From Our Readers

City Officials, North End Residents Oppose Cross Street Hotel

To the Editor,

The North End community have not backed away from their opposition to a boutique luxury hotel proposed for the property on the Greenway-end of Salem Street. With many letters to the Boston Planning and Development Authority (BPDA), virtual zoom call meetings and over 1,000 signatures from an online and door-to-door signature drive, their message has broad and deep support from the affected neighbors and stakeholders. Their practicality of the project raised by neighbors were echoed by city officials, in an August review.

Since the hotel was first proposed, residents repeated their position that it is out of character with the neighborhood and many of their complaints are focused on its disruptive impact on the quality of life.

The proposed project will require numerous variances prior to approval, such as:

•Conditional Use Permit – Groundwater Overlay Conservation District (GCOD)

•Conditional Use Permit – Hotel Use and First Floor Restaurant Use

•Conditional Use Permit – Rooftop Structure

•Conditional Use Permit – Height (per Section 54-18)

•Variance – Floor Area Ratio (FAR)

•Variance – Rear Yard Setback

•Variance – Restaurant and Bar Use Above 1stFloor

In a dated  April 9, 2021 letter to the City of Boston, The North End/Waterfront Residents’ Association (NEWRA) stated:

Our comments reflect concerns that have recently been raised in the North End/Waterfront neighborhood regarding the hotel project’s lack of residential community purpose and benefit, community and resident impacts, parkland impacts, and private use of public space, as well as an inadequate public process to date. The proposed hotel is incongruous with our historic, residential neighborhood. It provides only the benefit of a new building and new activity on the site, and with a specific proposal that may have the most negative impact compared to other development possibilities. It effectively removes the site from the North End for the purpose of accommodating more city visitors.

Per the Article 80 Large Project Review process, representatives from the City of Boston’s municipal departments are required to submit comments, for review. A recurring theme of incomplete, not submitted plans was shown in the deck of documents. Per the BDPA’s letter of Supplemental Information Request of August 20,2021, the Developer is required to file additional and satisfactory information, for further review. Thus, kick starting a new review public process.

Regarding the Water and Sewer network, no such plans to date have been produced or submitted to BWSC. The water and sewer component and its impact on the overall system, area residents, and the entire North End is an issue of great magnitude for this project proposal- and yet to be addressed in any meaningful way.  Boston Water and Sewer Commission (BWSC) makes clear the proponent must design and construct a system in conformance with the Commission’s revisions water distribution System and Sewer Use regulations, and requires for Site Plans. BWSC rejected the water and sewer calculation as inaccurate. BWSC requires that these values be recalculated and submitted with site plans, to be reviewed and approved at their discretion. Further the BWSC states: “that the Commission will not allow buildings to be constructed over any of its water lines. Also, any plans to build over Commission sewer facilities are subject to review and approval by the commission”.

The proposed hotel and restaurants will increase crowds, noise, traffic, parking demand, and delivery and trash removal trucks. In a concise and direct evaluation, by a representative of Boston Transportation Department mentioned that Morton Street (at the rear of the property), is unable to handle trash pickup and drop off due to its narrow width would be “next to impossible” to execute.  Furthermore, there is no parking for a large project and would like to hear comprehensive solutions to the parking shortage. The Boston Transportation Department has described strong reservation about the feasibility of the project overall.

In all public and community meetings, priority should be given to recognizing abutters, then other North End residents, and offering them ample opportunity for comment. A more responsive planning process should be conducted by the BPDA now, before any further decisions about the hotel proposal are made.

Abutters have been very clear of their intentions to sue the City of Boston.

Louis Cavarango

Neighbors are engaging a call to action via online at: https://www.change.org/NE_Residents_Against_CrossStHotel