WELLINGTON-HARRINGTON Neighborhood - Recently Updated Pages

Welcome!

TonySr — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 19:07:26 CDT

Wellington-Harrington’s Neighborhood Association

Come to the next Wellington-Harrington Neighborhood Association Meeting
Wellington Inman Harrington N E I G H B O R H O O D

All residents and businesses of the Wellington-Harrington neighborhood, also known as Inman-Harrington neighborhood, are encouraged to attend this meeting.

Thursday, August 14, 2008 7:00pm
Vin-Fen
950 Cambridge Street (near Corner of Windsor St)

Commissioner Robert Haas and neighborhood Sergeants have confirmed to come and speak to us about our concerns on crime. We invited several politicians. This is the opportunity to interact with them in an environment that is decisively much more relaxed and friendly than the usual one-way and imposing setting of formal meetings.

This is your opportunity to meet your neighbors, discuss your parking, lack of open space, crime and safety concerns, and get the latest information on what your fellow Wellington-Harrington neighbors are doing to improve our neighborhood.

As McGruff the Crime Dog® would say – we need to learn how to stop crime before it happens. It is our job is to help each other, especially kids, learn how to be safe and make our neighborhood safer.

Protecting our quality of life: blocking current and future overcrowding and destabilizing developments in our neighborhood

McGruff the Crime Dog® is a registered mark of the National Crime Prevention Council

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Crime in our neighborhood is up 217%! What can be done about it? Help WHNA... spread the word... support us and go to meetings.

Visit our "Crime Watch" page for a "Community Alert" by the Cambridge Police Dept.

Make sure you are registered to vote: Call as soon as possible (617) 349 4361 to verify your voting status. A strong voting community gets attention.

We appreciate your interest in the neighborhood. If you are a resident, you are a member of the Neighborhood Association, come to meetings and let us welcome you personally and share your thoughts/concerns.

A healthy community is a form of living democracy: people working together to address what matters to them.

Crime Watch

TonySr — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 09:46:22 CST

Our Neighborhood needs a Crime Watch Program

If you have ideas or would like to start one, please contact us.

Recent crime activity in our neighborhood
There is currently a ...
COMMUNITY ALERT
2/29/2008 .
www.cambridgepolice.org.
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Neighborhood 3 Inman/Harrington On November 5, 2007 at approximately 9:30 PM a residential burglary took place on Seckel Street. Entrance was gained through a first floor window located on the side of the house. A resident who was home at the time confronted two individuals and they fled the residence. The two suspects were wearing grey hooded sweatshirts. All citizens are asked to be alert for these subjects or for any other suspicious individuals in this area and to call 911 if observed. Residents are encouraged to take appropriate steps to ensure their homes are secure. Please secure all points of entry and utilize lighting as a deterrent. Engage alarms if possible. If anyone has any information regarding this incident or suspects, please contact the Investigation Section at 617-349-3370 or the Police Operations Desk at 617-349-3301

Source:CAMBRIDGE POLICE DEPARTMENT 2007 SECOND QUARTER CRIME REPORT
Produced by the Cambridge Police Department Crime Analysis Unit

RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY: SECOND QUARTER

¨ Residential burglaries in the first half of 2007 remained well above the level experienced during the first half of 2006. Thus far in 2007, there has been a 28% increase in residential burglaries compared to the first half of 2006.

¨ Despite the overall first-half increase, there was actually a slight decrease in residential breaks in the second quarter of 2007 compared to 2006. The second quarter of 2007 experienced 15% fewer incidents than last year’s second quarter. There were 131 housebreaks from April to June in 2006 and 112 housebreaks from April to June in 2007.

¨ The neighborhoods that saw the largest decreases in residential burglaries from last year’s first half to this year’s first half were Agassiz (down 77%) and Strawberry Hill (down 33%).

¨ Three neighborhoods experienced increases of over 100% from 2006 to 2007:
Inman/Harrington (up 217%), North Cambridge (up 155%), and Peabody (up 108%).

¨ In the second quarter, housebreak patterns were seen in two main areas: on the border of Area 4 and Inman/Harrington, and on the border of Riverside and Cambridgeport.

¨ Similar to the first quarter, laptops, jewelry, and digital cameras were common targets of the burglaries. Cash was also targeted frequently.

Source: CAMBRIDGE POLICE DEPARTMENT
Inman/Harrington Crime Log

[date unknown] Since 9/22, there have been 29 housebreaks within a confined area in the Area 4 and Inman/Harrington neighborhoods. These housebreaks are part of an early evening housebreak pattern. Common targets are laptops, digital cameras, jewelry, and MP3 players. Entry is being gained through ground windows in which screens are broken or removed.

Source: CAMBRIDGE POLICE DEPARTMENT
News

[confrontation] Tue Nov 13 9:55pm Plymouth St & Hampshire St
The victim stated he was walking on Webster St. when 3 suspects approached him. Suspect 1 stated to the victim,"Do you know that time it is?" The victim went to look at his watch when suddenly he was struck from behind by suspect 2, who attempted to take his bag. After a brief struggle, two of the suspects fled down Webster Ave, and the third fled in the opposite direction. The victim followed the third to Hampshire and Plymouth while calling 911. The suspect was stopped and identified as a 15-year-old Cambridge juvenile.

Source:Erin Smith/Chronicle Staff
Fri Sep 14, 2007, 06:24 PM EDT

[confrontation] Mob beats men unconscious
Cambridge - About 20 thugs ambushed two men near Donnelly Field in East Cambridge Monday night and beat them until they were unconscious, police said.

The victims — 18- and 20-year-old Cambridge men — were rushed to the hospital unconscious and suffering from concussions. Doctors also told police one victim suffered a skull fracture and had bleeding on the brain, according to police reports. The victims were transferred to a Boston hospital for further treatment last week, police said.

Source: Erin Smith/Chronicle Staff
Wed Sep 26, 2007, 12:30 PM EDT

[confrontation] Sat Sep 25, 2007. Shooting in Hampshire St. & Webster Ave.
Police arrested a 17-year-old Cambridge teen Monday on charges he shot an alleged drug dealer on a city sidewalk over the weekend.

Source: Police Department Community Alert
and Erin Smith/Chronicle Staff
Fri Nov 09, 2007, 05:33 PM EST

[confrontation] Burglars accost Cambridge man in his home. Neighborhood Alert.
A Seckel Street man wrestled with a pair of burglars who climbed in his bedroom window Monday night.

The 54-year-old Cambridge man told police he was sleeping when he was awakened by noises coming from his bedroom window Nov. 5 at 9:28 p.m. The victim sat up in bed to see one man already inside his bedroom and another man trying to climb through his window, according to reports.

Source:Erin Smith/Chronicle Staff
Thu Nov 15, 2007, 06:45 AM EST

[confrontation] Burglar greets resident with “hello.”
A 53-year-old Palermo Street man reported a breaking and entering Nov. 7 at 1:33 p.m. The victim told police she heard a loud knocking coming from her front door, but ignored it thinking it was kids, according to police. A short time later, the woman heard someone say “hello” from her house and walked out to her living room to find an unknown man, according to reports. The victim surprised the suspect by saying, “Hello, who are you? What do you want?” and the suspect immediately fled the house and ran up a side alley, according to police reports. The suspect is described as a 5-foot 9-inches and was last seen wearing a black, old-style baseball shirt with long, white sleeves.

Source:Chronicle, Nov 2007

Cops report increase in thefts from residents' cars
Cambridge - Police are reporting an increase in car break-ins in the past few months. Drivers are reporting GPS navigation systems, laptops, MP3 players and cell phones stolen from their cars. … Nov 5 Palermo St; Nov 7 Hamlin St; Nov 8 Willow St. …

Letter to City Council

TonySr — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 11:42:26 CST

Letter to City Council

Good Day – and I mean that with all my heart, I do wish you a good day. It is not a good day for me though, nor my neighbors, and I know in the days to come, there will be very few good days for us.

We are the Wellington-Harrington neighborhood. I know a few of you know who we are, we have met, and have had the opportunity to fill you in on a little of our lives. We have sat and talked, and tried to portray to you what we are feeling. Unfortunately, although you have heard our words, I don’t believe you heard our meaning.

You heard us tell you of our overly dense area. What you took out of that was let’s fix the crime in your area, let’s fix the open area in your area, don’t worry about parking, it won’t be an issue. You are putting a finger in the damn, and not fixing the damn. The only way to fix all these things is to work on the density issue. Density is the umbrella, under which falls crime, rodents, trash, parking issues, pollution, destroyed quality of life. You stop cramming more and more people into an already overcrowded area, then the crime will stop rising, the parking, trash and rodent issues won’t get worse.

We know our area of town is the dumping ground. Just put more and more people in our area of town, there won’t be any complaints. They never complain. Why, you ask? Part is because 90% in our area of town are Portuguese, who have English as a second language and don’t feel comfortable speaking out. A percentage of the others are people who are those living in affordable housing already, they aren’t going to speak up, it would be like biting the hand that feeds them. Still more are the elderly, who feel their time for fighting the system is behind them. They lock themselves in their homes and shut their blinds, prisoners in their own homes. I ask you, have you driven around our area lately? You will find that almost every home has their shades drawn, even on the sunniest of days. Why, they are afraid of what is outside.

Just-A-Start is putting in at least two, probably three more affordable housing developments in our little part of town. We were told to “get real” and accept it. They use those two little words “Affordable housing” and boom, they get what they want. Nothing to say about the already overcrowding in our area, nothing to say about no parking in this area already. It has been said that the new units will be “beautiful”. Quite honestly, who cares how nice they look. They are still dumping more and more people into the densest area of the city. We have been told that there will be no increase in the parking issue. I beg to differ, because these are not college students that will be moving into these units, these are families. Families have cars. Families have friends who have cars.

So, I woke up this morning depressed. Knowing that my quality of life isn’t as important as the quality of life of others in other parts of this city. The property my husband and I purchased will be worth a fraction of what we bought it for, and isn’t that a nice inheritance to leave my children. I thought I was buying them a piece of the future, but their future is being taken from them. One day in the near future, my daughter can tell her daughter “When I was little, I was able to walk these streets without fear, there was a beautiful church here, there was a community and a neighborhood, but those are extinct now”. A new kind of global warming.

I don’t think we are asking too much. We are asking only to stop any more building in our area, look at the density issue in our part of town. We are not asking to stop affordable housing, we are asking to spread it around. Don’t just stop more affordable housing in our area, stop more housing period in our area. We are asking that Just-A-Start is investigated for their poor practices and management of projects and how they deal with neighbors. We are made to feel like dirt beneath their feet, that they can walk all over us. We have been told by them there is nothing we can to do, they will build and that is the end of it. We have been told to “get real”, treated like children by telling us when, what, how long we can talk, what we can and can not say, and who we can say it to. They are making a bad name for themselves, and for the Affordable housing cause.
I feel the worse for us, but unfortunately I also feel bad for those families that will be moving into these units. They will be moving into an area that doesn’t want them. We will be shutting our blinds to them, and turning our community into a virtual prison, and we are the prisoners.

I hope you took our words for their meaning, I hope you are hearing the cries of the community you are here to represent. I think the concern should be over the people who already are living in this city, in this area, not the ones that may move in. We are drowning here, in a sea of housing units, and the developers like Just-A-Start are holding us under, and the Cambridge Historical Commission and the Planning Board are enabling them to do so.
Thank you
Marion Figueiredo
Windsor Street

If these walls could talk

TonySr — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 11:39:02 CST

As a home owner in Cambridge, I can not just sit and watch as a housing developer steamrolls the system and forces itself on a neighborhood.

I am a home owner in the Wellington-Harrington neighborhood, and I can not believe what Just-A-Start Corporation is trying to do to the recently closed Immaculate Conception Church on Windsor Street, which by the way, they bought with City of Cambridge money; $1.425 million of taxpayer's money, to be exact.

The church is over 100 years old, built by the blood, sweat and tears of generations past, with brick built by our own New England Brick Company (NEBCO) from material garnered from Jerry's pit, now part of Danehy Park!

The roof on this building is true representation of Lithuanian architecture, beautiful red clay roof. This building is the only true historical landmark in all of Wellington-Harrington area. Just-A-Start Corporation wants to put 16 units in this property, 14 in the church and 2 in the rectory. How are they going to accomplish this?

First by adding a floor above the arched windows of the church, and then by tearing into the beautiful clay roof, to make dormers for bedrooms. They intend to dig under the church to put a parking garage. Are they going to inform potential buyers that Millers river runs under the church, that the basement of the church floods constantly and thus the cars will be water boats (especially with 16 showers, washers, sinks, dishwashers, toilets adding to that water table)?

They plan on putting in 16 outside air conditioning units (you think leaf blowers are loud, and what happened to being a green city?). 16 units net about 60 - 80 more people in what is already the most densely populated area of Cambridge (#5 in the NATION). Did they inform the neighbors? Yes, one week prior to closing on the property. We were told there was nothing we could do to stop them.

How did this happen? Was it because they are a large corporation with a lot of money? Was it because the Director of Housing Development for Just-A-Start was also the chair of the Cambridge Planning Board (replaced last week)? Can you say conflict of interest! The neighbors reacted.

The first order of business for the neighbors was to bring the issue to the Historical Commission to try and preserve a historical landmark. Just-A-Start arrived on the first visit with "plans"; the neighbors were awarded the landmark study. Two days later, even with the historical landmark study order in place, workers were at the church drilling the outside front, under the fresco of the Virgin Mary. Police had to be called to stop them. Work continued. Inspectors showed up as there was no building permit ever requested, nor issued, and stopped the ongoing actions.

Somehow Just-A-Start got back on the Historical Commission agenda for the following month meeting, disrespectful of the very start of the one year landmark study. Just-A-Start showed up with "new" plans, which were the plans they actually had presented to the neighborhood one month prior to the first Historical Commission meeting! Again they got rebuffed. The Historical Commission issued a continuation with a no-changes status to January 2008, and will visit the church before that date, when another hearing will take place.

Has this stopped Just-A-Start or the archdiocese from doing any work on the property? NO! Trucks have been in the parking lot as early as 6:30am, backed up to the front door, and to stop neighbors from seeing what is being removed, the workers put up large pieces of foam to block anyone from seeing what is being taken from the building (we have pictures). The stained glass windows were removed, even though they were donated by families and the names of the families are in the glass. The bell was removed. The archdiocese stated IN THE DEED that the property could NOT be another religious institution or house of worship of any kind for the next 99 years; How can the Catholic archdiocese discriminate so openly, and be allowed to get away with it?

Just-A-Start has 20 rental buildings in Cambridge, 17 of them are in the Wellington-Harrington area. Just-A-Start has 17 home ownership buildings in Cambridge, 12 of them are in Wellington-Harrington area. Just-A-Start keeps putting more and more people in the same area of town because the more people they put, the lower the cost of property. They can buy up more and build more - your CPA money at work, they justify. Just-A-Start would like to think this is an affordable housing issue. It is far from an affordable housing issue, it's an overcrowding issue.

Crime is higher in this area, up 217% over last year alone, while the rest of Cambridge's neighborhoods enjoy lower numbers than the prior year! Higher density, higher crime. Just-A-Start has no respect for the history of this building. They have no respect for the potential new residents they are building for, and they most certainly have no respect for the current neighbors. As they stated at the last Historical Commission meeting "it would not be equitable for us to put less than 16 units in this building". Guess what Just-A-Start. It has more to do with than money, our money at that, it has to do with lives, lives you are destroying and the history you are destroying. How does that saying go? "If these walls could talk."

Well if the Immaculate Conception Church walls could talk, they would tell you stories rich in history of love and marriage and baptisms and deaths; they would tell you tales of teachers, priests, nuns and deacons; they would resound in past days of laughter and joy; and then they would tell you of the recent turn of events - of the raping of heritage and prestige, of the recent lies told, arrogance, injustice and violation of integrity, and yes, if these walls could talk today, these walls would cry.

Marion Figueiredo

Sacrificing quality of life

TonySr — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 11:29:34 CST

Sacrificing quality of life in the name of “Affordable Housing”

Affordable Housing, just those two words seem to allow rules to be broken, due process to be discarded, neighborhoods to be steamrolled, and quality of life to be thrown to the gutter like a discarded piece of trash.

How can one neighborhood be so blatantly abused, yet no one listens to the cries of the neighbors? How can one neighborhoods history and future be destroyed all in the name of Affordable Housing.

I am very strongly for Affordable Housing, as long as it is equally disbursed throughout the city. Yet, that doesn’t seem to happen.

The Wellington-Harrington neighborhood is being abused. We have our share of affordable housing, and that’s fine. Yet, Just-A-Start feels the need to cram more people in our already dense area of the city. Normal density is 25 people per square acre, the Wellington-Harrington neighborhood is currently at 99 people per square acre. Crime in this area has risen 217% in the last year alone. Just-A-Start Corp. wants to put 16 more units in the Lithuanian Church on Windsor, and another 21 in the old Cambridge Antiques location on Cambridge Street. They bought these buildings with our taxpayer Yet they don’t listen to the pleas of the current neighbors. They don’t care that we already don’t have enough parking for those that currently live here. They don’t care that the crime is a direct result of higher density.

How do they get away with it? They say “Affordable Housing” and everyone bows to them because those two words seem to move mountains They keep buying in the same area, because they are driving down the value of the properties there by putting in more housing, making it affordable for them to buy more.

The truth is, it isn’t Affordable Housing that is killing our neighborhood, it is more housing period. Just-A-Start gets around that by using those two treasured words “Affordable Housing”.

Unfortunately, they have figured out how to “work” the system to get what they want. Sadly, we are losing our quality of life in our neighborhood, Just-A-Start is suffocating us, steamrolling over our neighborhood, and as one of their project managers said at the last meeting, we have to “get real”.

Watch out, your neighborhood is next. Areas like Shady Hill may win against the current private developer, but Just-A-Start could come next, and put in Affordable housing, and then it is all done.

Marion Figueiredo

Green Line Extension Project

TonySr — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 15:49:18 CST

The Green Line Extension Project is an initiative of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Transportation & Public Works, in coordination with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.This project will extend existing MBTA Green Line service from Lechmere Station through the northwest Boston corridor communities of Cambridge, Somerville, and Medford, with an extension line to Union Square in Somerville.

For more information: http://www.unionsquaremain.org/visiting/news/jan08.html#column

Policy Order #5 - 02/11/2008

TonySr — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 08:47:21 CST

Policy Order Resolution

O-5
IN CITY COUNCIL

February 11, 2008

COUNCILLOR KELLEY
COUNCILLOR TOOMEY

WHEREAS: The City Council has scheduled a housing roundtable for March 5, 2008; and

WHEREAS: The City Council has asked the City Manager to investigate housing moratorium options in order to better analyze the City's housing needs and policies without the pressure of impending development; and

WHEREAS: Just-A-Start Corporation has a Special Permit application to develop 16 units of housing on Windsor Street in Cambridge's Wellington-Harrington area; and

WHEREAS: Just-A-Start Corporation is applying for a Special Permit to allow construction of 19 units of housing on Cambridge Street in Cambridge's Wellington-Harrington area; and

WHEREAS: Just-A-Start's mission of providing affordable housing in Cambridge is a valued one and one that requires a true partnership with Cambridge residents; now therefore be it

ORDERED: That the City Council go on record asking Just-A-Start to postpone its various hearings until after the City Council has completed its housing discussion that is to commence on March 5, 2008; and be it further

ORDERED: That the City Council ask the Planning Board and the Board of Zoning Appeals to delay decisions on permit applications until after the City Council has completed its housing discussion that is to commence on March 5, 2008; and be it further

ORDERED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward a copy of this Order to the Board of Zoning Appeals, the Planning Board and to the Executive Director of Just-A-Start.

Policy Order #10 - 01/28/2008

TonySr — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 08:44:00 CST

O-10

IN CITY COUNCIL

January 28, 2008

COUNCILLOR TOOMEY

WHEREAS:	As residential developments are continuously added to Cambridge, we are faced with the serious situation of reaching a density level in our neighborhoods that is not beneficial to residents; and

WHEREAS:	An increase of residential development threatens to have a negative impact on the quality of life of current residents. It appears time for the City to reevaluate its current city-wide zoning plan; now therefore be it

ORDERED:	That the City Council go on record requesting the City Manager to take the appropriate steps in establishing a Moratorium on housing developments until an evaluation, requested by Policy Order #9 on December 10, 2007, is completed and zoning is amended as seen appropriate.

Policy Order #9 - 12/10/2007

TonySr — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 08:36:49 CST

Policy Order Resolution

	O-9
	AMENDED ORDER
	IN CITY COUNCIL

	December 10, 2007
COUNCILLOR TOOMEY
COUNCILLOR DAVIS
COUNCILLOR KELLEY
COUNCILLOR MAHER
VICE MAYOR MURPHY
COUNCILLOR REEVES
MAYOR SIMMONS

WHEREAS:	As residential developments are continuously added to Cambridge, we are faced with the serious situation of reaching a density level in our neighborhoods that is not beneficial to residents; and
WHEREAS:	As more and more residential developments threaten to alter the fabric of certain neighborhoods and raise the question of density as it relates to crime and other negative impacts, it appears time for the City to reevaluate its current city-wide zoning plan; and
WHEREAS:	Just-A-Start has three imminent projects within two blocks of each other (Immaculate Conception Church, Antique Shop on Elm St, and Columbia Auto Parts), and these projects would severely impact the already serious density situation of the neighborhood: now therefore be it
ORDERED:	That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to have the Planning Board and Zoning Board impose a moratorium on Just-A-Start from developing these three projects until O9 of December 10, 2007 and O10 of January 28, 2008 have been deliberated and resolution reached.

In City Council December 10, 2007
Adopted as amended by the affirmative vote of seven members.
Attest:- D. Margaret Drury, City Clerk

A true copy;

ATTEST:-
D. Margaret Drury, City Clerk

Historical Commission Meeting 11/1/2007

TonySr — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 06:47:05 CST

Historical Commission of November 1, 2007:
Continuation to January 3, 2008, at 6:00 PM, 806 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge Senior Center. We will need strong attendance on January 3, 2008.

As you all know, we already have the Landmark Designation study in progress for the former Lithuanian Church building, and it will last one year. JAS keeps coming back asking for major changes before the study takes its course, this is disrespectful of us and of the institutions.

The outcome of the November 1, 2007 Historical Commission hearing was a continuation, as nobody in the commission - at that time - would make the motion to plain disapprove the JAS alteration requests, even with the comments in our favor by the CHC Chairman William B. King, that especially disliked the idea of dormers destroying the roof. The Chairman said: "I will not vote since I was not at the previous hearing, but if I had to vote I would vote NO to the owner alteration requests ...; now, can anybody make a motion ...", then it went into silence. Dr Solet was ruled out of voting for this session, since as the Chairman she also missed the previous hearing.
Eventually a motion was made, and it was for a church building site visit by the Historical Commission members, to be followed by another hearing on January 3, 2008. We asked and obtained that visit to be open to all the neighbors. It will be advertised, on the church door and otherwise, and it will tentatively take place the week of November 26-30, 2007.

The continuation was a win, a very significant one, also if we would have liked a definitive no to alterations to the only historical building in our neighborhood.

Thanks to everybody.

Fight Density!

TonySr — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 12:55:06 CST

Organize Now and have a voice!

Did you know that the city has 13 neighborhoods and we are one of the few without a neighborhood association?

We need to unite and participate in the city political system to fight for our fair share of rights! We need a voice in city politics. The only way is to organize, build our neighborhood plan and fight for it. We are the densest part of the city. This also means we have many votes. If we band together and vote, we have the power to make a positive change in our community.

Why is it critical? The city’s housing policy #30 states: “Concentrate rehabilitation efforts in the city’s predominantly low and moderate income neighborhoods”; the underlying operational meaning is “increase density where it is cheap to buy and where people don’t complain.” That is our Wellington-Harrington neighborhood! The more dense they make it the less livable, less attractive and consequently cheaper it becomes, evolving it into the preferred out-of-control development target.

Need proof? Of Just-A-Start's (JAS) 20 low income rental projects 17 our in our Wellington-Harrington neighborhood! Of Just-A-Start's 17 low income ownership projects 12 our in our Wellington-Harrington neighborhood! And the beat goes on... In addition to the 16 units at the Lithuanian Church, JAS has plans for 13 unit Ownership on Columbia Street; 40 unit rental building on Webster Avenue; 20+ units at the corner of Elm and Cambridge Street over a small commercial storefront, in addition to an untold number of units (hundreds) toward Union Square. Quality of life? Ignored. Has crime ever gone down increasing density? Ignored. This is injustice and discrimination, and it needs to stop! Do we have your support?

We urgently need to refer to another city housing policy; #26 states: “Maintain and preserve existing residential neighborhoods at their current density, scale, and character. Consider exceptions to this policy when residents have strong reservation about existing character, are supportive of change, and have evaluated potential changes in neighborhood character through a planning process.” As explained in city housing documents, policy #26 reiterates the general objective of the City’s land use policies to avoid disruptive housing developments, as indicated by the current residents. The residents of the Wellington-Harrington neighborhood strongly oppose the 16 condos housing development at the former church, as having a disruptive and negative effect on the community.

Click here for more details on JAS projects... Rental Projects

Click here for more details on JAS homeonership projects... Homeownership projects

Thank you Mr. Toomey for supporting our cause...
"While increasing affordable units, we must also consider the effects of overcrowding on those neighborhoods that have welcomed affordable housing.Therefore I support zoning and other policy initiatives that would result in a balanced distribution of affordable housing in all of our neighborhoods. Simultaneously, we must take every opportunity to increase open space, particularly in those neighborhoods that have welcomed affordable housing, examining creative solutions such as land swaps and partnering with owners.In addition, we must continue to improve and maintain our existing parks and playgrounds." Source

Make sure you are registered to vote: the deadline to register is October 17. Call as soon as possible (617) 349 4361 to verify your voting status. A strong voting community gets attention.

City Of Cambridge Population (2000): 101,354

Census 2000 highlights: Among U.S. communities of at least 100,000 people, Cambridge ranked Fifth most crowded city in the U.S., with 15,836 people per square mile.

Research

TonySr — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 21:00:40 CST

Web Sites We Used:

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Printed Resources:

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Save Our Church

TonySr — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 20:39:41 CST

The Lithuanian Church is Architectural Art worthy of Historical Landmark Designation!

As ecclesiastical buildings are such a centerpiece of our built heritage, we take the view that every effort should be made to assist continuing community use. Many churches, when no longer required for worship, can still make a valuable contribution to the life of the community. They often occupy convenient, central positions and make good venues for social and community activities, such as concerts, meetings, exhibitions, and social centers.

Windows are an integral part of the original architectural design. Many windows feature patterns of glass panes divided by muntins. The original window glass, with its distinctive waviness, reflects the craftsmanship of early hand-rolled glass techniques.

The companion stained glass windows, which people in this neighborhood contributed to the church, have been removed. The names of family members of people who still live in this neighborhood appeared in memoriam on these windows. Their disappearance is devastating to these folks. We ask for the return of the stained glass.

See attachment below for our petition to Cambridge Historical Comminssion at the11/1/2007 meeting.

Save Lithuanian Church

TonySr — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 20:34:01 CST

The Lithuanian Church is Architectural Art worthy of Historical Landmark Designation!

Cambridge is renowned for its rich cultural heritage. However, the Wellington-Harrington Neighborhood is deprived of this cultural endowment. We need to preserve this historical landmark, and promote cultural activity within the community. This structure, built with the sacrifices of people escaping tyranny, has become much more than bricks and mortar for longtime residents. Neighbors relate to the notion that certain buildings acquire a type of neighborhood defining identity with time - and that means reuses outside of a community reference constitute a traumatic loss. Therefore our aim is to extend the building's potential - preserving the historical significance of its unmodified architecture - as a force for good into the future of the community.

Our Neighborhood

TonySr — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 19:13:05 CST

Wellington-Harrington (Area 3):

Neighborhood Description

Wellington-Harrington, bounded by Somerville to the north, Boston & Albany Railroad to the east and Hampshire Road to the south, is a small, high-density residential neighborhood with around thirteenthousand residents. It has thehighest average population density of all neighborhoods in Cambridge. The major commercial areas in Wellington-Harrington include Inman Square, which is at one corner of the neighborhood, and Cambridge Street, which lies along one edge. At one corner of the neighborhood is the One Kendall Square complex, which includes high-tech offices and labs as well as restaurants, stores, and a cinema.

Click here for the map of Wellington-Harrington Neighborhood map

Wellington-Harrington Neighborhood Study and Update

The original neighborhood study was conducted in 1992 and issued in 1996.This file is in PDF format and requires use of the free Adobe Acrobat viewer.

Wellington-Harrington Neighborhood Study (594 KB)

In 2003, the Community Development Department began updating the Wellington-Harrington Neighborhood Study, holding a series of three meetings with neighborhood residents. At these forums Department staff reviewed changes that have occurred in the neighborhood since 1996, and residents offered recommendations to improve the way that the City addresses a variety of issues. In addition, the neighborhood planning staff has reviewed the status of recommendations from the original study. In 2005 the Department published the Wellington-Harrington Neighborhood Study Neighborhood Study Update: Summary, Recommendations, and Action Plan, which reviews the discussions at the neighborhood meetings, describes recommendations proposed there, and updates the status of recommendations from the 1996 study.

Wellington-Harrington Neighborhood Update

A Demographic Profile: Population
Wellington-Harrington has the highest proportion of immigrants of any neighborhood in Cambridge according to the 1990 U.S. Census. Forty percent
of the neighborhood’s residents were born overseas compared to 20% of city residents. The neighborhood also has the greatest percentage of linguistic minorities and linguistically isolated persons.

Mission

TonySr — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 18:53:00 CST

Wellington-Harrington’s Neighborhood Association

The Wellington-Harrington Neighborhood Association (WHNA) is a non-profit volunteer community organization founded in 2007 by Wellington-Harrington neighbors to build community. Our mission is to preserve and enhance the unique beauty and residential character of the neighborhood.

The WHNA seeks to provide and promote programs, services and activities aimed at encouraging connections between neighbors and fostering civic involvement in our diverse community.

Our members look to WHNA for information and for advocacy. The WHNA focuses its efforts on matters such as land use, planning, traffic, safety, open space, parks, and recreation.

We appreciate your interest in the neighborhood. If you are a resident, please join our Neighborhood Association, come to meetings and let us welcome you personally to the neighborhood.

A healthy community is a form of living democracy: people working together to address what matters to them.

Exploring alternative use for the Church

TonySr — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 10:45:49 CST

The following are Proposed Alternative use for the church. We are exploring with City Manager through Mr. Tim Toomey:

Community Cultural Center – This historic landmark can continue to fuse the surrounding areas together, much like it did as a church!!! Build community unity.

The goal is to provide a safe, accessible community space for activities and programs that meet community needs; strengthening and uniting the community by brining together its diverse elements; and raising conscious awareness through public education, art and to promote the full inclusion of all persons - multiethnic and multicultural.
The Center would be a venue for classes, dramatic performances, celebrations, community meetings, cultural, political, social activities and cultural events.
The Center could provide much needed office space to a wide variety of nonprofit cultural, educational and community-based organizations.
Senior Center/Senior Programming: Daily lunch, Monthly dinners, Computer and Yoga classes, Advice (free help with anything from navigating the Social Security System to doctors’ appointments, and referrals for almost any problem or activity).
Forming a 501-c3 non-profit organization

Adult/Community Learning Center

The purpose of the Adult Learning Center is to provide for the literacy needs of adults in the community. Literacy is defined as the individual's ability to apply reading, writing, and computational skills to a career and to everyday life, promoting the attitude for lifelong learning.

Learn basic computer literacy;
Improve language, writing, and math skills;
Prepare for further training in Technical College or University;
Earn a promotion in a current job;
English as a Second Language instruction and materials;
Referrals to other educational and vocational programs;
Preparation for written Driver's License examination;
Preparation for US Citizenship tests.

Community Museum – Legacy of Cambridge Industries, Businesses and People

Immigrants across the years and their legacy on the community.
A focal point for many Cambridge artifacts spread throughout Cambridge buildings, underutilized with minimal access to the public.
A venue for citizens to donate memorabilia about Cambridge.
A place for schools to visit, be proud and be inspired.
Likely supported by the industrial, business and social trades, and educational institutions currently located in Cambridge, the latest in Cambridge ingenuity reinventing itself. They constitute the state of the art in the field they operate: Nanotechnology; Robotics; Wireless Technologies; Biotechnology; Clean and Efficient Energy; Recycling Technologies; Studies and Trend Setting Organizations; Political, Economic and Sociological Organizations, and Education.
Forming a 501-c3 non-profit organization.

Child Day-Care Center (NOT Teen Center)

Obtaining affordable, quality child day care, especially for children under age 5, is a major concern for many parents. With the increasing number of households in which both parents work full time, this industry has been one of the fastest growing in the U.S. economy. It is widely recognized that the unavailability of child care is a barrier to the employment of many parents, especially qualified women, and that the cost of the benefits is offset by increased employee morale and reduced absenteeism.
The rising demand for child day care services reflects in part demographic trends. Over the 2004-14 period, the number of children under age 5 is expected to increase at a faster rate than in previous years. In addition, the labor force participation rate of women of childbearing age also is expected to increase, though only slightly. This increase likely will cause more households to have both parents working full time, increasing the demand for some form of child care arrangement. ( www.bls.gov/oco/cg/cgs032.htm ) .
In addition, subsidies for children from low-income families attending child day care programs will result in more children being served in centers. Legislation requiring more welfare recipients to work also could contribute to demand for child day care services.
East Cambridge has a lot of affordable housing and city leaders are promoting families for those units. This puts an acute need for affordable child day-care services to enable the parents to become wage earners and have better quality of life.

Affordable Senior Assisted Living Center (ASALC)– Keep our seniors in Cambridge

A nonprofit assisted living facility in East Cambridge with the unique concept of providing residential care that is affordable to all.
An ASALC encourages a lifestyle that is the ideal alternative to the isolation and challenges of living alone in ones own home, or lack of privacy in larger retirement facilities, or a premature placement in a nursing home.
An assisted living residence is a special combination of housing and personalized care designed to permit frail elderly individuals requiring help with activities of daily living to "age in place" in a home-like setting. Care is provided 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week, in a way that promotes maximum independence and dignity for each resident and involves the resident's family, neighbors, and friends.
The City must be committed to keeping the facility affordable so that low-income elders do not have to choose between living alone unsafely and being prematurely placed in a nursing home because they cannot afford assisted living. This commitment to do the very best to keep costs down would involve participation in programs that subsidize the cost for lower income elders. These programs are based on income and assets; the room and board rate is based on a percentage of income.

Group Adult Foster Care Program - In Massachusetts, Medicaid's Group Adult Foster Care program (GAFC) will cover some of the cost of assisted living services for financially and clinically eligible individuals. The GAFC program provides reimbursement to the center for providing you with personal care services on a daily basis. This amount - when combined with Supplemental Security Income for Assisted Living (SSI-G) - will cover the full cost of your room, board and personal care, and will leave you with approximately $127 per month for your personal expenses, shopping and activities.

Supplemental Security Income for Assisted Living - Supplemental Security Income for Assisted Living (SSI-G) is a joint federal and state program intended to guarantee elders a minimum income, regardless of contributions to the Social Security system and resulting benefits. SSI-G supplements an individual's monthly income to assure that they can afford the room and board portion of assisted living costs.

The former church building is a small enough facility to maintain quality individualized personal care and assure ones privacy and independence; meanwhile, it is large enough to offer friendship and social interaction when one wants companionship.

School Admin Building – The City needs it.

Historical Commision Meeting 10/4/2007

TonySr — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 10:28:04 CST

Cambridge Historical Commission monthly meeting on 10/4… Success!

This was a public hearing of the Cambridge Historical Commission (CHC) to review application by JAS to alter designated property (case L-85/Case2094: 424-430 Windsor St former Immaculate Conception Lithuanian Church), under the provisions of M.G.L. Ch. 40C and Ch. 2.78 of the Code of the City of Cambridge.
Thank you for those who attended. It works, you made a difference. The CHC voted to uphold the Landmark Designation study. Thanks go to Tim Toomey for lending his support with a letter to the CHC in favor of the Landmark Designation study. However, Just-A-Start is attempting to continue work during the study by seeking a variance on the roof and other external alterations. This request was postponed until the next meeting of the CHC on 11/1.

We absolutely object to any alteration while the study is in progress. The very reason to have a (1 year) study is because it is recognized that it takes at least that long to make any determination. Moreover, in the past two CHC meetings the roof was probably the most talked about historical trait of the building, a truly unique feature. JAS should not even consider that request, but they do. Our job is not done. Mark your calendars now and please attend this important meeting on 11/1 at 6:00 PM.