Project dubbed a “Tourist Attraction”
The third in the series of ‘Article 80 Public Review’ meetings, required by the Boston Planning and Development Authority (BPDA), was held last week and focused on the land use and design of the Edison Plant proposal. But, it was the issues of impact – transportation, gentrification, environmental health concerns and the lack of follow through on commitments made by the developer, that took center stage. South Boston’ elected officials were well represented in the meeting. Congressman Stephen Lynch, City Councilor Ed Flynn, Democrat State Representative nominee David Biele, each took the floor to share their concerns about the project. Flynn and Biele continued to state their opposition, while Lynch said he was “not persuaded” by the revised proposal being presented that it would benefit the South Boston community.
Prior to the public meeting, the Impact Advisory Group, with local appointees Rich Evans, Bob Allison and Eileen Smith, among others in attendance, met to review the previous meeting’s materials and content that was focused on transportation. Redgate officials, Ralph Cox and Greg Bialecki, along with transportation consultant Tom Tinlin, reviewed their Draft Project Impact Report (DPIR) that proposes, among other elements, a private shuttle bus service, which has met with serious opposition from labor unions and local officials as being a privatization scheme that encroaches on the MBTA. The International Longshoremen’s Union has also opposed the project for its impact on the Port, as well as the hard fought for $75mm Thomas J. Butler Freight Corridor that was recently funded and built to alleviate commercial and truck traffic from First Street, generated by the commerce of the Port.
Not surprisingly, the meeting wasn’t as well attended as the two meetings held in the previous weeks. Nonetheless, several residents pressed the developers for answers on the status of their earlier commitments to the residents. Both Donna Brown, the Executive Director of the South Boston Neighborhood Development Corporation, and IAG member, Rich Evans, made the cost of living and “not settling for the minimum in community benefits’ a centerpiece of their remarks. Mike Ferris encouraged the developer to focus on improving the community and not just their profits, because he intends to stay in South Boston and wants his neighbors and their children to be able to, as well. John Provenzano, a former Edison Plant worker and union official, strongly urged consideration for more community benefits, especially relating to parking and transportation.
The meeting got testy as City Point resident John O’Toole called out Redgate partner Ralph Cox and asked him to explain his ‘doubletalk,’ regarding the conversation he said he had with Stephen Lynch’s office regarding Redgate’s commitment to have an “independent environmental and transportation study” conducted. It was something that Redgate indicated it would do during a previous meeting. Mr. O’Toole further labelled the development as basically, ‘a tourist attraction’.
There is another public meeting scheduled for October 24 at 7pm with the IAG meeting prior to it, starting at 6pm.
