Committee Briefs

Housing Working Group: On October 5, we talked through some next steps for a couple of community agreements with developers: Costello Properties, which is working to bring new housing to Buena Vista Street, and Urban Impact, which hopes to renovate a structure on its campus on North Charles Street. (A zoning hearing on Urban Impact’s project took place on October 1; the Zoning Board has not issued a decision as of press time.)

We discussed the need to put additional pressure on Rising Tides Partners and the city to resolve legal issues pertaining to 2539 Perrysville Ave. and to repair damage from a recent fire as soon as possible.

There are no updates on City Council’s proposals to regulate short-term rentals (e.g. Airbnbs). We await the Planning Commission’s recommendation on the zoning bill.

Finally, we heard an update on the county’s proposal to establish a winter warming shelter in Polish Hill, which will be the subject of a zoning hearing in November. We do not expect that effort to impact the county’s plans to re-open for another season the warming shelter that has operated at Northside Partnership Project, 2610 Maple Ave., during the past two winters.

Litter Brigade: Our last big push for the year was prepping for the Step Challenge. We’ll be out there through the end of daylight saving time, tidying up around the neighborhood — no heavy-lifting scheduled. Then it’s “so long ‘til spring.”

Gardening Club: Ditto, ‘til spring. Keep an eye out for Mulching Day 2027 at Unity Corner in May or June. Please feel free to harvest seeds from our wildflowers lining the front of the Carrie Street Garden.

Interested in getting involved? Email us: info@ourfuturehilltop.org