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Federal judge orders Boston College to stop wasting his time

The Heights provides a rundown of the legal wrangling involving a suit by some employees over the college's alleged mishandling of retirement funds. US District Court Judge William Young rejected BC's request for him to simply throw the case out, calling its strident efforts to block a trial "a monumental waste of time."


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The Arbs in bloom

Mark Smith reports it's peak cherry-blossom time at the Arnold Arboretum.

"Won't last long - don't miss it!" he advises.


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And now for something completely different: Large West Roxbury parking lot could be replaced by, no, not life sciences, but a simple warehouse

Rendering by Furrow Engineering.

A developer says it will soon file detailed plans with the BPDA to replace what is now a parking lot in an industrial zone along Rivermoor Street in West Roxbury with a warehouse and distribution center.

In a letter of intent filed this week, FPM Boston of Dorchester says it hopes to build a 62,000-square-foot structure between the self-storage place at the corner of Rivermoor and Gardner Street and a currently empty building that used to be the Ira Collision Center.

Part of what is now a parking lot covering more than four acres used to house an industrial building that was torn down in 2019.

FPM says it will replace some sections of the parking lot that remains after the building goes up with landscaped islands, reducing the lot's total impervious cover by 11%.

The company says that while the building's size requires a full BPDA review, the project will not require any variances or conditional permits from the zoning board.

In recent years, the once quiet area between VFW Parkway and Millennium Park has seen several development projects, including the self-storage place and apartments and condos on the parkway and along Gardner Street and Charles Park Road. In November, the BPDA approved plans to replace the old Uno Pizzeria headquarters on Charles Park Road with two five-story apartment buildings with 121 units.

151 Rivermoor St. filings and meeting schedule.


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Jamaica Plain man charged as one-man car-window-smashing crime wave

A Jamaica Plain man went on a weeks-long car-smashing rampage through Mission Hill, Jamaica Plain and Roxbury, using a tool designed to break car windows and packing some brass knuckles in case anybody tried to get in his way, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office charges.

Justin Caterson, 32, was finally corralled by Boston Police on March 28 after two officers spotted him in the Southwest Corridor Park at Stony Brook station, the DA's office says.

Now he faces 11 counts of breaking and entering vehicle/boat nighttime for felony, five counts of vandalizing property, three counts of larceny under $1,200, and trespassing in Roxbury court and charges of possession of a burglarious instrument, carrying a dangerous weapon (brass knuckles), trespassing, and resisting arrest, breaking and entering vehicle/boat nighttime for felony and vandalizing property in West Roxbury court.

The DA's office adds it is also preparing to charge him he will also be charged with breaking into fourteen motor vehicles on March 19.

Among the incidents reported by the DA's office:

  • Jan. 5, Vancouver Street, behind Wentworth campus: Driver's side window smash, black back with $300 in cash, health-insurance cards, charging cables, a charger, clothing and a hygiene kit stolen.
  • Jan. 15, 8:07 a.m., Wayland Street, Dorchester: Windows smashed on passenger side.
  • Jan. 15, 10:13 a.m., Dale Street, Roxbury: Five people had their car windows broken; one Android phone stolen.
  • Jan. 19, Westminster Court, Roxbury: Driver's side window smashed, car jumper kit stolen.
  • Jan. 22, 7:30 a.m., Copeland Street, Roxbury: Front passenger window smashed.
  • March 15, 8:34 a.m., Parker Hill Avenue, Mission Hill: Two cars with shattered windows.
  • March 19, Carmel Street, Delle Avenue, Sewall Street, Mission Hill: A total of 14 vehicles broken into.
  • March 28, 12:45 a.m, Jamaica Street, Jamaica Plain, car window smashed.
  • March 28, 2:37 a.m. Officers spot Caterson in front of Stony Brook station.
  • March 24, Judge Street, Mission Hill: Driver's side window smashed.
  • March 24, 1:30 - 2 a.m., Sunset Street, Mission Hill: Man broke into cars by trying doors, then breaking windows.

The DA's office provided an account of the night police finally caught up with Caterson:

At about 12:45 a.m. on March 28, officers were notified that a male, wearing a black hoodie, about 5’9”, smashed a vehicle’s window on Jamaica Street before fleeing the scene.

At about 2:37 a.m. on March 28, Boston police observed a male matching the description of the suspect from Jamaica Street walking through the park across from the Stony Brook MBTA station. As officers approached the male, later identified as Caterson, he fled and attempted to jump over a fence. Caterson refused multiple commands and violently resisted officers before they could safely place him into custody.

Officers recovered brass knuckles, an orange tool typically used to shatter windows, a Swiss army knife with a name not belonging to Caterson inscribed on it, and a Bank of America Card and a Maine ID that also did not belong to Caterson, from his cross body bag.

Innocent, etc.


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Storrowin' in the rain

Roving UHub photographer Henry Luthin snapped the aftermath of a most impressive storrowing this afternoon, inbound on Soldiers Field Road by the Harvard B-School.

Box truck with its roof sheered off

Ed note: Don't worry - he was not driving the car from which he took the photos.


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Rules? Massholes don't need any stinking rules

Boston Pedestrian observed the scene on Franklin Street just before Washington Street in Downtown Crossing this afternoon:

Second car in 20 seconds to ignore the “no through traffic” two “do not enter” and one “pedestrian zone pedestrians only” signs. There were also over twenty cars illegally parked in what is supposed to be a pedestrian zone.

The "Pedestrians Only" sign has been there since at least 2017, but familiarity breeds Masshole contempt.


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BPDA orders Winthrop Square tower to open a public space to the public seven days a week

The BPDA this week sternly wagged its administrative finger at Millennium Partners for shutting a supposedly public part of its Winthrop Square tower to the public on weekends even though it had promised to keep "The Connector" open every day of the week as part of its conditions for winning BPDA approval to replace a condemned city parking garage with a sleek 21st-century complex of offices, luxury apartments and restaurants.

The Fort Pointer got ahold of a copy of a letter from BPDA Director James Arthur Jemison to Millennium Partners principal Joseph Larkin about the situation after "members of the community informed our staff that Connector was locked and inaccessible on weekends."

Accessibility to the Connector that is less than 16 hours a day, 7 days a week for 52 weeks a year does not meet the commitment memorialized [in the agreement with the city]. ... While changes are allowed under certain conditions, it has not been demonstrated that there was a justified reason for the closure in this case, nor was any prior written notice provided to the BPDA. ...

We expect you to take appropriate action to ensure the Connector can remain open to the public 7 days a week, as required by the Management and Operation Agreement and Rules and Regulations of the Connector.

In his April 16 letter, Jemison gave Millennium Partners seven days to respond "detailing your course of action to remedy your non-compliance."

Millennium Partners describes the Connector:

A grand and beautiful ground-floor concourse linking Federal and Devonshire Streets, The Connector is part living room and part performance space—cozy and comfortable in the gathering areas and vibrant and ever-changing in the central core. Come down for lunch and catch a performance by a local choir, dance troupe, or music ensemble. After work, check out a TED Talk, ballet performance, art exhibit, fashion show, or other exclusive event featuring the best arts and culture Boston has to offer.


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Man pulled out from under Red Line train at Porter

The Cambridge Fire Department reports a man was extricated from under the first car of an inbound Red Line train Wednesday night.

Firefighters arrived shortly before 11 p.m. and guided the man - who remained conscious - out from under the train around 15 minutes later, after getting confirmation that the power to the third rail had been shut. He was treated at the scene for some injuries, then transported to a local hospital.


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Hanover Street could get lobster restaurant

Boston Restaurant Talk reports the owners of Giacomo's and Riccardo's are looking to open a lobster place at 204 Hanover St. in the North End. They go before the Boston Licensing Board on Wednesday for permission to buy a liquor license from another restaurant.


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Man who was shot at 2023 New Year's party in Mattapan Square sues landlord

Melvin Gross, who says he was one of the two people shot at a party at 1601 Blue Hill Ave. shortly before 6 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2023, today sued the building's owner for allegedly failing to keep him safe.

The other person shot, Jymaal Cox, was declared dead at the scene.

In his suit, filed in Suffolk Superior Court, Gross charges that Stamatos Family Properties of Jamaica Plain "owed Plaintiff a duty to protect him from a foreseeable criminal attack" and that it failed to provide "security safeguards to prevent the Plaintiff from coming in contact with an active shooter during a criminal attack."

The complaint does not specify what the landlord did or didn't do.

Gross says he is owed at least $9,815.89 for hospital and ambulance expenses and $100,000 for negligent infliction of emotional distress.

Stamatos has until Aug. 18 to answer the complaint, court records show.


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