“Not Acceptable”: Flynn Presses City for Answers on Curley Community Center Conditions
Dear South Boston Neighbors,
Thank you for your email and advocacy in recent weeks on the Curley Community Center.
Please note I spoke last week with city officials on issues that many of you highlighted related to the breakdown of exercise equipment, the plumbing issues from the women’s locker room, the men’s locker room floor peeling and drainage issues from being pitched incorrectly, showers not working, as well as more substantial issues with the roof, among others.
We also discussed years of high demand at the Curley Community Center – oftentimes 700-800 city residents entering the facility on any given day, and over 300 on Christmas Eve alone. Many of you have noted that, after several years, the lack of any user fees whatsoever may be impacting the city’s ability to conduct routine maintenance and upkeep, as well as some members not treating the building as if they are invested in the success of the Curley Community Center as it remains free of charge.
At this time, I continue to attempt to schedule an upcoming meeting with the South Boston elected officials and leadership from relevant city departments, such as the Boston Centers for Youth and Families (BCYF). Unfortunately, the city was unavailable to meet last Friday afternoon. But I will continue to work on this important meeting to advocate for my constituents. I am seeking to discuss both short term and long term plans to address these infrastructure and quality of life issues for my neighbors, as well as what legal actions have been taken by the city to date with respect to the contractor and the myriad of issues that have transpired in a relatively short period of time since.
To be transparent, in my opinion, the more significant issues will potentially drive repair costs up into millions of dollars. In this upcoming budget season, I will continue to advocate on behalf of my neighbors with the City of Boston, and that we make investments in the Capital Budget this year that would allow for the necessary repairs to be made to the Curley Community Center.
Please continue to contact my office at [email protected] and 617-635-3203 on the Curley Community Center, as well as any neighborhood and constituent service issues.
Thank you,
Ed
Maureen Dahill is the founder of Caught in Media. Once a longtime wardrobe and prop stylist for brands such as Rue La La, TJ Max & Hasbro, she is a devoted lover of vintage clothing, Martini Mondays, Castle Island, AND a 4th generation South Boston native. Mother of three, married to Peter G.
Please address the fact that there’s mice poop on the Children’s playroom, I’ve let the management known multiple times but it seems like they don’t care, you can see that the place is not being cleaned at all
Hi Natalie,
That is not true. There is a pest control company that comes on a bi-weekly basis, and the children’s areas are cleaned daily. It’s hard to control the mouse problem when parents & guardians allow food/snacks to be eaten in those areas when signs are posted saying not to.
I disagree with the comment of the mice droppings. The building has a contract with a pest control company that comes regularly. The problem is that no one pays any attention to the signs posted about no food or drink in the play areas. Also, the caretakers, (nannies, dafs, mom’s, grandparents) do not clean up after the children that they bring! I have seen this numerous times myself.
Sounds like contractor issues
Fully agree on the imminent state of disrepair the fitness center and equipment is experiencing. As a happy visitor I would be more than ok with a small monthly fee for the gym, to contribute to maintenance costs and perhaps control the crowds a bit.
Thank you, Councilor, Flynn for your attention to the issues with the Curley Center.
I’m a SB resident and I was very pleased with the renovation of the Curley Center. When the center reopend I was surprised there wasn’t a fee. Here we 2.5 years after reopening and the City of Boston is still not charge a usage fee. Is this the Wu adminstration giving away services in hope for votes? What would the reason be for the city not to charge a basic fee to cover maintenance cost? Now, because it’s free—anybody that’s registered can provide their phone number and they’re able to go inside and use everything. I noticed one woman who would not provide her phone number and they sill let her in. The bottom line is that a monthly fee is necessary. Make it $25.00 a month for an adult, $15 for a teen, and $50 or more for a family. This cuts down on the traffic and provides the money for maintenance and to keep the key staffing in place.
…talking about a facility that re-opened just 2 1/2 years ago…after a $31m renovation? This is, indeed, “unacceptable “. It’s outrageous, actually. I’d like to know ALL the contractors who did the “work”(?) and, moreover, how these contracts were meted out. I’m sure the entire process was fair…and “equitable”.
Since when has the “L” been free, other than for seniors, this has to be something new, maybe since it’s reopening, but I remember in the past it was like somewhere in the $90 a year membership, when did that change,there’s always been a fee, for the just purpose of upkeep
Who are the building inspectors .