Hello Everyone,

Hope all is well with and that 2008 has, up to now, been good. It's been a while since I had the opportunity to post. Work is taking all my time and energy. Anyhoo, on Wednesday of this week I had the opportunity to do a beLive with Alan Green, an East Cambridge resident, to talk about the Green Line extension and especially the future of the Lechmere station. Hopefully some of you had a chance to watch it... it was fun, thank Alan for your participation.
The show ended a little bit too soon and we weren't able to give the details of Alan's Guided tour so here its:

To all of you who are interested in the future of Lechmere station and issues related to the Green Line Extension:

This is to remind you about the Lechmere/Green Line Extension walk, which is now rescheduled to take place this very Saturday, March 22nd, at 9:30 a.m.--starting from the flagpoles in front of the Museum of Science and ending at Union Square. And given that the weather forecast is to our favor this time, let us take full advantage of it! read more...

Hello everyone,

It's been a while since my last post, work has kept and will be keeping me busy til year's end... But I had to update you on this wonderful news: North Point Park is open. Mark, who first got me on the story, notified me last Thursday that the park is now open. I'm not sure if it was all due to his effort and the Postcard campaign, initialized by Jay Wasserman, but i'll give them credit. Community activists did their part in bringing attention, in a very cool way, to the fact that although the park had been completed for a while it wasn't open...Well now it is... a nice Christmas gift for all to enjoy... so don't be deterred by the weather, go for a stroll and enjoy this beautiful new park... !

Best holiday wishes to all...

02141-0

Hello everyone, on this beautiful day I'm extremely happy to announce that last night's BZA hearings were quite amazing in many ways...
First and foremost, the Mirant case regarding the boardwalk was approved. Second, their application for a variance to install a 2nd Jet Engine was declined. In both cases a tremendous success for the community.
I'm sure, by now, you're asking but... but... what happened... Well here it is... Mirant came to the BZA with an alternative plan to build the walkway in the Broadway Canal... The new plan, a revision of the original, was to finish the last 3rd, maybe a little more, of the boardwalk 15 feet away from their bank. This would alleviate their "security" concerns and abide to the requirement for a boardwalk, included as mitigation, in their 2000 variance. The residents voiced their concerns and support and the board approved it. So, hopefully within the next year there will be a beautiful boardwalk on Broadway...Canal. It's wicked cool... read more...

Well work has kept me busy and I wasn't able to do as much as I anticipated on Mirant over the last few days...
But let me update you on the latest development. Mirant came to the ECPT (East Cambridge Planing Team) on the 24th of October to present their latest plan, in a long string of proposals, not to build the boardwalk...Here it is... They went to DCR to get help finding a alternative proposal to the boardwalk... the outcome of the search was a bridge crossing from the end of the walkway, along Cambridge Parkway, across the river to the Museum of Science. Although the project was very beautiful it had a couple of serious shortcomings: it didn't serve the East Cambridge resident and it wasn't financed. Once more Mirant had completely ignored the community. The community soundly rejected the proposal.

It's hard to understand the motivation and thought process of Mirant. The main reason they invoke not to build the boardwalk is security. And, as one resident powerfully remarked, if security is the real issue then having a power plant in the middle of the city is obviously a security risk and Mirant should therefore close! read more...

As I mentioned in the NorthPointPark blog (www.cctvcambridge.org/NorthPointPark) Julie & Jay Wasserman, resident of East Cambridge, have created a postcard, here include, to get North Point Park open. I think it's only fair I give them a hand and keep on spreading the words... to all whom visit my blog, either go to East End House, 105 Spring St, 02141 to pickup the postcards or contact Jay at opennorthpointpark@yahoo.com or download the included PDF file, print 2 copies.
Send 1 copy to

Governor Deval Patrick
Office of the Governor
State House, Room 360
Beacon Street
Boston, MA 02133

and 1 copy to:

Commissioner Rick Sullivan
Department of Conservation and Recreation
251 Causeway Street, Ste.600
Boston MA 02114-2104

Let's help get the North Point Park open.... One of the main reason I join in is because, like Julie & Jay, I feel that development without adequate open space leads to over-development, over-crowding, discontent...an unhealthy environment to live in. I believe that our Neighborhood is over-developed and the need for open space is a major concern for all the residents of our community. read more...