Petition for a special law regarding an Act to make certain changes in the law relative to the Historic Beacon Hill District.
Mr. Clark, can you please read docket 063900. Sorry, I got to refer that to a committee. Docket 0638 will be referred to the Committee on Boston's COVID 19 recovery. Thank you, Ms.. Clark. Mr. Clark, can you please read Docket 0639.0639? Councilors Bach and Flynn offered the following the petition for a special law regarding an act to make certain changes in the law relative to the historic Beacon Hill District. Thank you, Mr. Clark. The chair now recognizes Councilor Bach. Councilor Bach, you have the floor. Thank you so much, Mr. Chair. And thank you to Councilor Flynn for joining me in this. I'm going to speak on both of our behalf. Councilor Flynn and I have the benefit of sharing together the representation of Beacon Hill, and we'll have more working sessions under your remit, Mr. Chair, and opportunity to talk in greater detail. I'll be brief. Basically, when the Beacon Hill historic district extended down the North Slope in 1963, the city was poised to build our fire station on Cambridge Street, and people didn't want it to interfere. And so a very narrow strip of the last sort of 40 feet before Cambridge Street was excluded from the district in order to not have that complication. Now, there is the big project going on up on the other side of Cambridge Street and concern about some of the historic buildings, including the pepper building that's mentioned here from the 1890s that run on the Beacon Hill brick side of Cambridge Street. So the main thrust of this docket, and it's come to us from the Beacon, also the association and residents in the neighborhood is just to complete that last 40 feet of the district, which is something that I think most people assume is already in place, but actually technically isn't. So it's that and then a couple of other technical fixes to that. This is a home rule petition because the Beacon Hill historic district is in state statute. And so the first step would be amending it here at the council and then it would have to go up to the state. So just to say that this is something that has been discussed for a while and the Beacon Hill community and so folks have asked us to bring it forward. And I'm really pleased to be joining the council president and bring it forward today. So thank. You. Thank you. Councilor Bracken. Anyone else like to speak on this matter? What anyone else like to add their name would add their name. I would. Okay. Chair Now recognized Councilor Fernandes Anderson. I think you know what else can I say? There's nothing to say here except that this offer is a beacon of hope. And as long as we hope, we will never be over the hill. No, it's just. Come on, you guys are relying on me. So it's tough on. It's all right thing. The U.S. electorate heads when anyone else likes to speak on this matter. Seeing no one would anyone else like to add their name. Mr. Clarke, please add Councilor Braden, please add Councilor Coletta, please add Councilor Fernandez Anderson. Please add Councilor Flaherty, please that Councilor Lara please add Councilor Lui Jen please ad councilor me here please add Councilor Murphy and please add my name as well. Docket 0639 will be referred to the Committee on Government Operations. Thank you, Ms.. Clarke. Thank you. Thank you, Councilor Royal. At this time, I'd also like to acknowledge a friend of the council, Suffolk County Sheriff Steve Tompkins. Thank you for being with us. Mr. Clerk, please read dockets. 0640 in 0641 together please.