On Wednesday afternoon, with the dreaded near-universal September 1 moving day looming over Boston, Mayor Walsh announced a comprehensive strategy to make sure the entire process goes as smoothly as possible.
Allston Christmas, as the date has come to be colloquially called, is the type of situation Mayor Walsh is hoping to avoid. Annually, students and residents of the Allston neighborhood move in an out, leaving a mess of furniture and personal belongings in their wake for passersby to take and City of Boston workers to clean up. For those unfortunate enough to hit the sidewalk for this entire weekend, it’s like running the gauntlet.
“We’re preparing for an efficient and effective student move-in process this year,” said Mayor Walsh in a statement. “By coordinating across departments, we will assist students moving into and across the City to get settled into safe off-campus housing, and provide them with the tools they need to stay connected with the City all year.”
In addition to deploying 50 Inspectional Service Department personnel on the streets of Allston, Brighton, Fenway and Mission Hill, the mayor’s office launched a social media campaign using the trend #Boston101 to better connect with those who are moving and have questions that need to be answered.
Not sure when trash day is? Afraid of getting fined? Is it too late for a street occupancy permit? Hit up the City of Boston.
The ISD canvassers will be charged with conducting targeted housing inspections, trash inspections and information drops specifically in the aforementioned neighborhoods given their dense student populations.
According to the mayor’s office, “They will execute on-the-spot rental safety inspections upon renter request, and confirm that units are registered with the City of Boston in compliance with the City’s Inspection and Re-Inspection of Rental Units Ordinance, which requires that all private rental units are registered annually.”
As Boston City Councilor Mark Ciommo, a lifelong Allston resident who represents Allston-Brighton in City Hall, conveyed to BostInno, representatives from the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services will be available to answer any questions and hand out applicable resources at a tent set up at Cleveland Circle in Brighton. Information tents will also be available at the Hess Gas Station at 100 Brighton Avenue in Allston, and in Calumet Square in Mission Hill.
The mayor’s office notes further that parking restrictions and street closures will be enacted throughout the entire weekend. If you’ve already gotten yourself a street occupancy permit, this shouldn’t affect you very much.
Images via Mayor Marty Walsh Facebook
