Not so fast, Mr. Mayor.
After the ceremonial ribbon was cut. After the photo ops and greetings and salutations, Mayor Marty Walsh got an earful from neighborhood watch dog and president of the City Point Neighborhood Association Joanne McDevitt. The topic of conversation? Development, what else!
According to a column written by Southie resident and Boston Herald columnist Peter Gelzenis, McDevitt “sandbagged” the mayor and persuaded him to cross the street to take a gander at the development on East Broadway between M and N. This development will be pushing out 40 feet on the back end into the alley to maximize profit. McDevitt went on to say the neighbors were less than pleased. When the mayor asked Neighborhood Coordinator John Allison how did the developer get to come out all that way. Allison stated it was approved under zoning rules and regulations and the necessary permits were granted. McDevitt went onto say that neighbors were going to oppose the regulation in order to halt the development. The mayor said he wasn’t sure if they could stop it because it was legal. But McDevitt was not deterred and stood her ground in the best quote of the column: “Just because what they’re doing here is legal doesn’t mean it’s right,” Joanne said, “and we’ll fight to stop this. If this project is allowed to set a precedent, then the historic nature of all these buildings will be altered and what you’ll end up with is nothing more than high-priced tenements.”
This incident was not the only headache for the mayor. Just hours after the unveiling of the new playground, 311 complaints came pouring in.
The historic nature of these buildings?!?! Really? Jesus christ, man. We are talking about old beat up buildings in South Boston. If you don’t like the development and progress….move!
Its not progress when brick walls are being put up in front of peoples homes to squeeze every last buck out of a property. Perhaps you should move Roger.
Roger,
I was born and brought up in South Boston. I’m a college graduate, childless by choice, and quite liberal, and while I agree that some changes in the community have been positive, I don’t agree with the reasons for some of these changes. South Boston is an historically important community (the site of the British evacuation from Boston during the Revolutionary War), and like some other parts of Boston, some of that history should and must be preserved.
It has been a densely populated community for around 150 years. That will not change. However, not everyone wants to live in a condo, and not everyone wants to see the character of the area significantly altered. Trees and green space are important to ensure a vibrant urban landscape and good quality of life and standard of living for everyone. If these things (history, open space, good quality of life) are not important to you, then I would suggest perhaps you should be living elsewhere.
When the land you own is located less than 2 miles from the largest business district in New England, there’s going to be congestion and price wars. That is purely the nature of proximity and convenience. I can’t believe how many people are surprised that people are trying to squeeze every dollar out of every square acre. That’s business….and capitalism. So long as the financial district and seaport are thriving, Southie will be in very high demand. If open space, trees & green are really important to you, then I suggest a suburb.
Hey Roger you are definitely not from south Boston. We are and always will be a tight knit loyal neighborhood, I’m all for people makings money with their new developments, but then there gone & we the neighbors have to put up with the roof deck and side deck parties that start on Thursday and end on late Sunday night. So we will fight them every step of the way to try and keep OUR neighborhood from turning into a frat house style place to party. I Hope you an understand that . Thanks pat lavey
In case you didn’t notice your tight knit community has been long gone my friend.
Michelle, there are still alot of us left. You obviously are not as observent as you believe you are. Too bad you never had the opportunity to grow up in such a great tight knit community.
You are the people causing my rent to stay stagnant, the reason my opportunity to own a home and build some equity have NOT come to fruition….BECAUSE EVERY SINGLE DAY YOU SAY “NOT IN MY BACKYARD” and the new supply gets halted. Day by day there will be less and less of you, I cannot wait until majority population is represented as the majority.
Roger you ignorant fool. You have just brought on the Southie curse on yourself. Nothing but bad luck for you buddy.
Roger if they’re just beat up buildings why are you here.. screw
:) I believe the majority of these new young people will move along before long, like the others… like locusts….
Ok, where to begin….let’s start from the top
Ed…If is is their property, wall is going up brother. Tough luck there
Pat…no, I am not from South Boston. But I live here now; and one thing that I do NOT see is a tight knit community. The only tight knit thing I see are small groups of locals that have nothing better to do but complain about the progress and improvements taking place in Southie. Fight is over brother, throw up the for sale sign and enjoy the outrageous profits you will reap from the increased property values. Then you can retire to a private island where you won’t have to see another human being.
George…Pfffffft…I walk under ladders and smash mirrors for fun.
Tom…so I can tear them down and build new ones, silly. Wow, you guys really are the tip of the spear, huh?
you know i think legitimate cases can be made for and against specific development decisions and things are somewhat complicated but Roger is exactly the kind of person who makes yuppies/transplants look so bad. Have some respect and self-awareness about how your decisions affect others in the community, or perhaps you’re the one who is not cut out for urban living
Well, Conor…I respectfully disagree. Fortunately for me, I have that right. Similar rights accompany what I would like to do on my properties.
Times change, people and places change….Southie is changing. Simple as that. Get on board.
I HAD respect and self awareness at the beginning. As things progressed, and I learned and understood the asinine positions many of these so called locals take, that respect and self awareness vanished really fast.
You “locals” need to get your stuff together. If you are not careful, you’ll be left with nothing but your high valued property (you’re welcome).
Roger, would your parents be proud of your horrible, disrespect behavior . Talking trash to your new neighbors, telling them to move just because you’re in town!! Grow up, you rude little boy. You may need help from your neighbors someday….
Hey Roger, let’s get a few things straight. One, I’m not a “local” I’m a life long resident of south boston (and proud of it). Two, some (not all) of the yuppies are here temporarily and they think this town is a LARGE FRAT HOUSE, ain’t gonna happen in my neighborhood! Three, how many of these “developers ” live in southie, NOT MANY! Finally, NOBODY is against fixing up properties, and development, however, putting up 6 units on a lot that had A SINGLE FAMILY HOUSE ON IT, putting up ugly BOX LIKE (condos) that DON’T conform with the existing structures is nothing more than UNADULTERATED GREED.
Great move by the moronic head of “the city point” association. Blind side the mayor, no wonder that association is a joke. She whines about everything but is totally ineffective in stopping anything. The Southie “electeds” don’t listen to her.
She’s a useless self promoter who sandbagged her last election. Can’t wait to see the Tito Jackson sign outside her house. (Which needs to be painted)
SB has changed , not all change is good , some new NFS ( not from southie ) add value to the neighborhood some do not , be a good neighbor , coach a team , volunteer , mentor a youth , put some skin in the game , more to SB than the Lincoln , Capo and beer pong
Which Youth? They’re either under 5 years old or over 21. I have yet to see one worthwhile looking kid between 5 & 21 in this neighborhood.
@Ruth Ann Hendricks : HAHAHA. Your for sale sign up already, I’m guessing?
@Old time southie : HAHA…I’m guessing your for sale sign will be up shortly…not far behind Ruth!
@The Koz…well said. Reeks of desperation on her part. Not a good look for her and that group.
If outsiders knew what was really going on in southie (the shootings daily people dying daily) I doubt they’d want to come here and live, but Mr. Mayor wants to keep it all hush hush so he can get his share of the profits!! I know fact certain newspapers were told not to print certain things that are going on. So I say let them come sooner rather than later they’ll b running with their tales between their legs.
Hmmm, interesting take @Sally. So, to recap:
Option 1: No new buildings, condos etc. and no loud parties. Increase in shootings, killings etc.
Option 2: New buildings, new condos, new infrastructure etc. Decrease in shootings, killings etc….but maybe some loud noises :(
Gentrification and development should be welcomed in Southie like Penicillin in the mid 1900s. I’ve never seen such bass akwards logic.