Public Improvement Commission Hearing - May 21, 2026: Multiple Project Continuances
Public Improvement Commission Hearing - May 21, 2026
The Public Improvement Commission (PIC) of Boston, chaired by Interim Chief of Streets Nick Gove, convened on May 21, 2026, at 3:00 PM UTC. The meeting covered approval of prior minutes, two public hearing items, and four new business items. All agenda items were continued to future hearing dates, with no final decisions made. Key next hearing dates are June 4, 2026, and June 25, 2026.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: The commission approved the minutes from the May 7, 2026 hearing. Motion made, seconded, and passed without opposition.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments or testimony were recorded during this meeting.
Discussion Items
- Public Hearing Item #1 – Washington 3458 LLC (Pedestrian Easement): The proponent requested a continuance to the June 4, 2026 hearing to finalize details on pedestrian ramps at 3458 Washington Street and Kenton Road in West Roxbury. The commission granted the continuance.
- Public Hearing Item #2 – Washington 3458 LLC (Specific Repairs): The same proponent requested a continuance to June 4, 2026, for curb, sidewalk, and pedestrian ramp design items. The commission granted the continuance.
- New Business Item #1 – Franciscan Hospital for Children (Pedestrian Easement & Specific Repairs): Howard Mosier (VHB) and Jennifer Atlas (Franciscan Children's Hospital) presented a campus modernization plan at 30-81 Warren Street and Cambridge Street in Brighton. The project includes a new clinical building, closure of curb cuts, raised pedestrian crossings, new sidewalks, trees, lighting, and a pedestrian easement of approximately 7,700 square feet. The commission thanked the team and continued the item to June 4, 2026.
- New Business Item #2 – Mildred Haley Revitalization (Specific Repairs): Steven Metresca (Nich Engineering) presented on behalf of Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation and Boston Housing Authority for 265-279 Center Street and Lamartine Street in Roxbury. The project includes street curb bump-outs, new trees (with one removal requiring a tree hearing), restriped crosswalks, and widened sidewalks. Due to a scheduling conflict with a tree hearing on June 4 at 10:00 AM, the commission continued the item to June 25, 2026.
- New Business Item #3 – Robert Lawson Park Renovation (Specific Repairs): Jacob Murray (Waterfield Design Group) presented on behalf of Boston Parks and Recreation for Columbus Avenue and Washington Street in Roxbury. The project involves renovating the existing park within the right-of-way, with no changes to sidewalk limits. The item was continued to June 4, 2026.
- New Business Item #4 – 1905-1911 Center Street (Pedestrian Easement & Specific Repairs): Michael Joyce (Joyce Consultant Group) presented for Cat Builders LLC at Center Street and Park Street in West Roxbury. The project includes a four-story, 21-unit mixed-use building, closure of two curb cuts, new street trees, bike racks, benches, pedestrian ramps, and a 14-square-foot pedestrian easement. The item was continued to June 4, 2026.
Key Outcomes
- Minutes Approved: Unanimous approval of the May 7, 2026 hearing minutes.
- Continuances Granted: All six agenda items were continued to future hearings:
- Washington 3458 LLC (pedestrian easement and specific repairs) → June 4, 2026.
- Franciscan Hospital for Children (pedestrian easement and specific repairs) → June 4, 2026.
- Mildred Haley Revitalization (specific repairs) → June 25, 2026 (due to tree hearing conflict).
- Robert Lawson Park Renovation (specific repairs) → June 4, 2026.
- 1905-1911 Center Street (pedestrian easement and specific repairs) → June 4, 2026.
- No Final Decisions: All items were continued without votes on the merits; no permits were issued.
Meeting Transcript
My name is Nick Gove, Interim Chief of Streets and Chair of the Public Policy Commission. I call toward the Public Improvement Commission hearing of May twenty first, twenty twenty-six. Mr. Lyman, please take the roll call. Certainly, with the representative from the Public Works Department, please state their name for the record. Property management department, please do the same. Joseph Callahan. Thank you, sir. Okay, hearing minutes, the request of the Public Improvement Commission staff, acceptance of the minutes of the public improvement commission hearing, which was held on May seventh, twenty twenty six? Second. I'll make a motion to approve the minutes. Any opposed or abstained? Hearing none so moved. Okay, moving to the public hearing, agenda item number one, on a petition by Washington three four five eight LLC for the acceptance of a pedestrian easement adjacent to the following public ways in West Roxbury, Washington Street on its southeast or each side, addresses number 3458, southwest of Kenton Road, and Kenton Road on its southwest side of Washington Street. As shown on a plan entitled City Boston Public Works Department Engineering Division, pedestrian usement plan 3458 Washington Street and Kenton Road, Jamaica Plain, one sheet dated May 19, 2026. We'll hand it off to the proponent. On behalf of the entire project team, we are requesting a continuance to the June 4th hearing where we square away some final details relative to the pedestrian ramps at the project site. Okay. Any questions or comments from the commission? Notion. I'll make a motion to continue public hearing item number one as ready for the record by the chair until June. What? Actually, I can't. Sorry, we don't need a motion, correct? We make a motion to continue. Yeah, this is fine. Seconded. All in favor. Any opposed or saying? Hearing none so moved. On to agenda item number two. On a petition by Washington 3458 LLC for the making of specific repairs within the following public ways and West Roxbury, consisting of curb and sidewalk reconstruction with structural soil as well as new and relocated pedestrian ramps, specifically pavement, street lighting, infrastructure, street trees, street furniture, bike racks, driveway curb cuts, and a utility access hatch. Washington Street on its southeast to least side at address number 3458 southwest of Kenton Road and Kent Road, southeast of Washington Street, as shown on a set of plans entitled City of Boston Public Works Department Engineering Division Specific Repair Plan, Washington Street and Kent Road, Public Way 3458, Washington Street, Jamaica Plain, Four Sheets, David April, 2nd, 2026. Back to the proponent. Thank you. Again, Matty Blanchard with Howard Side Hudson providing the PIC permitting services for this job. Joined by Washington 3458 LLC, the project proponent. On the behalf of the project team, we're requesting a continuance of these specific repairs to the June 4th hearing while we finalize some pedestrian ramp design items with the city. Back to the commission. Questions or comments? More motion. I'll make a motion to continue public hearing item number two with written to work by the chair until June 4th. Second. All in favor. Aye. Aye. Hearing not so moved. Okay. Thank you. That concludes the public hearing.
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