Boston PIC Approves Five Permits, Continues Pedestrian Safety and Student Housing Projects

BOSTON — February 26, 2026 — Boston's Public Improvement Commission unanimously approved five petitions and advanced two infrastructure projects at its February 26 hearing. Nick Gove, Interim Chief of Streets and commission chair, presided over votes approving a paired easement discontinuance and replacement for 1599 Columbus LLC on Amory Street in Roxbury, two Verizon New England permits — including a fee-waived fiber installation across the Bill Russell Bridge tied to MassDOT bridge replacement project B-16-016 — and a seasonal sidewalk cafe license for Tradesman restaurant at 176 Federal Street. Attorney Mike Ross, representing building owner Fox Rock 176 Federal Realty LLC, confirmed on the record that the approximately 25-seat deck "will be removed in its entirety" each off-season. Two new-business items were continued to the March 12 hearing: a pedestrian crosswalk and curb ramp project at Albany and Wareham streets, initiated after a mother and daughter suffered severe injuries crossing Albany Street at an unmarked location, and two petitions from Wentworth Institute of Technology covering a driveway reconfiguration and a 592-square-foot pedestrian easement tied to a planned 102,000-square-foot, 972-bed student housing development on Ruggles Street in Roxbury, with Balfour Beatty Campus Solutions named as developer.