Opinion

By Phil Orlandella

Outdoor Street Dining Task Force Formed

As promised, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, when she shut down street outdoor dining in the North End, has formed a task force to examine the pros and cons created by the program in the neighborhood.

The task force that has been established is made up of residents, the business community and city officials to look at and evaluate all aspects of the program’s future and to analyze the impacts on the community and the needs of the restaurant industry.

The newly formed task force is not a voting body. It will be a fact-finding group that will present their findings to City Hall, where a temporary or final decision will be made.

A task force may not be the answer to the situation but it is a start.

Residents Still Weary of 700 Foot Tower Being Developed

There seems to be a mounting concern echoing through the North End and West End relating to what some residents who still believe there is still a chance of a 700-foot massive tower being developed at the corner of Causeway and North Washington Street, and that such a huge project would only add to the nightmare of traffic problems that already exist in the target area.

Officially, there currently does not exist a letter of intent for this type of project on record at the Boston Planning Development Agency (BPDA) where a potential developer would apply.

Based on sources, residents believe that the BPDA has already met with a developer, who has also discussed this project with other stakeholders, are weary that somewhere down the road some sort of project, this one or another similar one, will be proposed.

If any plans are proposed, the BPDA will have to set up an Article 80 process, creating an Impact Advisory Group (IAG) made up of residents, business owners and other stakeholders to discuss the proposal filed.

Residents are preparing in advance to make sure they are completely involved right from the start in the IAG and are encouraging others to be prepared to do the same if this project becomes a reality.