Proposal to replace Seville Theatre in East Boston

[Suffolk 83]

ahhh what?

 

[Ron Newman]

I have no idea what it means. It came to me unsolicited. I was not at Thursday's meeting.

 

[Beton Brut]

An interesting message, Ron -- thanks for sharing. Apparently Mr. Mason doesn't like being asked to defend his positions at a public meeting.

I'm not sure if the "Jimbo" he refers to is "our" JimboJones. I'm equally unsure if he thinks I'm the Jimbo who's harassing his family.

For the record: I've got nothing to do with the content posted on the Hubster blog (I read it occasionally, but have never posted a comment). My only interactions with Mr. Mason have been at public meetings.

 

[Ron Newman]

by 'Jimbo' I'm sure he means thehubsterblog guy. I have occasionally posted comments there regarding the Seville.

 

[ablarc]

The Lombardo family, owners of the shopping plaza across Border Street, are behind this project. They seem pretty committed to making this happen, and recognize that it can be a catalyst for redeveloping the rest of the unremarkable two-story block adjacent to the Seville, as well as their own dated plaza.

Meridian Street is scruffy but complete:

The real problem is the awful shopping center beyond. It should be rebuilt with stores up against the street and parking behind. Add a few stories of housing on top while you're at it.

Why do folks in East Boston do this to their storefronts?:

No class at all.



Btw, what's with this project?

 

[Beton Brut]

The real problem is the awful shopping center beyond. It should be rebuilt with stores up against the street and parking behind. Add a few stories of housing on top while you're at it.

Concur. I told the Lombardo family's representives that at the last meeting in March. The success of this project would be a catalyst to the (incremental?) redevelopment of the entire plaza.

Why do folks in East Boston do this to their storefronts?

A lot of this happened in the 70's; as the neighborhood went through a metamorphosis, the owners of the three-deckers (often the first floor unit had been converted to retail decades ago) added a "maintenance free" facade, often with smaller windows (to enhance security?). I does look cheap and totally without care for the streetscape. If aluminum siding and chain-link fences are residential blight, this look is certainly the retail district version. There's plenty of it in Dorchester, Roxbury , and parts of JP as well. I wonder what our esteemed custodian of the built environment in East Boston has to say about this issue?

Btw, what's with this project?

Nuttin' -- likely tied up in financing hell. Consider: the views of downtown from these apartments would be great. Downside: the views of the Liberty Plaza, not so attractive...