Eight Streets Neighborhood Association Monthly Meeting

April 4, 2007 - Minutes

Introductions and Announcements

• Next meeting May 2, 2007
• Barbara Lynch of B&G Oyster would like to open a wine shop above the restaurant. Although documents they are looking for liquor license
• Beehive looking to open in 30 days (in May)
• Athens II is moving along. Hoping to open in 2 months.
• Debate for city council went well.
• Construction vehicles in Peters Park. Renovations of Peters Park are beginning. Central path through the park and little league field will remain open.
• Berkeley Community Garden May 5. Garden Giveaway.
• Street sweeping resumed this week.
• City is doing yard waste pickup between April 30 – May 25^th. No weekend pickups.
• Boston Shines: South End wide cleanup day. Sat April 28. 8:30 – 2PM. Tools, shovels, rakes available at the BCA for pickup.

Business Meeting

• Pops Restaurant – Mr. Felino Samson, owner and chef, came to present to ESNA. They would like to replace their Beer, Wine and Cordial license with a full liquor license is seeking a letter of support from ESNA. When he first presented in the fall, there were no liquor licenses available so they originally started with a beer/wine/cordial license. Now that the city has released new licenses, they feel that the restaurant could be greatly enhanced and would provide customers with more options if they had a full liquor license. He says there will be no change to hours, only looking to add liquor. Over 100 letters of support from customers and neighbors were brought to the board when they had their hearing for the license on Feb 14. Current closing time Sun-Thurs 10:30, Fri-Sat to Midnight. License cannot be transferred if he decides to sell the restaurant. He will be giving up his beer/wine/cordial license in order to get the full liquor license. The city is holding their decision waiting for ESNA input.
  
  Members voted to not oppose Felino Samson going for a full liquor license. 6 votes of support. None opposed. A letter will be sent.
  
  
• Foodies did not show up to the ESNA meeting.

Open Member Discussion

• GET OUT THE VOTE!! Elections coming up: Special Election to fill vacancy of Jim Kelly. Down to 7 candidates. Prelim election on April 17. Top two vote getters – final election on may 15. Voting in the cathedral gymnasium.
• South End Forum –
• Looking for volunteers to participate in the neighborhood. Get Involved!
• GroundWater Issues: go to eightstreets blog to see recent article in the Boston Globe: eightstreets.blogspot.com. Various things that individuals can do to help prevent this problem. Groundwater protection overlay district – required to get permit if doing any excavation or projects that could affect groundwater.
• Project Place (on the corner of East Berkeley and Washington) is now open. 14 efficiency units (short term rentals for people coming out of shelters who are in transition to get back on their feet). Started a catering business. Residents moving in over the next few weeks. Ground floor facing the park will be a restaurant (called “Rice” by the owner of “Flour”)
• Ringgold Park Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday.