Public Improvement Commission - Regular Meeting

All right. Good morning. My name is Nick Goff, interim chief of the streets and the chair of the Public Improvement Commission. I call to order the Public Improvement Commission hearing of April 26, twenty third twenty twenty six. Mister Lyman, can you please take the roll call? Certainly. Would the representative from the public works department please state their name for the record? Nick Goff. Transportation department, please do the same.

Morning.

Water and sewer commission.

Denise Dabler.

Commission for persons with disabilities.

Patricia Mendez.

And we do not have anyone from ISD or water and sewer currently,

but we do have a quorum.

Great. Start with the minutes of the request of the public improvement commission staff, acceptance of the meeting minutes of PIC hearing, which was held on 04/09/2026. Do we have a motion to approve the minutes?

I make a motion to approve the minutes of 04/09/2026. 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 twenty five Amory Street Apartments LLC and two fifty 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 plan, Amory Street, 25 Amory Street, Brock Burry, one sheet dated January 2025. We'll hand it over to the proponent.

Thank you. Good morning, members of the commission and, members of the public. My name is Coleman Horsley. I'm a senior project engineer at niche Engineering, and I'm here on behalf of the proponents. As mentioned during the new business hearing, this project is, a slight revision to the original plans approved under separate, new business and public hearings by the city of Boston for these projects.

A shift in electrical infrastructure, is causing this request for the Whiting relocation and then the further two actions. As you can see on the proposed plan, this red area is the extension. Request is a 108 square feet as needed for the fire truck turnaround area. And with that, I yield for questions.

Any questions or comments No question.

Hearing none. How about a motion?

I'll make a motion to approve a joint petition by twenty five Amory Apartments LLC and fifty Center Street Housing LLC for the widening and relocation of Amory Street as read into the record by the chair. Second.

All in favor?

Aye. Aye.

Any opposed or abstain? Hearing none, so moved. Okay.

Apologies for interrupting. Just want to jump in and recognize that Sarah Leung has joined us and is replacing Patricia Mendez, in representation of the Disabilities Commission.

Thank you, Todd.

All set. Thank you.

Thank you, Todd. Okay. On, agenda item number two, on a joint petition by twenty five Amory Street LLC and two fifty Center Street Housing LLC for the making of specific repairs in Amory within Amory Street of Public Way and Roxbury located generally at address Number 25 between Center Street and Burberry Lane at Amory Street Connector, consisting of curb realignment, roadway, and sidewalk reconstruction as well as new and roadway relocated street lighting infrastructure, storm drain infrastructure, boards, and driveway curb cuts. As shown on a set of plans entitled City of Boston Public Works Department engineering division specific repair plans, Emory Street, Boston, Four sheets dated March 2026. We'll hand it back to the proponent.

Thank you. And my apologies. I realized I wasn't sharing earlier. It should be on the screen now. But, yeah, as mentioned, some curb realignment, driveway realignment, the widening relocation, and associated with this, turnaround area for fire truck movements, as shown on this specific repair plan. And, again, I yield for questions.

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

No. I will take this opportunity to remind the public if you wish to ask questions or add testimony, during any particular action, we ask that you use the raise hand function, which can be found at the reactions tab at the bottom of your screen. I do not see any public commentary at this time, and PSC staff is all set on this action.

Thank you, Todd. Any questions or comments from commissioners?

Hearing none, how about a motion?

I make a motion to approve on a joint petition by twenty five Avery Apartments LLC in 250 Center Street Housing for the making of specific repairs within Avery Street is read into the record by the chair.

Second. All in favor?

Aye. Aye.

Any opposed or abstain? Hearing none, so moved. Onto the next agenda item. Public hearing agenda item number three. On a joint petition by twenty five Amory Street LLC two fifty Center Street Housing LLC and NSTAR Electric doing business as Eversource Energy for a grant of location within Amory Street, a public way in Roxbury located on its westerly edge westerly side, generally between Center Street, Brewery Lane, and Amory Street connector, as shown on a set of plans entitled City of Boston Public Works Department Engineering Division granted vocation plan, Amory Street, Eversource Equipment in Boston, one sheet dated March 2026.

We'll hand it back to the proponent.

Thank you. For this specific POC action, it is for PMH 2 which is owned by NSTAR Eversource, and then a private transclosure, which is owned by the proponents. Please let me know if are any questions on this current location request. Thank you.

Any questions or comments from PIC staff or commission members?

I was wondering if anybody from Eversource has signed on. I'm hoping to get confirmation that they will be signing the maintenance agreement for this electrical infrastructure. Nobody is available from Eversource. Coleman, can you confirm that?

My understanding is yes, but I will I'll follow-up with Kelly Anne to, confirm that with Utah.

K. Great. Thank you.

Any questions or comments from members of the public?

I don't see any. I think we're all set.

Charter, we're comfortable proceeding without Eversource being present.

Yeah. I think maybe we just made this approval contingent on, Eversource signing that maintenance agreement, and the developer potentially signing a maintenance agreement for the bollards if Eversource is not gonna take those on as well.

Okay. So do I hear a motion from the commission that would be contingent on those two factors?

I make a motion to approve public hearing number three for the branch of location with Amery as per

the

rep or into the record by the chair contingent on signed permission from Eversource.

Second.

All in favor? Aye. Aye. Any opposed or abstain? Hearing none, so moved.

Thank you.

Thank you. Alright. Public hearing agenda item number four, petition by two seventy nine Maverick Street Realty LLC for the making of specific repairs within Maverick Street and Public Way located in East Boston at address number 279 generally Southeast Of Geneva Street consisting of curb and sidewalk reconstruction with structural soil as well as new and relocated pedestrian ramps, specialty pavement, street lighting infrastructure, street trees, bike racks, and driveway curb cuts as shown on a set of plans entitled City of Boston Public Works Department Engineering Division, specific repair plans, 279 Maverick Street in Boston, four sheets dated 11/04/2025 and revised on 04/09/2026. We will hand it over to the proponent.

Good morning. My name is Pablo Huntz, development manager for 279 Maverick Street, which is a 32 unit mixed use development located in East Boston. I will turn it over to our civil engineer, Giovanni Federa, to do a quick run through of the specific requires repairs noted here.

Good morning. My name is Giovanni Federa. I'm currently on the road right now, so I don't have the camera on. However, the scope of the project, like Powell said, is 32 unit building, but work within the right of way is reconstruction of the sidewalk. The curbing is gonna remain this.

Curb line is gonna remain the same, but we're relocating curb cut. And it's gonna be a shared shared curb cut between the two proposed building and the building. But we're also adding a pedestrian cross walk that's gonna be going, you know, crossing across the street. We're also adding bike racks, street trees, and street lighting within the sidewalk while also maintaining a five foot wide pedestrian sidewalk. So that's pretty much the scope of of the work, and we're happy to answer any questions. I don't think I missed anything, but, Paulo, if I did, feel free to chime in. So thank you.

No. I think you hit it on the head. I think just noting that we're closing one curb cut and basically just relocating, the one that's base between 273 and 279. And for the street lighting, we'll be providing the, underground infrastructure, and the city of Boston will be providing all above, ground infrastructure and fixtures.

Any questions or comments from PIC staff? How about members? All set. Thanks, Todd. How about members of the public?

Not seeing any raised hands.

About the commission, any questions?

Hearing none, how about a motion?

I make a motion to approve public hearing, agenda item four for specific repairs within Maverick Street, in East Boston as further rec read into the record by the chair.

Second.

All in favor? Aye. Any opposed or abstain? Hearing none, so move. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you.

Onto the last public hearing agenda item number five, a joint petition by Northeastern University and Suffolk Construction Incorporated for the granting of an earth retention license for the installation of two temporary rain pads in earth support systems within Saint Boultoff Street, the Public Way in Roxbury located on its southeast side at Address Number 262 generally between Gainsborough Street and Public Alley Number 823. As shown on a plan titled City of Boston Public Works Department of Engineering Division, temporary hoist and tower crane foundation in support of excavation, 262 Saint Boultoff Street, one sheet, dated 03/03/2026. We'll hand it over to the proponent.

On behalf of Northeastern and Suffolk Construction, we've submitted a petition on earth retention systems. We're seeking approval for installation of two tower crane structures and a personnel hoist extending partially into the sidewalk and roadway of St. Patal Street in support of Northeastern University's new athletic facility construction. The tower crane will include installation of an earth support system and foundation piles that will be cut off below grade after demolition of the tower cranes. And Ben Carowan from Suffolk has a statement from BTD.

Yes. Hi. Good morning. Pat Brophy from Suffolk Construction held discussions with mister Ed Hessford last week regarding the tower crane and footings. Since the tower cranes are held within the footprint of the already approved CMP, mister Hesford takes no exceptions as long as the footings and piles are cut back to PIC standards, which are outlined with outlined within this plan. Thank you for your time.

We yield for questions.

Thank you. Any questions or comments from PIC staff?

I think we're all set with this. The only outstanding issue we had had was in regards to the CMP. So if that's been cleared up, I think we're good.

Great. How about members of the follow-up?

I see no raised hands.

Alright. Do we have a motion from the commission?

I make a motion, to approve public hearing number five, for the printing of an earth retention license for the installation of two temporary crane pads and earth support systems within the same Beltway Street as further read read into the record by the chair. Second.

All in favor?

Aye.

Aye. Any opposed or abstained? Hearing none, so moved. Thank you. Okay.

Next item on the agenda is city roadway acceptance. This is on a petition by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation for the acceptance at city roadways, the following public ways in South Boston. West Service Road from South Boston Hall Road to its northeasterly terminus at Boston Wharf Road, Boston Wharf Road from Congress Street to its southwesterly terminus at West Service Road, and Congress Street between West Service Road and B Street. As shown on a set of plans entitled public roadway acceptance plan West Service Road, Boston Wharf Road, and Congress Street in Boston's the seaport, nine sheets dated June 2025. We will hand it over to MassDOT.

Morning, mister chairman. It's John Romano from MassDOT. I'm here with Jeffrey Mullen, our outside counsel from Foley here at and Matt Goldie from HDR. As described by you minutes ago, we're here to have the city accept these wrong ways. Long standing work between us and your staff related to the central artery project. I'm happy to open it up for any questions.

Thank you, John. Yeah. Long lot of long time coordination work on this one. Any any questions from PIC staff?

No. John, would you just mention real briefly the inspections and sign offs that have various city departments?

Yep. Sure. So along with the plans, we submitted a package of all of the construction work that was requested between many years ago, coordination with the city and public works and street lighting. And we've had each each item was completed and then inspected by the appropriate city of Boston person and then signed off. So along with this package is all of the sign off sheets for all of the repairs along sidewalks, street lighting, etcetera. And also long standing letters from Boston Water and SURA, BTD, and Oxabotment as well are in the package.

Thanks, John. Todd, any other questions?

No. Moll just mentioned that, John and Jeffrey and Matt and my staff and I have been working on all of this for quite a while. We have a MOU, which has been executed, which kind of stipulates some of the permitting authority that the Masstot is retaining over one of their tunnels right here. And we expect to carry that agreement forward to other similar situations in areas throughout the, you know, downtown corridor and maybe some other spots. So we're in a really good place with this and look forward to closing out some of the other spots throughout the city.

Great. Thanks, Todd. Any questions, comments from the public on this?

I see no raised hands.

Any questions or comments from commissioners?

Alright. How about a motion?

I make a motion to approve of the roadway city roadway acceptance for West Servicer of Boston Warford, Congress Street, and South Boston as further record read into the record by the chair.

Second.

All in favor? Aye. Aye. Any opposed or abstain? Hearing none, so move. Thank you. Appreciate it, John. Thank you. You,

everyone. Appreciate all the help via staff, mister chairman.

Okay.

Moving on to new business. We only have one item of new business today. That's the one Josslyn Place project, 415 To 435 and 440 Brookline Ave, Pilgrim Road, Deaconess Road, Roxbury for an earth retention license, private utility license on a set of joint petitions by Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Beth Israel, Deaconess Medical Center Incorporated. We will hand it over to the proponent.

Morning members of the commission and staff. My name is Howard Mosier from VHB 99 High Street in Boston. Thanks for your time this morning. I'm joined by a number of the valuable team members for the Dana Farber Future Cancer Hospital project. Just a kind of refresher for those new to the commission or that weren't able to participate in earlier actions, two and a half years ago Dana Farber and Beth Israel entered into a collaboration agreement and announced plans for New England's first dedicated cancer hospital.

This new hospital is required as the number of beds in the region has not kept pace with the rising incidence of cancers and it's leading to longer ER wait times for cancer patients at their most vulnerable times. While the outpatient cancer treatment has grown, there still remains a need for bed facilities to provide the new innovative and complex treatments that are responsible for helping people and thus the need for the cancer beds. I'm going to share a brief presentation. To reorient folks, the proposed project is located at 1 Joslin Place in Boston's Longwood Medical And Academic Area. It's situated in close proximity to Beth Israel's East and West campuses, as well as Dana Farber Cancer Institute's main campus.

It'll contain 300 beds, about 450,000 square feet, and includes 14 stories above grade and four stories below grade. The existing site is occupied by the Joslin Diabetes Center outlined here in the view as shown from the Dana Farber Yauke Center for Cancer Care. You'll see Joslin Park in the foreground. A few months ago, we had presented actions related vertical discontinuances, specific repairs, and pedestrian easements. Just as a refresher, here's a view from the Occy Center for Cancer Care looking at the new building.

Here's a view from Pilgrim Road on Beth Israel Deaconess' West Campus. This project does require the commission to approve a number of actions. Previously, we had proposed vertical discontinuances related to the building elements and the proposed overhead connectors on Pilgrim Road and across Brookline Avenue. Associated with those connectors were the making of specific repairs and the granting of pedestrian easements. Today we bring forth to you three actions, a license plan for temporary power, a license plan for a permanent private storm drain connection, and approvals for temporary earth support to facilitate building construction.

We will be coming back to the commission in the near future for future PIC actions. Those future PIC actions are generally related to adjacent streetscape related items. And just as an advisory comment to the commission, the way the project has evolved requires the manipulation of the Joslin Park and the roadway network immediately adjacent to the building. And that requires state legislative approval. The project has been making its way through the state legislature.

And when that process has reached its culmination, in addition to the well coordinated parks and BPDA reviews and approvals, we will bring forth the streetscape improvements. And there are a number of other off-site mitigation commitments that the project made to support this project, and we'll bring those forward at a later date. The first action I'd like to present to you is the installation of a temporary secondary duct bank that would service the construction needs of the project. And it involves approximately sixteen, eighteen conduits that will cross through Joslin Park. Those approvals have been obtained.

And it will need to cross the existing Joslin Place right of way. Upon completion of the project and the discontinuance of use of the temporary power, this duct bank will be fully removed. The second action we bring forth to the commission is the installation of a private drain that will cross on Crossover Street, which is located on the right side of the plan. This is needed to provide the vital stormwater management recharge system that would be located in Crossover Street, which is not currently a public way. So we're seeking the permission to cross Pilgrim, as shown here on the right side.

And then again, it'll overflow to Autumn Street. And the last action is the installation of temporary earth support measures. And we'll see on the screen the green line generally represents the temporary earth support. Of note is on Pilgrim Road, which is on the left side of the screen. There is a proposed one layer of tiebacks. I'll show that on the next screen. The installation of temporary material access ways on Jozalin Place and the installation of load bearing elements to support a tower crane. The proponent has been working closely with BTD on construction management. And Mr. Hessford was mentioned earlier.

And the Suffolk construction team has been meeting regularly with Mr. Hessford to review this. And Mr. Hessford has commented on this plan. The temporary access ways that I have shown here will be cut down to city standard and backfilled appropriately upon completion of the project. And I did mention there's a row of tiebacks, and that is shown on Section DD here. And it's one row, and that has been coordinated with all the private public utility providers. The construction and design team have worked closely with all the private utility providers in the area. A significant amount of subsurface utility engineering has been undertaken and has informed the results that used to be on this plan. That concludes my brief presentation. And I thank you for your time.

Thank

you. Any questions or comments from PIC staff?

No, we're all set on all this, I think. We do have a handful of planned comments which we've submitted to the project team, and we expect those can be pretty easily addressed in the next two weeks.

I'll report that the edits have been made and are just awaiting comments from new business. Business. Love it. Thanks, Howard.

Any questions from members of the commission? Alright. Hearing none. Assuming two weeks is enough time, we'll see you on May 7.

Thank you, chief. We'll see you in two weeks.

Alright. Thank you.

Thank you all. Thank you.

And that wraps up our agenda. We have a motion to adjourn.

I make a motion to adjourn. Second.

All in favor?

Aye. Aye.

Aye. Thank you, everybody.

Thank you.