Following controversy between its partner businesses, the parklet created by the City for Mission Hill, and with the Hill’s design input, was installed in Roslindale Village last week instead of returning to the Tremont Street spot it had last year.
A parklet is a small, semi-permanent public space that resembles a deck, created from two to three parking spaces. Mission Hill’s parklet, which debuted at 1524-1528 Tremont St. last year, was one of the first three in the city, part of a pilot program.
The parklet was maintained by two neighborhood businesses: Lilly’s Gourmet Pasta Express and Mike’s Donuts. But Mike’s owner Maria Weinograd had criticized the parklet plan for parking and safety impacts and lack of transparency.
Lilly’s owner Matthew Postal confirmed to the Gazette last week that the parklet would not be returning to the Hill this year, despite a petition he started
“I had over 2,000 signatures on it. I even offered to pay for [the parklet installation] out of my own pocket,” he said.
According to Postal, the city’s Boston Transportation Department (BTD) revised its parklet regulations to allow a parklet abutter to veto its location. That could prevent Postal from creating his own, smaller parklet just for his business.
Gazette calls to BTD Director of Planning Vineet Gupta and to Weinograd were not returned.
“I can’t figure any logical reason why someone wouldn’t want [a parklet] outside their store aside from spite,” Postal said. “The whole neighborhood is out a parklet and [Mike’s] closes at 3 p.m. BTD tried to do everything they could to find some other solution.”
“It was a really nice touch to the neighborhood,” Postal added. “I’m still very upset about it.”
The parklet is currently located on Cohasset Street, next to Fornax Bread Co. at 27 Corinth St. in Roslindale.
The parklet created last year for Mission Hill as it appeared in Roslindale last week. (Gazette Photo by Rebeca Oliveira)