North End residents at NEWRA meeting.
Ristorante Rigoletto, 115-117 Salem Street, received support (23-7) by the North End/Waterfront Residents’ Association (NEWRA) to expand its occupancy to include restaurant use.
The premises is currently permitted for coffee shop, pastry shop and ice cream shop. Seating capacity is 40 and the hours of operation 10 a.m. to 12 a.m. seven days a week.
NEWRA President Jim Salini announced the North End Beautification Committee as the recipient of the association’s May Good Neighbor Award for helping to keep the North End clean and beautiful.
Nicole Leo of the Mayor’s office advised residents that the trees on several streets will be pruned and the old damaged wiring and lighting will be removed. She noted that work on the Salem Street public area has been completed and that the Mayor’s North End/Waterfront Coffee Hour will be held on Monday, June 2 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. in Christopher Columbus Park.
Parks and Public Spaces Committee member David Kubiak reported that the group will be conducting a walk-through at the Prado on Saturday, May 17 to determine the needs of the public place.
The Committee plans to conduct another needs assessment walk with the city to eventually produce a master plan to improve the mall with the city’s budget in the future.
A RUFF representative told residents that a behavioral dog session will be held on Tuesday, May 20 at 6 pm at the Richmond Street dog run area. Janet Vera, a professional trainer will conduct the session.
Reportedly, the site of the old gas station and Segway business, could be turned into a restaurant with an outdoor patio and takeout.
The Zoning, Licensing and Construction Committee has sent a letter of “no objection†to the owner of 26 Charter Street to expand the building’s head house, not to exceed the 55 foot height limitation.
Committee member Victor Brogna noted that in the past year, NEWRA has sent 16 letters supporting requests, 11 stating “no objection†and 2 opposing requests.
However, the two projects NEWRA opposed have been approved by the Board of Appeals regardless of no support from the community.
Apparently the Hanover Street housing project at the old VFW has been given the green light.
In addition, a request by Goody Glover’s Restaurant has received approval to extend its closing license from 1 AM to 2 AM despite overwhelming community opposition.
The Boston Department of Public Works updated the residents on the latest trash and recycling policies of the city, which does not include same day trash pickup.
Greg Chiodo, assistant location manager for Charlestown Productions, LLC presented plans to film a movie scene, possibly two in the North End, basically on Margaret Street.
The movie scenes for Black Mass, starring Johnny Depp will take place on Margaret Street on Thursday, May 29 from 9 AM to 8 PM with the possibility of a second scene being filmed the same day on Unity and Tileston Streets until 1 or 2 AM.
Traffic control will take place on Prince in Sheafe Street from a 11 AM to 8 PM. Boston Police details will be secured.
Generators will be placed on Thatcher, Snow Hill and Hull Streets. All abutters will be notified and loss of parking spaces will be compensated at a local lot.
Preparation work will take place on May 27 and 28 and the site will be restored on May 30.
President Salini also announced the North End Library annual book sale will be held on Saturday, May 31.
Students from Wentworth Institute of Technology (WIT) along with WIT Professor Elizabeth Ghiseline, who is also NEWNC’s Secretary, introduced and presented their Activating the North End Flights (Gassy) competition.
The goal was to increase use through positive intervention making The Flights a place of destination for all.
The students came up with many engineering ideas that would be accepted by the community and presented themselves in a professional and meaningful manner.
The next NEWRA monthly meeting will be held on Thursday, June 12 at 7 PM in the Nazzaro Community Center.