Pickleball/Padel complex proposed in Seaport
A controversial new project is seeking approval in the neighborhood. Ballers Boston Seaport LLC is seeking to create 12 racquet sports courts at the corner of Pier 4 Blvd and Congress Street. The proposed hours at 7am to 11pm, seven days a week.
The project has supporters within the racquet sports community, however, it raises concerns among other Seaport residents, primarily those who live near the project at Echelon, Alyx and Metlo, as well as the surrounding businesses. There have been a number of similar projects which have led to highly charged complaints in other cities.
The SNA has had discussions with Ballers, primarily about noise concerns and the long hours of operation. We have received no meaningful response. We are also puzzled by thier proposal to seek a series of one-day alcohol licenses, to avoid the cost and permitting process of acquiring an actual license. This is an approach we have not seen taken by any other Seaport business.
There will be an abutters meeting on May 19 at 7pm. All are welcome and encouraged to attend and share your thoughts whether in favor or opposed to the project.
Join Zoom Meeting:
By Phone: +1 646 558 8656
We need to understand the position of the Seaport residents on this project and would appreciate your input. Please let us know your thoughts at:
Echelon residents and the Borrachito restaurant continue conversations over noise
An ongoing discussion at ther Echelon complex involves noise complaints with the Borrachito restaurant. The converns center on the ambient noise and vibrations which resonate from the restaurant and the outdoor noise of patrons leaving and the ride share vehicles servicing them.
Borrachito has worked to address the issues with sound proofing in their space and added security to adress the crowds leaving the restaurant, particularly late at night, given their 2am closing time seve days per week.
The discussions led to a Boston Licensing Boasrd hearing to hear the issues and search for solutions. The Board directed Borrachito to share the current security and crowd control plans and any updates on hours and noise mitigation.
The SNA is very involved in the discussions and works toward a goal of a vibrant Seaport with many dining options balanced against the needs of a residential meighborhood.
We need your opinion on the Seaport Blvd/Pier 4 Blvd intersection!
We are continuing to have discussions with the City about Pier 4 Blvd and how to make it safer for pedestrians and easier to navigate for vehicles. A focus of our next meeting will be on whether a ‘pedestrian scramble’ makes sense for the Seaport Blvd/Pier 4 Blvd intersection. A scramble is what you may have seen at the South Station intersection; all the traffic lights turn red for a period of time, allowing pedestrians to all cross throughout the intersection at once. The Don’t Walk signs stay on as the green lights alternate for the opposing directions, allowing traffic to turn without pedestrians crossing.
We want your opinion on whether this is an appropriate concept for Fan Pier and Seaport Blvds! Please let email us at:
City pursues partial Northern Avenue Bridge demolition
The City of Boston has applied to the Army of Corps of Engineers and the Massachusetts Historical Commission for permission to demolish the superstructure portion of the Northern Ave Bridge. Citing the continued deterioration of the bridge as a safety hazard to the waterway, the city would like to begin demolition of the superstructure this spring, leaving only the bridge stanchions in place. The work would involve very precise removal of the pieces, with catches under the Bridge to protect the waterway from debris. Cranes will be used to carefully remove debris and other objects on the bridge deck.
Boston has pursued this request in the past but was denied permission without a set plan of bridge replacement in place. The hope is that the rapid deterioration of the Bridge will convince all parties of the immediate need for removal.
We strongly support the city’s initiative and trust that it will be approved, and demolition can begin soon.
Neighborhood news!
Great things going on in the neighborhood!!
New to the Seaport:
Tacos El Chikis is opening a full-service restaurant with seating for 20 in its dining room and a seasonal outdoor patio with additional seating for 18. The restaurant, which will fill a spot at 50 Nothern Ave that has been vacant since the closing of B Good, will be managed by the same people who run Committee, a long standing gathering spot next door to this space.
Maple and Ash, a new location for a midwestern steakhouse chain, will be opening in the Echelon Superette. The ownerspromise "an innovative take on the traditional steakhouse, mixing a modern aesthetic with authentic service to deliver classic wood-fired dishes."
Bambola! A new restaurant is gong in to the Park Place building, replacing the Boston Social Club. It is an upscale Italian locations which promises to be "the perfect balance between elegance and excess, aiming at offering the best, until the very last detail."
Sleeper Street to become one-way
Representatives of the Seaport Neighborhood Association met with the Boston Transportation Department (BTD) and others to discuss a new proposal. BTD is recommending that Sleeper Street - between Congress Street and Seaport Blvd - become a one-way road traveling southbound.
The proposal is being made following the tragic death of a pedestrian at the Congress/Sleeper corner caused by a left turning vehicle onto Sleeper Street. BTD has pursued ways to make this intersection safer, particularly with its proximity to the Children’s Museum. They would like to commence construction of this change in April.
The SNA felt a bit blindsided by the proposal, as this meeting was the first we had heard of it. We raised concerns over the ripple effect throughout the Seaport. While BTD reported that this would cause an increase in peak hour traffic at Seaport/Sleeper of “only” 5.8%, we commented that this was not an insignificant increase for an intersection that is already overcrowded. It will also increase peak traffic on Thomson Place by 4%. We expressed fears that the travel increase on those roads, as well as on Boston Wharf Road and Pier 4 Blvd, will exacerbate the exiting dangers to pedestrians.
BTD discussed alternatives they reviewed, including stop lights at Congress/Sleeper. They rejected that idea, saying that lights only encourage speeding as vehicles approach, trying to ‘beat the green.’ We respectfully pointed out that the Seaport has the same issue at the very intersections where traffic will be increased by the Sleeper St. change and asked that pedestrian safety in those areas be considered. We suggested that Sleeper can be kept two-way with better signage, pedestrian traffic lights and raised crosswalks, all proposals we are considering in the Seaport.
Our friends at the Fort Point Neighborhood Association (FPNA) asked for the underlying data for BTD’s statistics and what time frame it was collected, given how much has changed in recent years. A timeline was also requested, and that other stakeholders be involved such as the Lady of Good Voyage Church and the loading dock owners along Sleeper Street. It was also pointed out that Thomson Place is a private road whose owner should be alerted to this proposal.
The representative of the Children’s Museum spoke in support of the plan as did two representatives of Sleeper Street residents. The residents asked that the speed bumps remain on Sleeper St, and it was requested that a ’Not a Through Street’ sign be added at Farnsworth and Congress.
We concluded the meeting by stating that the SNA sees pedestrian safety as our top priority. We fully appreciate the reasoning for the proposed change and only ask that a comprehensive plan for safety throughout the neighborhood be discussed before moving forward. We do not want to see safety established in one location only to endanger other areas. It was stressed that the Seaport is a true neighborhood of residents and no longer just parking lots and commercial buildings. Consideration of traffic flow impacts throughout the neighborhood should be part of the process.
The BTD was very patient and understanding of our concerns. They have agreed to set up a meeting for Seaport residents to discuss the proposal further. We will share the details when the meeting is set.
Bike Lanes discussed in citywide meeting
Approximately 60+ attendees from all over the city attended a meeting to discuss the growth of bike lanes in Boston, with representation from Beacon Hill, Back Bay, North End, Mission Hill, Jamaica Plain, Roslindale, Roxbury, West Roxbury and Brighton.
The purpose of the meeting was to bring together as many neighborhood groups from across the city to see what the shared experience has been with the newly installed bike lanes.
The organizer, a resident of Back Bay, described himself as someone who enjoys biking and someone who is not against having bike lanes in Boston. However, he expressed personal concern over the city forging ahead with bike lane installations despite negative feedback prior to installation as well as the city’s lack of a long-term plan for sustainable infrastructure. When his concerns were not acknowledged by city representatives, he decided to put together a group to explore what can be done moving forward. The group is Pedal Safe Boston and a website of the same name will launch soon. The organizer shared his experience of living in the Back Bay with the new bike lanes. He stated safety concerns for himself and his family members. Meeting participants expressed support for bike lanes, but frustration that feedback from neighborhood groups has not been considered. Many spoke about the increased traffic due to decreased lanes on major thoroughfares and poor behavior from drivers due to the increase in traffic.
Some of the areas mentioned by community members include Mission Hill (3-4 lanes down to 2 with a bus lane in the middle), Cambridge Street to Mass pike now only one lane and one bike lane), Jamaica Plain downtown area now down to 1 lane, and State Street from Atlantic to Tremont, now down to 1 lane. It was also stated that small businesses may have closed in part due to the difficulty of receiving deliveries. This opinion was expressed by both Wharf Street and Back Bay representatives. Boylston Street has lost curb access for deliveries on one side of the road.
The resounding sentiment was that neighborhood groups have tried to participate in the planning and were shut down, coming away with a feeling that the administration has set an agenda to put bike lanes all over the city, despite the feedback they were receiving and now there is no way to correct for mistakes. A Boston firefighter said their ladders can no longer reach the top of some buildings due to the new bike lanes in parts of the city. He stated he is not pro or con bike lanes, just that, if not properly planned for, they can cause unsafe situations for public safety.
Pedal Safe Boston is in the early stages. There will be additional information once their website is up and running.
Thanks for attending the Pier 4 Blvd traffic and pedestrian safety meeting!
We had a great turnout, with 65 residents in the meeting along with Councilor Ed Flynn and other city officials. The message was loud and clear that the intersections and sidewalks are dangerous and traffic gets gridlocked at times. The core issues are double parking, inconsiderate drivers, intersection blocking by cars trying to get through and lack of enforcement on parking, vehicles and scooters.
To see the presentation from the meeting, with explanatory notes as well as meeting takeaways and action plan, please go to the 'Pier 4 Traffic Meeting' link above, or just click here:
How about some GOOD traffic news!
WS Development reports that they:
"...are currently reconstructing Boston Wharf Road between Seaport Blvd and Congress Street as well as West Service Road (which is Boston Wharf Road south of Congress Street) south to Pastene Alley. This will culminate in the repaving and re-striping of this entire corridor later this month and significantly improve travel conditions for motorists and cyclists along this corridor."
This is part of their project that they refer to as the Seaport Roadways work, which involved the complete reconstruction of Seaport Blvd from the Moakley Bridge to Pier 4 Blvd back in 2017-2018 with the landscaped medians, trees, artwork, and bike lanes, as well as their reconstruction of Pier 4 Blvd (formerly East Service Road) between Congress and Seaport back in 2021-2022.
A next phase of the Seaport Roadways project will involve the reconstruction of Congress Street from Boston Wharf Road east to Pier 4 Blvd. This scope will involve a landscaped median similar to the one on Seaport Blvd in front of 101-121 Seaport, as well as a revised condition at the I-90 off-ramps allowing for a proper left turn at that location.
This next phase will be a great benefit to our neighborhood. Currently, drivers coming off of the I-90 East ramp and turnoff which leads into the Seaport, who want to head downtown, have to turn left on Seaport Blvd, adding to our congestion. The elimination of the small end of the median on Congress Street, pictured, will allow drivers to legally turn left on Congress and not have to continue to Seaport Blvd!
UPDATE - Seaport as Possible 'Open Container Social Zone'
We heard from residents who expressed concern about the “Open Container Zone’ concept which was described in a WGBH news story.
Two of our Seaport Neighborhood Association board members met Corean Reynolds (Director of Nightlife Economy for the City of Boston) to discuss the idea. It turned out to be an excellent conversation. SNA wanted to understand the basic idea and also the problem they are trying to solve. The situation feels different than what was described in the article. A few highlights of the conversation:
· Corean’s role is much broader than night life (drinking, clubs etc)
· Corean is focused on all the elements that help a city maintain an effective economy at night including, safety, transportation, construction, etc, so that people can work and play in a safe environment.
· She said that the social zone concept would be a temporary area that might allow alcohol, but could also include music, art, festivals etc.
· There is not a proposal or plan for anything permanent.
· Permits would have to be applied for and the usual process would take place, including the involvement of neighborhood associations.
· The Seaport is not a priority for social zones. City government recognizes that is a new area with tons going on.
· She did mention that the ‘pop-up’ concept could provide an opportunity to drive more diversity in the Seaport.
Corean described her role as a night-time economy specialist, a role that focuses more on how to safely impact vibrancy in Boston. She seemed appreciative of us taking the time to hear about her impressive background and her scope of responsibility. She has been in this newly created city position for 18 months.
The SNA came away quite impressed with Corean Reynolds and we feel that a very good line of communication has been established.
Summer Street Pilot Program ends - bus lane Is eliminated
The Summer Street Pilot Program has ended and the traffic lanes will revert to what they were before the test program began.
In the end, the time saved for the buses was measured in only seconds and the Boston Transportation Department decided that was not enough improvement to disrupt the car traffic on the busy road.
The BTD heard from many drivers who were not happy with the greatly increased traffic times and reduction of flow on Summer Street.
Barking Crab Expansion
The Barking Crab restaurant is looking to bring in a floating barge to increase their seating. We understand their request but are also concerned with what this means for the channel, nearby moorings and access through the waterway. We are continuing to monitor the review and approval process.
