City Councilor Sal LaMattina commended Mayor Martin Walsh this week on his Fiscal Year 2016 City Budget and the capital improvements earmarked for the neighborhood. LaMattina and the City Council recently approved the city’s FY16 budget.
“This budget reflects almost $8 million in new spending as well as nearly $20 million for projects that are ready to break ground in East Boston for community centers, parks, the long awaited new East Boston Police station, fire stations and Central Square” said LaMattina. “I commend the Mayor and his budget team for investing in these important projects and look forward to seeing them come to fruition.”
The city’s FY16 –FY20 Five Year Capital Plan was approved in conjunction with the City’s FY16 operating budget. The Capital Plan is a flexible tool that allows the City to identify long-term goals and investments in infrastructure, buildings, equipment and technology. Projects in the Capital Plan are implemented over a multi-year period and go through several phases including study, design and construction/implementation.
Locally, the city officials will spend $3.75 million to complete building renovations including upgrades to mechanical systems at the Paris Street Pool. The city will spend an additional $2 million to design and construct a new police station in the neighborhood near the City Yards. Noyes Park will get $1.93 million to rehabilitate the park, including updating the play lot, courts, fields and parking.
Projects currently in East Boston that are currently under study in the FY16 Plan is $75,000 for the new police station project. This money will be used to develop a building program and assess siting options in conjunction with the possible development of the new station.
Currently in design and ready to break ground is $10 million for the Paris Street Community Center. This money will be used for interior facility repairs and renovations include upgrades of all mechanical systems and boilers; window and exterior and interior door replacements; athletic facility improvements and teledata upgrades; and new furniture and equipment.
There is $7.7 million that is ready to be spent for the urban redesign and improvements for Central Square including the intersections at Meridian and Saratoga Streets, and Porter and Bennington Streets.
Cuneo Playground has $320,000 for major park renovation including drainage; fencing and wall repairs; and new landscaping, play structure, and safety surfacing.
The East Boston Greenway Connector has $1.37 million set aside for the design and construction for the final segment of the East Boston Greenway that will connect the section Massport recently completed to Constitution Beach.
Finally, the Engine 5 Firehouse has $925,000 for building repairs including roof replacement, masonry repointing, gutter replacement, waterproofing, flashing repairs, window and door repairs and drainage improvements.