This budget cycle, Representative Livingstone has filed 8 amendments spanning from early education issues, social services, worker’s rights, and local earmarks. Below is a spreadsheet with each item along with a description and resources. An update regarding the success of each amendment will soon follow the debate.
Category: Mass Eye and Ear
Lane shift ahead: State Looking At Moving, Shrinking Storrow Drive Under Longfellow So Hospital Can Expand
Universal Hub — Report on a Boston Courant report regarding legislation introduced by Rep. Livingstone that became law to expand the Esplanade and allow for the expansion of Mass Eye & Ear. “State transportation officials are working on plans to stick both sides of Storrow Drive under a Longfellow Bridge arch, which would let Mass. Eye and Ear Infirmary expand one of its buildings and dig a new parking garage under the current Infirmary parking lot in exchange for giving up the parking lot for the new road alignment and new parkland.” Read the story.
More Open Space Is Now On the Way
Beacon Hill Times — Report on Governor Deval Patrick signing into law legislation filed by Rep. Livingstone regarding Mass Eye & Ear and the Esplanade. “The legislation, filed by State Rep. Jay Livingstone and co-sponsored by Sens. Anthony Petrucelli, Sal DiDomenico and Will Brownsbereger and State Rep. Aaron Michlewitz, authorizes the hospital to enter into a long-term agreement with the state to lease two surface parking lots located within the Esplanade. MEEI intends to build a 1,065-space garage beneath the parcels, converting the existing lots to landscaped parkland at the street level. Newly created greenspace is also proposed between Charles River and Storrow Drive, if, as the state has deemed feasible, the roadway is relocated beneath one archof the Longfellow Bridge as part of the ongoing rehabilitation of the bridge.” Read the story.
More Open Space Is Now On the Way
Beacon Hill Times — Report of signing into law bill introduced by Rep. Livingstone to allow Mass Eye & Ear to expand, add underground parking, and allow for the expansion of the Esplanade by approximately six acres (around 10%). “Livingstone told the Times that the legislation came as the result of a highly productive collaboration between The Esplanade Association, the Beacon Hill Civic Association, the West End Civic Association, MEEI and the state. ‘I’m pleased that the legislation, which creates a framework to significantly expand the Esplanade and allow MEEI to secure the research and parking facilities it needs, has passed,’ Livingstone said. ‘I look forward to continuing that collaboration through the public process for the project that now begin.'” Read the story.
Civic Association Board Votes To Support Rep. Livingstone’s Proposed Mass. Eye And Ear Legislation
Beacon Hill Times — Report on Beacon Hill Civic Association board of directors vote to support legislation proposed by Representative Livingstone regarding Massachusetts Ear and Ear Infirmary (MEEI) and the Esplanade expansion. “The legislation would authorize the hospital to enter into a long-term agreement with the state to lease two surface parking lots located within the Charles River Esplanade. MEEI intends to build a 1,065-space garage beneath the parcels, and to convert the existing parking lots to landscaped public parkland at the street level. The creation of additional new greenspace is also proposed between Storrow Drive and the Charles River, as the state has determined that the relocation of Storrow Drive under one arch of the Longfellow Bridge could be a feasible and convenient component of the ongoing reconfiguration of the Longfellow Bridge.” Read the story.