Roslindale to get 43 new housing units

Officials broke ground yesterday on a Roslindale development that will transform an MBTA substation vacant for more than 40 years and add middle-class housing, a project Mayor Martin J. Walsh said offers an affordable alternative to the explosion of luxury housing in Boston.

"This is an exciting project for the city, an exciting project for Roslindale," Walsh said yesterday after the groundbreaking for The Parkside on Adams. "Here's an opportunity for 43 units in neighborhoods that can help sustain a community. It's certainly a big part of the answer."

The Parkside on Adams will include those 43 housing studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units at the site of the former F.J. Higgins Funeral Home and the long-vacant and unused MBTA substation on Washington Street will be restored and house a 120-seat restaurant on its ground floor.

"It's going to be a wonderful, transforming event for our neighborhood," said Steve Gag, president of Roslindale Village Main Streets.

Walsh said the $15 million project, which is across the street from Adams Park, will help complete the redevelopment of the area.

"This is really one of the last pieces," Walsh said.

The substation, built in 1911, was used to power some of Boston's first streetcars.

Gag said the development will bring Roslindale full circle.

"This really gave birth to Roslindale, this building did, because it allowed those streetcars to bring people to work," he said. "This is all about transformations."

Matt Kiefer, president of Historic Boston Inc., a nonprofit focused on restoring and preserving historic buildings, said the substation will turn into a neighborhood highlight.

"You sometimes find treasure in unexpected places," he said. "An electric power substation is not necessarily the first thing that would come to your mind as something that might have a role in improving a community."

Soon, the windows covered with bricks and wooden boards will be open again.

One part of the substation that will not be restored is the fading mural on the side of the building. Jim Higgins, who painted the mural in the '70s, said the redevelopment will do the same thing he had hoped to do 40 years ago.

"When I did the mural, it was to make it a nicer space," Higgins said. "I think this is a logical progression of that."

The substation was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013, a designation that made the building eligible for state and federal tax credits for its rehabilitation.

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Toronto: Indiegogo pacts with Canadian Film Centre

Indiegogo and the Canadian Film Centre -- the country's premiere accelerator of professional film, TV, acting, music, and digital media talent -- have struck a new partnership that will see CFC residents and alumni (which number over 1,600) gain access to one-on-one support and discounted platform fees with Indiegogo.

The pact will be announced today (Sunday) at the CFC's annual BBQ Fundraiser, held at its headquarters on Toronto's historic Windfields Estate.

Since its 2008 launch, Indiegogo has since strong growth in Canada, with a 50% increase in funds raised in Canada over the past year. Earlier this year, the crowdfunding platform made similar partnerships with the Documentary Organization of Canada, and Toronto-based website Twitch Film.

CFC producer alum Jordan Walker and director Jeremy LaLonde's "How To Plan an Orgy in a Small Town" is the first film under the partnership, and follows on the heels of Lalonde's 2012 Indiegogo success with his first feature, "Sex After Kids," which raised CAN$61,057, exceeding its $50,000 goal. "Orgy" has a Sept. 13 close date, and has already exceeded its $70,000 goal.

"I'm in awe of the creativity coming from our Canadian filmmakers," said Indiegogo's Canadian film lead. "Our collaborations with leading film organizations like the CFC and DOC are part of our ongoing commitment to support emerging talent, and the Canadian industry as a whole."

© 2014 Variety Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

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New fight erupts over New England natural gas plan

HARTFORD, Conn. — A new fight has emerged over efforts to shift New England from oil and coal to lower cost natural gas.

Plans by New England's governors and energy officials to expand natural gas in the six states have drawn fights in the past year among energy companies, environmentalists and local and state officials. Now, a lawyer who represents a pipeline company, manufacturers and two organized labor groups is accusing environmental advocates of abandoning their early support for cleaner energy and trying to block pipeline projects.

Anthony Buxton, a Portland, Maine, lawyer who represents the Industrial Energy Consumer Group and two labor union organizations, has taken his complaint about the Conservation Law Foundation to Maine utility regulators.

"CLF's energy hypocrisy in promoting the construction of more than 20 natural gas plants and then preventing them from getting the gas they need is very dangerous," he said.

The Boston environmental group, which has questioned the transparency of New England's governors and state energy officials seeking to expand natural gas use, says Buxton is misrepresenting its position.

Greg Cunningham, senior attorney at CLF, said environmentalists urged an expansion of natural gas in the late 1990s and early 2000s as a clean alternative to more common oil- and coal-fired plants.

"We completely stand by that advocacy today," he said.

The argument now, he said, is not whether power plants will be fired by natural gas but whether ratepayers should subsidize the construction of gas pipelines, Cunningham said. Investors are stepping forward, which should be encouraged, Cunningham said.

CLF has challenged how energy policy is coordinated by New England's six governors, saying the state leaders are conducting private negotiations with the energy industry. Environmentalists submitted public records requests demanding more transparency.

The governors late last year announced a plan to expand natural gas use. They asked the region's grid operator, ISO-New England, for technical help to seek proposals to build transmission equipment and public works to deliver electricity to as many as 3.6 million homes. They also asked ISO to figure out how to finance the project.

A proposal that would impose federal tariffs on electric ratepayers to finance energy infrastructure projects is on hold. Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick is seeking a delay while his administration analyzes different energy scenarios, including a plan that does not call for building extensive natural gas pipelines.

Buxton says a June 2001 statement published by CLF backing natural-gas-fired power plants demonstrates the environmental group's support for natural gas. He is asking the Maine Public Utilities Commission to include the statement in its consideration of a new policy promoting expansion of natural gas pipelines. It was previously excluded.

The United Association of Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 716 and Maine State Building and Construction Trades Council have joined Buxton's filing before Maine regulators.

"All we're looking to do is get some clean natural gas," said John Napolitano, business manager at Local 716 and president of the Building and Construction Trades Council. "It will bring more work for our guys, too."

___

Follow Stephen Singer on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SteveSinger10

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Updates have duplex seeming brand new

This Beacon Hill duplex near the State House is newly redone, thanks to many improvements the current owners have made in the past year.

The first-floor and basement Unit 47 at 47 Mount Vernon St. is one of 14 condos in two adjoining brick buildings. The two-
bedroom, 2,286-square-foot duplex, on the market for $1,750,000, has three full bathrooms, one of which is completely new and another just renovated.

A private vestibule entrance leads from Mount Vernon Street through a French door into an oak-floored foyer with a coat closet. To the right is a spacious living/dining area with two large windows, refinished walnut-stained oak floors, a stainless steel fan and a woodburning fireplace. The dining area has a rope-suspended chandelier.

The adjacent recessed-lit galley kitchen has just been redone with 30 white cabinets, gray granite counters and glass mosaic tile backsplashes. The stainless steel Jenn Air appliances are only a few years old.

On the other side of the living/dining area is a newly carpeted bedroom with paneled wainscoting. Across the hall sits a newly redone bathroom with gray porcelain tile floors, a pedestal sink and glass mosaic tile surround for a tub/shower.

Oak stairs lead down to a large newly carpeted master bedroom suite on the basement level with recessed lighting and a stainless steel fan above. The current owners combined two closets into one large walk-in with a centerpiece built-in dresser with wardrobe spaces on either side.

A en-suite master bathroom features double green granite-topped vanities, a granite-topped raised whirlpool tub and a ceramic tiled walk-in shower.

Down a carpeted hallway are several closets, one of which holds a stacked Samsung washer/dryer.

Off the hallway is a carpeted study, currently used as a nursery, that doesn't count as a third bedroom because it lacks a window. There's a utility area off this room that holds the central heating and air-conditioning systems with enough room left over for a workshop.

At the end of the hall, the current owners have installed a new full bathroom with a gray porcelain tile floor, a white ceramic sink and porcelain-tiled tub and shower.

The unit doesn't come with an on-site parking space, and spaces at nearby garages such as Boston Common and on Cambridge Street will run around $300 a month.

Home Showcase

• Address: 47 Mount Vernon St., 
Unit 47, Beacon Hill
• Bedrooms: Two
• Bathrooms: Three full
• List price: $1,750,000
• Square feet: 2,286
• Price per square foot: $766
• Annual taxes: $13,238
• Monthly condo fee: $390
• Location: Near corner of Mount Vernon and Joy streets, about a quarter mile down Beacon Hill to retail and restaurants on Charles Street. Several blocks from offerings on Cambridge Street, including Whole Foods market.
• Built in: 1850; converted to condo 1982, updated 2012-14
• Broker: Melinda Sarkis of Hammond 
Residential at 617-587-4609

Pros:

• Spacious living dining area with fireplace
• Newly added full bathroom on lower level
• Redone kitchen and refurnished hardwood floors

Cons:

• Master bedroom on basement level without windows
• No on-site parking

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Starbucks debuts at Boston Star Markets

Shoppers at two Star Markets in Boston can now turn to Starbucks to fuel their trips through the supermarkets' aisles.

The Seattle coffee chain debuted its first locations inside Star Markets yesterday in the Fenway neighborhood and on Morrissey Boulevard in Dorchester. Both serve its full menu.

The openings are part of a larger relationship that Starbucks already has with 
Albertsons and Jewel Osco, two of the other grocery chains operated by AB Acquisition LLC, the parent company of the West Bridgewater-based Star Market and Shaw's Supermarkets since last year.

They're also part of an effort to restore the 99-year-old Star Market brand. Its new owners have been expanding the chain — which has grown from 14 locations to 21 after former Shaw's were rebranded — and repositioning it with expanded all-natural products and new services, such as carrying groceries out to customers' cars.

"Starbucks has a great brand, great company and story, and we wanted to be partners with them to make their products available to our customers," said Jeff Gulko, spokesman for Star Market and Shaw's. "We do have plans for additional locations and will share information … as it becomes available."

The Starbucks deal comes with no restrictions on the other brands of coffee that Star can sell, Gulko said.

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Job growth hits yearly low

The nation's job growth last month slipped to its lowest level of the year, as fewer people sought work and the food industry took a hit from the Market Basket dispute.

Employers added 142,000 jobs in August, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics — less than the 225,000 economists had expected and well below the 212,000 average of the previous 12 months. Job numbers from June and July were also revised downward by 28,000.

And while the unemployment rate fell to 6.1 percent from 6.2 percent, that was because more people without jobs stopped looking for one.

"The fact that the labor force shrank in August is not particularly good," said Doug Handler, chief U.S. economist for IHS Global Insight. "We need the labor force to grow to continue to drive growth."

Handler said it is difficult to say what is behind the decline in the labor force.

"Some of it could just be flat-out discouragement," he said.

Eric Rosengren, president of the Boston Federal Reserve, called the report "disappointing" in a speech yesterday, pointing out that while 7.3 million people are considered employed, many of them are part-timers who are unable to find full-time work.

The food and beverage industry lost 17,000 jobs last month, a decline attributed at least in part to part-timers at Market Basket whose hours were eliminated as worker protests calling for the reinstatement of CEO Arthur T. Demoulas brought the grocery chain's business to a virtual standstill.

Those jobs will show up in the employment report for September as new jobs.

Still, economists noted month-to-month volatility in job numbers is not unusual, and other indicators point to an improving economy.

"It's still one month," said Robert Murphy, a Boston College economics professor. "We need to see what might happen over the rest of the year."

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Owner vents as Grand Caravan won’t take refueling

My wife's 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan will not let us add gas to it. At best, I need to fill it painfully slowly. I have a feeling it has to do with the EVAP system. The dealer said it would be $400 to fix. It sounds like the vapor venting is restricted. Is it possible to damage the charcoal filter by putting in too much gas?

It is possible to fill the charcoal canister with fuel by regularly overfilling the tank. It's called "fuel packing" and involves continuing to add fuel after the automatic shutoff has clicked on the nozzle. Doing this at a half-dozen fill-ups or so can eventually fill the vapor separator and force liquid fuel into the canister, which is designed to capture and store fuel vapors until the engine is started and they are drawn into the induction system and burned.

The problem with difficult refueling is a different issue. My Alldata automotive database pulled up Chrysler service bulletin 14-001-09 REV.A dated September 2009, outlining the possible causes and repairs for this issue. In brief, on certain models fitted with a "saddle"-style fuel tank, it recommends idling the engine for a minute or so to allow the fuel transfer pump to move fuel to the left side of the tank, opening space for refilling the right side.

The specific components to test are the vapor recirculating tube, fuel filler tube, fuel tank or components related to the evap control valve or the canister itself.

If I do a fast takeoff from a stop in my 2005 Buick LeSabre, the transmission clunks hard shifting through all gears. If I stop and shut the car off and do a normal takeoff, it is fine and won't do it again until I do a quick takeoff. What do you think?

Has the "Service engine soon" light ever come on in relationship to the hard shifting? If not, I suspect debris in the valve body is the issue. Under hard acceleration, the TCM — transmission control module — will command higher hydraulic pressure to ensure solid, non-slipping shifts. As this occurs, debris in the valve body may be causing a valve or accumulator to stick. Try adding a half-can of SeaFoam Trans-Tune to the transmission fluid and drive the vehicle for a week or so to see if it helps clean the valve body.

I'd also suggest stopping by a parts store that offers free DTC code scanning to see if any specific fault codes are stored in memory.

I purchased a 2001 Jeep Cherokee Sport 4.0 with 77,000 miles for my newly licensed son. The "Check engine" light is constantly blinking due to a misfire in the No. 5 cylinder. I replaced the coil pack, installed new plugs, installed rebuilt fuel injectors, sprayed SeaFoam into the air intake and "drove it like I stole it" to attempt to blow out any carbon build-up. I've heard other possibilities such as the fuel filter, crankshaft position sensor, camshaft position sensor or a stuck valve. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Since the misfire is specific to the No. 5 cylinder, at this point I'd focus on the mechanical health of that cylinder. Low compression due to worn/broken rings, burnt/bent/stuck valves, worn cam lobes or an intake manifold vacuum leak could cause this misfire.

Start with a simple compression test. If it shows normal compression, then do a cylinder leakdown test. If leakdown is normal, try a running compression test. This involves removing the Schrader valve from the compression tester before installing it in the No. 5 cylinder, then starting the engine and monitoring the compression. If it begins to drop as the engine runs, not enough air is entering the cylinder, which could be caused by a worn cam lobe or a valve that's not properly opening.

Paul Brand, author of "How to Repair Your Car," is an automotive troubleshooter, driving instructor and former race-car driver. Readers may write to him at: Star Tribune, 425 Portland Ave. S., Minneapolis, Minn., 55488 or via email at paulbrand@startribune.com. Please explain the problem in detail and include a daytime phone number.

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Casino panel will put conditions on license

The state Gaming Commission, which is set to begin its deliberations tomorrow on the coveted Boston-area casino license, will give Mohegan Sun and Wynn Resorts a chance to influence the conditions of their potential license — including in Wynn's case how much money should go to Boston — before deciding who gets it.

"It's important for the applicants to understand the conditions, what the award of a license means, and for us to understand that they understand and are willing to agree by those conditions if we issue the license," commissioner James McHugh said.

The approach is a departure from how the panel handled the awarding of the state's lone slots parlor license in February. In that case, only the winning applicant, Penn National, was presented with license conditions, to which it agreed. The conditions were mostly that Penn submit a series of compliance reports within a certain timeframe.

McHugh said the commission is taking a different approach because the conditions of a Boston-area license will be more involved than in the slots debate.

"The conditions in those cases were not complex conditions," McHugh said. "These may be, and it's important to give them time to look at them, and it's important for us to understand whether they're prepared to accept those conditions before we make the final determination."

Applicants will likely be presented with license conditions in the middle of this week and given an undetermined amount of time to respond. Mohegan did not respond to a request for comment. Wynn spokesman Michael Weaver said the company is "comfortable and will follow whatever process the commission sets."

In Wynn's case, the commission will dictate in its conditions what payments the developer must make to Boston to mitigate traffic and other impacts its Everett casino would have on Charlestown. Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh ceded the decision to the commission after he claimed Wynn withheld key documents about its plan. Walsh cut a deal with Mohegan that would pay the city a minimum of 
$18 million a year.

John Ribeiro, chairman of the Repeal the Casino Deal campaign, which is working to overturn the state's casino law in November, said giving applicants a say in their own license conditions is inappropriate.

"It's getting harder and harder to tell the difference between the casino industry and the casino regulators," Ribeiro said. "They are doing everything within their power to make it easier for the casino operators."

McHugh said it remains to be seen what steps would be taken if applicants object to proposed conditions.

"They tell us that they're not comfortable and we talk about it among ourselves in public, and we talk about it, perhaps with them, in public, and we come to some conclusion as to what the consequences ought to be," McHugh said. "Maybe a modification, maybe a change, maybe an improvement, maybe something else."

Commissioners have been studying different components of Mohegan and Wynn's applications for months and will present their findings next week. The commission set Friday as the date for awarding the casino license, but McHugh said the decision will likely take longer.

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Market Basket chain begins recovery after turmoil

RAYNHAM, Mass. — Alice Farrington has her pick of four supermarkets, all a quick drive from her home.

But this week, instead of going to one of those stores, she drove about 10 miles to shop at a place she's heard a lot about lately: Market Basket, the family-owned New England chain that gained national attention when warehouse employees walked off their jobs and customers boycotted over the firing of the chain's popular leader.

After a six-week protest that cost Market Basket millions in lost sales, the company announced that an agreement had been reached for Arthur T. Demoulas to buy the chain, putting him back in control of the century-old business.

As Market Basket begins picking up the pieces, it is looking to its loyal customer base as well as new shoppers like Farrington, who decided to check out Market Basket after reading glowing testimonials from employees and customers.

"I figured I'd try it — my neighbor is always telling me how much cheaper the prices are, and with all the publicity this summer," Farrington said.

A week after Arthur T. Demoulas reached an agreement to purchase the 50.5 percent interest owned by his rival, cousin Arthur S. Demoulas, and other family members, Farrington found most, but not everything, she was hoping to buy. Store managers reported that their shelves, which had been severely depleted, were filling up quickly now that everyone was back to work.

Some items were still missing or scarce, though, including fresh chicken, hot dogs and yogurt.

"I would say we're up to about 80 percent," said Tom Trainor, a supervisor who was fired after he helped organize the employee revolt but is now back at work. He said he expects the stores to be 90 to 95 percent stocked this weekend.

Company management did not return calls seeking numbers on customer volume and sales since the walkout ended Aug. 27.

Kevin Griffin, publisher of The Griffin Report of Food Marketing, said the crisis turned into a "feel good story" that could attract many new customers.

"I think everybody admires the workers — the people that held out — because typically those things don't end well," Griffin said.

"You'll have new customers going to Market Basket because of the intrigue: 'What's all the fuss about this Market Basket company? Are their prices really that low? Are the workers really that nice?'" he said.

But Gary Chaison, a professor of labor relations at Clark University, said he doesn't think Market Basket will draw many new customers and may have trouble getting back some of its old customers, who may have become accustomed to shopping elsewhere during the standoff.

"I think they're bouncing back remarkably quickly, in terms of getting everyone in there, generating good publicity and restocking the shelves," Chaison said. "The question is: After a week or two weeks, will the glow be gone?"

The walkout and sharp decline in customers prompted company management to drastically reduce the hours of part-time workers. Many employees in Massachusetts and New Hampshire applied for unemployment benefits.

On Friday, the U.S. Labor Department acknowledged the impact, reporting that food and beverage stores nationwide lost 17,000 jobs in August, affected by "employment disruptions at a grocery store chain in New England."

Market Basket customers said they were impressed by the fortitude shown by employees who risked losing their jobs and the devotion of Arthur T. Demoulas to a company started by his grandfather. Demoulas is popular among workers and customers for offering generous benefits and keeping prices low.

"Sometimes you lose faith, but when you see something like this, you think there are people who really do care, people who think of other people, and it's not all about money, money, money," said John Viola, a retired roller skating teacher who returned to shop this week at the Market Basket store in Raynham.

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'Guardians of the Galaxy' wins cold U.S. box office with $10.2 Million, 'The Identical' tanks

Disney-Marvel's "Guardians of the Galaxy," the summer's biggest success story, ruled at the sleepy U.S. box office with an estimated $10.2 million at 3,221 locations in its sixth weekend.

"Guardians" provided the only heat at multiplexes after the major studios had eschewed opening any new releases -- and moviegoers responded by staying away, leading to what's likely to be the quietest weekend of the year with "Guardians" notching the lowest first-place finish of 2014.

The only new entry was Freestyle's faith-based "The Identical," which showed little traction with $1.9 million at 1,966 sites, counter to recent Christian-driven successes such as "Heaven Is for Real," "God's Not Dead" and "Son of God."

"Guardians" scored its third win in a row and sixth overall. The space adventure has hit $294.6 million domestically and another $291.6 million internationally.

Paramount's fifth weekend of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" finished a distant second with $6.3 million at 3,273 locations to bring its domestic total to $174 million.

Warner Bros.' third weekend of young-adult weeper "If I Stay," led the rest of the pack with $5.8 million at 3,157 sites for a total of $39.7 million.

© 2014 Variety Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

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