St Mark’s meeting minutes
Ken Donovan, VP (taking notes), with Mike Folan, VP.
7:05 pm Doug Hurley, President, convened the meeting. Welcome and intro comments.
7:10 Officer Keaney presents BPD update.
Dot & Wrentham, unarmed robbery. Shots fired at Dracut and Dorchester Ave. Shots fired at
Leslie Street and Center Street. Bike program was a big success last month.
7:18 Epiphany School (Jack Findlay) present updates on the project
● Creating community space
● Training space for teachers and kids
● Michele (Teacher) spoke about what the program does for children and families.
● Mike spoke about the new 25,000sq ft building and the meetings with immediate
neighbors to direct the construction.
● Amount of parking reduced for green space.
Jack talked about the additional $750k $1mil in renovation to the existing structures and the
history of the site.
Questions from the members: Parking and green space.
There will be somewhat less green space than now, but more than was in earlier drawings.
Two parking areas with an offstreet dropoff, pickup.
Some members inquired about soil testing on the site, referencing previous known pollution of
some kind there.
Jack agreed that further soil testing will be done.
7:49 Sydney Miller, St Marks Area Main Streets and Jack Pelltier, Ashmont Cycles, spoke
about the Bike and Beer event at Peabody Square and Ashmont Grill being planned for
September 17. (Rain date the following Thursday).
They are awaiting permits. Parking will be behind Ashmont Grill and at the Bike Cage at
Ashmont. Councilor Baker endorsed the event and offered to assist in permitting.
VOTE: Members 22 Yea, 0 Nay. Nonmembers 48 Yea, 0 Nay.
8:06 73 77 Dix Street, Two buildings @ 16 units total (Attorney James Rudser)
Recap of the project
Looking to get a feel for the neighborhood input on parking, number of unites, building height
and the design and to address the violations contained in the ZBA finding. No shadow study
yet.
Serious neighbors concerns about the lack of parking, given the existing congestion
on the street.
Concerns about the height and closeness to the street of the buildings.
People don’t feel that the project has changed to reflect the concerns of neighbors
and the ZBA.
Architect Mr. Christopher noted that there had been some adjustments to
the elevations.
● No affordable units in these buildings.
Councilor Baker asked if we had a zoning/building subcommittee that might meet regarding
this issue through the summer.
Wrapped discussion of Dix Street at 8:34 pm.
Doug introduced the electeds and/or their staff in
attendance: Electeds and Staff attending:
City Councilor Frank Baker
Amy Frigulietti from Councilor Baker’s office
Jake Bombard from Senator Forry’s office
Lorraine from Councilor Yancey’s office
Alec from the Mayor’s office of Neighborhood Services
Sydney Miller reminded everyone of the Farmer’s Market at Ashmont on Friday afternoons,
with live music and stuff for the kids.
Lorraine reminded everyone of Councilor Yancey’s annual Book Fair on July 25th.
Leslie MacWeenieDobbs asked everyone to spread the word about the Dorchester
Portraits Program and their “Opening Doors” project, accepting donations now. (Needs to
raise $3k). Senator Forry has pledged $330. It’s the 16th year of the program.
“Opening Doors” on Facebook.
Respectfully submitted,
Ken Donovan
VP
