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To address the public health crisis at Mass & Cass, the Boston Planning & Development Agency is set to commit $160,000 toward new services including cleanups and social service outreach.
The Newmarket Business Association is proposing a business improvement district to augment the city’s response to the sidewalk encampments clustered near the neighborhood’s recovery agencies.
The business association last fall began lobbying members to support the new BID, which requires City Council approval. The organization would have an annual budget of approximately $3.5 million, which would be primarily supported by a fee assessed on property owners.
Now, the BPDA is proposing to allocate $160,000 from a 2004 development in South End toward the Newmarket BID. The funding was part of an agreement with Boston University for its BioSquare II lab project.
At their monthly meeting this afternoon, BPDA directors are scheduled to vote to approve two annual payments of $80,000 toward the BID.
New services to be provided by the district include sidewalk washing and needle pickups, outreach ambassadors and referrals to social services agencies.
The worsening crisis concentrated near the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard was addressed by mayoral candidates and city councilors Michelle Wu and Annissa Essaibi George at their debate Wednesday night.
Essaibi George said the city should consider the use of the South Bay House of Correction and the Shattuck Hospital in Jamaica Plain as housing, while adding ferry service and reconstructing the Long Island Bridge to restore access to the former harbor island shelter which closed in 2014.
Wu said city-owned buildings in the immediate neighborhood should be studied for use as supportive housing.
