Councilor Flynn Announces Opposition to Edison Project Calls For Independent Traffic, Environmental and Utility Studies

See press release below:
At last week’s community meeting held at the Tynan School, Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn informed residents that he is opposed to the Edison Project (776 Summer St). Flynn conveyed that his opposition stems from concerns he’s heard from residents about safety impacts to transportation, the potential impact on the MBTA, the size of the project and its density, and environmental concerns. As a result, Flynn called for Independent Traffic and Impact Access, Environmental, and Utility studies.

“Elected officials are working closely with city, state and federal transportation agencies to implement traffic-calming policies to make our roads safer for all. I fail to see how adding 1,344 residential units, thousands of residents and hundreds of hotel rooms in City Point will help us to alleviate this crisis in our community,” said Flynn. “Last year, the data indicated 1,588 units would generate 20,370 vehicle trips on an average weekday. Their recent proposal stated that 1,344 units and significant commercial space, which is said to bring more traffic than residential units, are going to bring a much lower number of vehicles per day. I think an independent assessment is warranted, as tens of thousands of more vehicles per day will only contribute to this public safety issue, as well as traffic congestion.” 

Flynn noted the MBTA’s challenges in meeting the demand of increased ridership, citing the line that forms at L & Broadway for the #7 bus every weekday morning. In addition, Flynn called for an Independent Environmental Assessment and Independent Utility study as well.

“I share concerns of those that want this site cleaned up. We have some of the highest rates of Scleroderma and Lupus in the country,” said Flynn. “We owe it to the people of South Boston to have an Independent Environmental Study. We also need the Boston Public Health Commission to weigh in on the health impacts for our neighborhood. Moreover, just last month, we had people on oxygen tanks in city point without power for days. We need to look at this from a utility perspective and whether our infrastructure could withstand development at this level.”

For more information, please contact Councilor Flynn’s office at 617-635-3203 & [email protected].

14 Comments

  1. Big Shot September 26, 2018 at 11:37 am - Reply

    Can’t stand these NIMBY’s hiding their home equity greed behind transit concerns. Classic South Boston.

    At the very least can we tear the eye sore down? It’s brutal to look at and can be seen from almost anywhere in Boston proper.

    • Not NIMBY September 26, 2018 at 11:48 am - Reply

      Was just walking down on Long Wharf and couldn’t see it.
      No one is objecting to tearing the plant down. I live 5 miles from my office, yet it takes me an hour to get their because the GD is sitting in traffic or queue is 50 deep. You can’t keep building and increasing the population in any neighborhood unless you address the transit infrastructure.

    • Bazz September 26, 2018 at 1:15 pm - Reply

      It should be classified as a historic landmark and never be torn down.

      • Edward September 26, 2018 at 2:10 pm - Reply

        Great Idea!

  2. Ed September 26, 2018 at 11:44 am - Reply

    Bravo Councilor Flynn. Common sense prevails- thank you.

  3. Madrarua September 26, 2018 at 12:00 pm - Reply

    I think Councilor Flynn is correct. Also, any development should include at least 1.5 parking spaces for every apartment. The bus routes and frequency should be re-evaluated based on the addition of residents and workers in this development.

  4. Katie September 26, 2018 at 3:18 pm - Reply

    IMO this isn’t about NIMBY this is more about this is my backyard & I just want to make sure it is developed responsibly. Including seriously thinking about transportation, already overtaxed with who lives here now as well as continuing to make sure our streets are CROSSABLE! Not passable, crossable.

  5. D. Mulligan September 26, 2018 at 8:18 pm - Reply

    Everyone is against this project until details are worked out. The developer has just started the process that will.take 2-3 years of changes and community process. We have not heard .0001 per cent of what they want to do. We all know a project of this size needs full vetting with the neighbors (I am an abutter) but to say your against a redevelopment of an area that has long been an eyesore and problematic to our neighborhood is just not.in the best interest of the.neifhborhood!!

  6. Greg Murphy September 27, 2018 at 11:58 am - Reply

    WAKE UP PEOPLE!!! This is going to get built.

    Mayor Walsh announced yesterday Boston is upping its 2030 housing goals by 30% – from 53,000 new housing units by then to 69,000, based on new projections that show the city’s population growing to nearly 760,000 by then.

    Here is a link to the plan.

    http://files.constantcontact.com/e7a569b1501/b7ca1e60-7ea5-42fa-998f-205125e76d47.pdf

  7. Chris Devlin September 27, 2018 at 1:35 pm - Reply

    I thought when this Land Swap deal was made the new owner had only 9 years(?) To develop the land or it got returned to Exelon?

  8. Mary Cooney September 27, 2018 at 8:05 pm - Reply

    First , I was impressed with the first view of the redevelopment and its measured 15 year build out
    It is puzzling that this 15 acre development is targeted for criticism while thousands of units from Massport, the BPDA and MCCA continue to be more densely developed without political opposition within a few hundred yards of this site along Summer St
    Some of us have worked 30 years to oversee the this clean up along with the rest of First St to make way for clean mixed uses with public open space assured . We see this redevelopment as an opportunity to help buffer the necessary industry of the port.
    But interestingly, Massport tried and failed to keep this land in the designated port ( for potential further expansion plans?) even though they already acquired multiple acres on First St. for the HaulRoad, container storage and added crane operation..
    Now that the channel dredging has commenced, I encourage our elected officials to seek environmental review of the potential impacts of port expansion and specifically the arrival of huge Panamax container ships that burn the dirtiest fuel on the planet Some of us see this as a greater threat to our well being. Up until now, our requests for review have been ignored.

  9. Oldtimesouthie September 28, 2018 at 12:44 pm - Reply

    Let’s get real..these money grubbing developers ( who DO NOT live in southie) are gonna get what they want ..and we the long time residents better get use to it.How do I know this? Look at what is going on right now OVER DEVEOMPENT, TRAFFIC JAMS,and lack of SINGLE FAMILY townhouses designed for FAMILYS with children, instead 1-2 bedroom ” boxes” designed for out of town ” imports” who are just ” pass throughs”.. with no intention of making southie their home.

  10. Hillary September 29, 2018 at 8:33 am - Reply

    I look to the Maggy Thatcher of Southie, JoAnn McDevvit to save us from the Edison. Oh wait a minute, she’s silent since she already cut a deal with the developer. The City Point Associstion is a joke. McDevit stole her last fraudulent election so she can continue masquerading as a proponent for Southie. Will Mass port please give her the job she’s looking for ?

    • Ed October 2, 2018 at 11:35 am - Reply

      I just looked at the CPNA website. So Dave Matteo, principal at Cedarwood Development is on the Board of directors of the neighborhood group. That is a very stark conflict of interest. How or why that was allowed to happen makes me question the groups legitimacy at this point. Not bashing Dave Matteo or his company……this is really on the CPNA.

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