Navy Yard Views: Census Stats, Pavilion Plans

Happy New Year! It’s a time for new beginnings and there is a lot going on in and around Charlestown and the Navy Yard. If you have news to share, please send along. 

In December, the following 2010 census data was brought to my attention: 2,035 people living in the Navy Yard (including the Nautica); 92.5 percent white, with 53.5 percent women. Fifty-three percent are families vs. non-family. There are 1,315 housing units of which 91 percent are occupied (this number sounds low given the shortage of both rental and sales inventory).

More data is available at hubmaps.cityofboston.gov/myneighborhood/; go to Charlestown and then use the tool to draw a freehand version of the Navy Yard.

One of the Nautica board members was kind enough to share this news:

A significant development has recently come to the attention of the Nautica Board of Trustees. National Development Corporation, owners of Constitution Plaza, recently met with our board to outline current negotiations for the former Visitor Center/Bunker Hill Pavilion on Constitution Road. A long-term lease is being negotiated with a company which will open a day care center in the entire building (9,600 sq. ft).

The building will undergo renovations to the outside, including adding windows to the pavilion. An enclosed play ground will be erected on the side of the building, as well as a side door will be added.

The day care will have around 105 to 110 children ages 3 months to 6 1/2 years old. Pick-up and drop-off will be on the side of the building, with parents driving
through the existing parking lot gate.

The projected opening of the day care center will be in the fall of 2013.

In addition to the betterments of the day care building, National Development plans to do betterments to the Paul Revere Landing Site which is located behind the existing brick warehouse.

For other news around town, the BRA and the CNC will be hosting a joint meeting on Jan. 24 for the Parcel 39A development (this is the open lot located in front of the YMCA). 

The new Spaulding Rehab Hospital is transitioning from construction mode (with hopes of having a temporary occupancy permit by month’s end) to operational mode.

Have you been in The YMCA lately? Talk about a transformation! The main exercise studio sparkles and the Y continues to grow its membership and community outreach initiatives. Their CY2013 Reach Out campaign, which supports discounted memberships for veterans, subsidizes the McLaughlin House, and funds the Harvard Kent/Courageous program, teaching kids to swim and then teaching them how to sail. Dianna Ross would be impressed!

Yard residents are  encouraged to get involved. A spring event is currently in the planning stages.

SAVE THE DATE: March 28 for the FCNY annual Winter Warm-up party. If you are not a member and/or would like to renew your annual membership with our
neighborhood nonprofit group, please go to www.friendscny.org.

Next month, I hope to have an update on the future of the Tavern On the Water space, which is closed, and information on the possible development of the Ropewalk building.

Please feel free to comment on any past, present or future events or any other contribution you would like to make in this blog. Thank you and best wishes for a year of good health and happiness!