James LaFond-Lewis
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On the article No Traffic Difference Between Forest Hills Plans, Officials Say
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On the article No Traffic Difference Between Forest Hills Plans, Officials Say
James LaFond-Lewis
7:58 am on Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Good point, Janell, the separation of neighborhoods there is stark.
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On the article No Traffic Difference Between Forest Hills Plans, Officials Say
James LaFond-Lewis
6:16 pm on Tuesday, November 22, 2011
ReplyI can think of two nearby aesthetically pleasing overpasses, although I don't know their names, specifically the Riverway Jamaicaway bridge that crosses Huntington Ave and the railroad bridge that crosses Hyde Park Ave in Readville. One of their defining features is the stone used in the construction as well as the arched designs. Like many people I am skeptical that a modern bridge on a modern budget can rise to that kind of architectural beauty. What do you think?
Also, judging by your comments here, and previously, it seems that you believe the process has been increasingly biased by its planners toward the at-grade option because of the higher price tag of a bridge in spite of a bridge being a better traffic solution. Is that a fair assessment?
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On the article No Traffic Difference Between Forest Hills Plans, Officials Say
James LaFond-Lewis
5:22 pm on Tuesday, November 22, 2011
ReplyHi David,
I know you have been involved in this process and favor the bridge plan, but aside from that can you tell those of us who weren't involved if there was a way established to discuss and quantify aesthetic differences between the plans?Thanks
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On the article School's Move to JP Approved
James LaFond-Lewis
9:34 am on Friday, November 18, 2011
ReplyTo say that a school depends on its building to prosper is like saying that an idea depends on a book to exist. The educational ideas and ideals that have propelled the Mission Hill School transcend place. It will thrive in JP, in or in spite of the Agassiz facility. That is not to say that Mission Hill or its eponymous school is being well treated in the process. JP can legitimately embrace the school if it accepts the BPS reasons for the move. I believe that the move is a result of Boston Arts Academy's success and need to use all of its space on Ipswich Street. That success has displaced its co-tenant on Ipswich Street, Fenway High School, whose new home will be at the Allegheny Street facility. BAA wins more space. Fenway (whose students didn't want to leave Ipswich St.) gets a facility fairly close to its previous site. Mission Hill School moves to JP where its educational ideas will be supported and parents will continue to be engaged. This is not a great thing for Mission Hill because it loses the grade school, but if it can embrace its new high school good things can continue to happen. Mission Hill should take the challenge, make new partnerships with the new community moving in and work on becoming whole again rather than promulgating a fight. I love Mission Hill. I believe in its power to transform this loss into something that happened to a community, not something that destroys a community.
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On the article School's Move to JP Approved
James LaFond-Lewis
8:14 am on Wednesday, November 16, 2011
ReplyThis is clearly a win for JP. The Mission Hill School is a class act, its kids nurtured as only the best schools do. It is telling that they didn't want to move but also felt that they could do their work wherever they were assigned. I'm not surprised that Mike Ross, a Mission Hill resident, was upset. There will be a sizable hole to fill up on Allegheny St.
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On the article A JP Thanksgiving Checklist
James LaFond-Lewis
9:22 am on Sunday, November 6, 2011
ReplyAnd don't forge all the great foodstuffs made at the Crop Circles kitchen right here in JP. http://www.cropcirclekitchen.org/CE_list.html
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On the article Sparking: Spark by a Fire
James LaFond-Lewis
9:10 am on Friday, November 4, 2011
ReplyTownsend's in Hyde Park has a wood burning fireplace. It's only one turn after a straight shot down Hyde Park Ave to Cleary Square.
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On the Blog Post It's Rough Out There: Mistreatment By T Employees and Strangers
James LaFond-Lewis
11:15 pm on Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Em, you are blaming the victims. There is no excuse for the behavior that Deb describes, whatever she looks like or did. Explaining it is one thing, but allowing it to continue by accommodating it only compounds the problem.
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On the article Alan Khazei to Drop Out of Senate Race
James LaFond-Lewis
11:06 pm on Wednesday, October 26, 2011
ReplyKhazei is clearly a realist with public service uppermost in mind. Class move, smart move. Way to go!
James LaFond-Lewis
12:32 pm on Wednesday, November 23, 2011
It seems to me that in many ways the choice comes down to two competing priorities that are valued by everyone. We are offered a bridge that prioritizes traffic flow versus an at-grade design that prioritizes aesthetics. Both solutions make a nod at the other priority, but neither fully satisfies. I think it's too bad that this doesn't come down to some kind of a vote. Having our elected officials hear detailed arguments, get the pulse of the communities and then weigh in is the next best thing.