Boston PIC Approves Dorchester Health Center Street Work, Defers Eversource Vault Again

BOSTON — November 20, 2025 — Boston's Public Improvement Commission again deferred action on a contested Eversource Energy transformer vault permit in East Boston while approving a suite of street improvements tied to a Dorchester health center. Chair Yasha Franklin-Hodge continued the Eversource petition at 16 Whitby Street to December 4 — marking the sixth public hearing on the matter — after rejecting a Eversource request to grant conditional approval ahead of a still-unfinished city-utility legal agreement. "I'm uncomfortable creating a situation where we sort of have your diligence and our diligence monitoring whether or not a permit is approved as the only stopgap," Franklin-Hodge said. The commission unanimously approved three actions for Harvard Street Support Corporation near the Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center: pedestrian easements totaling roughly 286 square feet on Ellington Street and Michigan Avenue, a specific repairs plan that now includes a raised intersection added after collaboration with PIC staff, and a canopy projection license covering approximately 67 square feet at 8 Old Road. A joint Verizon, Comcast, and Astound telecom conduit installation on Major Michael J. O'Connor Way and General Lawrence J. Logan Way in South Boston, associated with the Mary Ellen McCormick development, was also approved unanimously.