will support hot water and common electric needs, bike storage, a Kone “eco-efficient” elevator, Energy Star appliances, high efficiency heating and cooling and vegetative green roof, etc.

Bartlett Square employs serious eco-conscious design

In addition to the 13 condo units (two of which are affordable units per city of Boston guidelines) there will be three desperately needed retail spaces ranging from 775 SF to 1875 SF. I’m swooning at the mere idea of some healthy food options. Personally, I have my eye on a certain live foods restaurant. I suppose what stores go in will have a dramatic effect on the area and help determine the personality of that portion of the neighborhood.

I believe this section of Jamaica Plain has some amazing history and architecture, setting it apart from the more bucolic JP that is west of the MBTA line. The Brewery District and abutting neighborhoods seem to have the potential to be something like Williamsburg in Brooklyn or parts of Portland, OR. I like the grittier feel and the antique brick structures.

Locationally, the project is the bomb. Some of my favorite places in Jamaica Plain are all within walking distance. Just a few doors down from a little bodega and a block from Canto 6 with it’s steamed up windows and ridiculously mouth watering pastries and sandwiches. BMS Paper is Valhalla for party people. One of the best kept secrets in Boston IMO. You can get anything from industrial kitchen supplies to wine glasses for about $.50 each. I’m saving up for the “diner” plates they have. You know, those thick, heavy plain white plates and cups that are so strong they last for 50 years? Next on the list is Axiom Center for New and Experimental Media.

AXIOM is located at the corner of Green and Armory Streets. The gallery is on the ground floor level of the Green Street train stop on the Orange line at 141 Green St. A little about Axiom from their website:

Axiom was founded in 2004 by Heidi Kayser as an artist’s collective who originally exhibited work in a collaborative studio space. From 2005 to 2009, Axiom grew into a non-profit center whose mission is to support and nurture cutting-edge contemporary art practice through exhibitions, events, education and collaboration.

In 2010, Axiom merged with Boston Cyberarts, the organizers of the renowned biennial festival, the Boston Cyberarts Festival.

In 2011, Axiom returns to a collaborative management practice by forming the new Axiom Group, a collective of artists who curate exhibitions and events, provide educational programming, exhibit their own work, and participate in day-to-day operations. We are not currently accepting new members, but we love short term volunteers! If you are interested in volunteering or interning, (up to three college credits available) contact us: info@axiomart.org.

From the gallery at Green Street station, heading north up a gorgeous bike and pedestrian path takes you right by The Brewery complex which is home to some of Jamaica Plain’s favorite businesses. Bella Luna and the Milky Way pump out the best hand made galactic eats this side of the galaxy. You can’t go wrong with a Simple Simon and one of the Sam Adams brew made specially for this establishment. Next door is Ula Cafe, a treasure trove of delectable breakfast yummy treats and creatively combined sandwiches. Everything there seems to be fair trade, consciously sourced, etc. Stop in for an excellent cup a Joe and free Wi-Fi. When you’ve had your fill of some exotic strada or your favorite – the bacon, cheddar and chive scones, and you’re feeling a bit lumpy, you can jog upstairs to the massive Mike’s Fitness. Mike’s is a great gym and you’ll find, like the rest of Jamaica Plain, Mike’s is pretty diverse. Anyone will feel comfortable working out here. My favorite spot is on the recumbant bike or the Cybex elliptical in front of the huge windows overlooking the MBTA tracks and the Southwest Corridor.

As the project proceeds, I’ll keep you informed with more updates. If you have any questions in the meantime don’t hesitate to ask. If you’d like to hear it from the horse’s mouth in person, you can speak to the developers of Bartlett Square at the 1st Annual Jamaica Plain Home Energy Fair, Saturday March 5th, 9:30-1 pm at Bella Luna.

Jamaica Plain’s 1st Annual Home Energy Fair

William Brokhof — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 21:58:18 +0000

- 10:30 Introduction by MC (BJ Ray of Prudential Unlimited Realty).

- 10:35 Presentation on energy in homes, energy in the electrical grid, your energy footprint.

- 10:50 Presentation on energy reduction measures big and small.

- 11:05 Quick testimonials from DER homeowners.

- 11:15 Quick pitch from Green Justice Coalition on action items for their campaign.

- 11:25 Introduction of “Ask an Expert” participants.

- 11:30 Pizza is served!

- 11:30 Participants are free to mingle, have pizza, and ask questions of experts.

- 12:30 MC announce contest winners.

Some of the presenters:

- Dave Legg or other from National Grid on DER program

- Irina Rasputnis (NEEP) on the bewildering array of energy incentive programs

- Mass Energy Consumers Alliance on purchasing renewable electricity

- BBMC: Linda or Kim on materials choices for kitchens& baths

- Ben Crouch Organics on local food production

- Green City Growers on local food production

- Cool JP on their block-by-block “Carbon Diet” campaign

- Green Justice Coalition on their efforts to create “Green Jobs” in weatherization

- Bikes Not Bombs, JP Bikes on pedal-powered transportation, here and abroad

- Living Structures, on reducing your home’s operating energy

- Roxbury Green Power/Green Grease Monkey, on waste veggie oil for transportation and home heating fuel

- 350.org on climate activism and why 350 matters

Bartlett Square to be the Cornerstone of Jamaica Plain’s Brewery District

William Brokhof — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 21:41:38 +0000