OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Boston Public Improvement Commission Meeting - April 23, 2026

City Council — Thursday, April 23, 2026
BodyBoston, Massachusetts
SessionCity Council
DateThursday, April 23, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 31:53

Transcript — Verbatim
5:00

Would the representative from the public works department please state their name for the record?

5:03

Nick Gove, Transportation Department, please do the same.

5:10

Water and sewer commission.

5:14

Commission for Persons with Disabilities.

5:16

Patricia Mendes.

5:19

And we do not have anyone from ISD or water and sewer currently, but we do have a quorum.

5:30

Great.

5:31

Start with the minutes at the request of the public improvement commission staff, uh acceptance of the meeting minutes of PIC hearing, which was held on April 9th, 2026.

5:41

Do we have a motion to approve the minutes?

5:43

I'll make a motion to approve the minutes of April 9th, 2026.

5:50

Second.

5:51

All in favor?

5:52

Aye.

5:53

Aye.

5:55

Any opposed or abstained?

5:58

Hearing none so moved.

6:00

Thank you.

6:00

Let's move to the public hearing.

6:03

Agenda item number one on a joint petition by 25 Amory Street Apartments LLC and 250 Center Street.

6:12

Housing LLC for the widening and relocation of the existing right-of-way lines of Amory Street, a public way in Roxbury, as well as the for the acceptance of a highway easement located on its westerly side at addresses number 25, generally between Center Street and Brewery Lane at Amory Street Connector.

6:32

As shown on a set of plans entitled City of Boston Public Works Department Engineering Division Widening Communication Plan, Amory Street, 25 Amory Street, Roxbury, one sheet dated January 2025.

6:45

We'll hand it over to the proponent.

6:48

Thank you.

6:48

Good morning, members of the commission and uh members of the public.

6:51

Uh my name is Colin Horsley.

6:52

I'm a senior project engineer at NICH Engineering, and I'm here on behalf of the proponents.

6:57

Um as mentioned during the new business hearing, um, this project is uh a slight revision to the original plans approved under separate uh new business and public hearings by the city of Boston for these uh projects.

7:08

Um a shift in electrical infrastructure um is causing this request for the widening relocation and then the further two actions.

7:18

Um as you can see on the proposed plan, this red area is the extension.

7:22

Um request is 108 square feet um as needed for the fire truck turnaround area.

7:34

Uh I moved out, I yield for questions.

7:44

Any questions or comments from the commission?

7:52

Hearing none, how about a motion?

7:55

I'll make a motion to approve a joint petition by 25 Amory Apartments LLC and 250 Center Street Housing LLC for the widening and relocation of Amory Street as reading to the record by the chair.

8:04

Second.

8:05

All in favor.

8:06

Aye.

8:07

Aye.

8:08

Any opposed or abstained.

8:13

Hearing none so moved.

8:15

Okay.

8:16

Um apologies for interrupting.

8:17

Just want to jump in and recognize that Sarah Leo has joined us and is replacing Patricia Mendez uh in representation of the disabilities commission.

8:28

Thank you, Todd.

8:31

All set, thank you.

8:33

Thank you, Todd.

8:36

Okay.

8:39

Uh on uh agenda item number two on a joint petition by 25 Amory Street LLC 250 Center Street Housing LLC for the making of specific repairs in Amory Street within Amory Street of Public Way in Roxbury located generally at address number 25 between Center Street and Brewery Lane at Amory Street Connector, consisting of curb realignment, roadway and sidewalk reconstruction as well as new and relocated street lighting infrastructure, storm drain infrastructure, ballage and driveway curb cuts.

9:06

As shown on a set of plans entitled City of Boston Public Works Department Engineering Division Specific Repair Plans, Amory Street, Boston, four sheets dated March 2026.

9:16

We'll hand it back to the proponent.

9:18

Thank you.

9:18

And uh my apologies, I realized I wasn't sharing earlier.

9:20

Uh it should be on the screen now.

9:22

Um but yeah, as mentioned, um, some curb realignment, driveway realignment, um, the widening relocation um and ball are it's associated with this uh turnaround area for fire truck movements um as shown on this specific repair plan.

9:34

Um and again I yield for questions.

9:37

Thank you.

9:39

Any questions or comments from PIC staff or members of the public?

9:44

Uh no, I will take this opportunity to remind the public if you wish to ask questions or add testimony uh during any particular action.

9:50

We ask that you use the raised hand function, uh which can be found at the reactions tab at the bottom of your screen.

9:56

I do not see any public commentary at this time, and case the staff is all set on this action.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure█████████████████████████████████████████████59%
Procedural█████████████████████27%
Public Works███████████14%
Summary of Proceedings

Boston Public Improvement Commission Meeting - April 23, 2026

The Boston Public Improvement Commission (PIC) held a public hearing on April 23, 2026, to consider several petitions including street widenings, specific repairs, grant of location, earth retention licenses, and a city roadway acceptance. All items were approved unanimously, with one contingent approval. No public comments were received.

Consent Calendar

  • Unanimously approved the meeting minutes of the PIC hearing held on April 9, 2026.

Discussion Items

  • Agenda Item 1 – Joint Petition for Widening and Relocation of Amory Street, Roxbury: Proponent Colin Horsley (NICH Engineering) presented a request for 108 square feet of additional right-of-way for a fire truck turnaround area due to a shift in electrical infrastructure. The petition was approved unanimously.
  • Agenda Item 2 – Specific Repairs in Amory Street, Roxbury: The same proponents requested curb realignment, sidewalk reconstruction, and new lighting/storm drain infrastructure. Approved unanimously.
  • Agenda Item 3 – Grant of Location for Eversource Equipment in Amory Street: The petition involved a transformer (PMH 26640) owned by NSTAR/Eversource and a private enclosure owned by the proponents. Because Eversource was not present, the commission made approval contingent on signed permission from Eversource and a maintenance agreement for bollards. Approved with contingencies.
  • Agenda Item 4 – Specific Repairs at 279 Maverick Street, East Boston: Pavel Hunts (development manager) and Giovanni Federa (civil engineer) described a 32-unit mixed-use development. Work includes sidewalk reconstruction, relocation of a curb cut, pedestrian crosswalk, bike racks, street trees, and street lighting (underground infrastructure by developer, above-ground by city). Approved unanimously.
  • Agenda Item 5 – Earth Retention License for 262 St. Botolph Street, Roxbury: Northeastern University and Suffolk Construction requested approval for temporary crane pads and earth support systems for a new athletic facility. BTD took no exceptions after discussions. Approved unanimously.
  • City Roadway Acceptance – West Service Road, Boston Wharf Road, and Congress Street, South Boston: John Romano (MassDOT) presented the petition for the city to accept these roadways as part of the Central Artery project. All inspections and sign-offs from city departments were completed; an MOU regarding permanent authority over a tunnel was executed. Approved unanimously.
  • New Business – 1 Jocelyn Place (Dana Farber/Beth Israel Deaconess): Howard Mosier (VHB) presented three actions for the new cancer hospital project: 1) temporary secondary duct bank for construction power, 2) private storm drain connection crossing Pilgrim Road, and 3) temporary earth support measures. The project includes 300 beds, 450,000 square feet, 14 stories above grade, and 4 below grade. Staff submitted comments expected to be addressed in two weeks. The item was continued to the May 7, 2026 meeting.

Key Outcomes

  • All public hearing items (1–5) and the city roadway acceptance were approved by unanimous voice votes.
  • Approval of Agenda Item 3 (Grant of Location) was made contingent on signed permission from Eversource and a maintenance agreement for bollards.
  • The new business item for 1 Jocelyn Place was continued to May 7, 2026, to allow the project team to address staff comments.
  • The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent.

Meeting Transcript

Would the representative from the public works department please state their name for the record? Nick Gove, Transportation Department, please do the same. Water and sewer commission. Commission for Persons with Disabilities. Patricia Mendes. And we do not have anyone from ISD or water and sewer currently, but we do have a quorum. Great. Start with the minutes at the request of the public improvement commission staff, uh acceptance of the meeting minutes of PIC hearing, which was held on April 9th, 2026. Do we have a motion to approve the minutes? I'll make a motion to approve the minutes of April 9th, 2026. Second. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Any opposed or abstained? Hearing none so moved. Thank you. Let's move to the public hearing. Agenda item number one on a joint petition by 25 Amory Street Apartments LLC and 250 Center Street. Housing LLC for the widening and relocation of the existing right-of-way lines of Amory Street, a public way in Roxbury, as well as the for the acceptance of a highway easement located on its westerly side at addresses number 25, generally between Center Street and Brewery Lane at Amory Street Connector. As shown on a set of plans entitled City of Boston Public Works Department Engineering Division Widening Communication Plan, Amory Street, 25 Amory Street, Roxbury, one sheet dated January 2025. We'll hand it over to the proponent. Thank you. Good morning, members of the commission and uh members of the public. Uh my name is Colin Horsley. I'm a senior project engineer at NICH Engineering, and I'm here on behalf of the proponents. Um as mentioned during the new business hearing, um, this project is uh a slight revision to the original plans approved under separate uh new business and public hearings by the city of Boston for these uh projects. Um a shift in electrical infrastructure um is causing this request for the widening relocation and then the further two actions. Um as you can see on the proposed plan, this red area is the extension. Um request is 108 square feet um as needed for the fire truck turnaround area. Uh I moved out, I yield for questions. Any questions or comments from the commission? Hearing none, how about a motion? I'll make a motion to approve a joint petition by 25 Amory Apartments LLC and 250 Center Street Housing LLC for the widening and relocation of Amory Street as reading to the record by the chair. Second. All in favor. Aye. Aye. Any opposed or abstained. Hearing none so moved. Okay. Um apologies for interrupting. Just want to jump in and recognize that Sarah Leo has joined us and is replacing Patricia Mendez uh in representation of the disabilities commission. Thank you, Todd. All set, thank you. Thank you, Todd. Okay. Uh on uh agenda item number two on a joint petition by 25 Amory Street LLC 250 Center Street Housing LLC for the making of specific repairs in Amory Street within Amory Street of Public Way in Roxbury located generally at address number 25 between Center Street and Brewery Lane at Amory Street Connector, consisting of curb realignment, roadway and sidewalk reconstruction as well as new and relocated street lighting infrastructure, storm drain infrastructure, ballage and driveway curb cuts. As shown on a set of plans entitled City of Boston Public Works Department Engineering Division Specific Repair Plans, Amory Street, Boston, four sheets dated March 2026. We'll hand it back to the proponent.

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