Latest news with #CarloDeMaria
CBS News
01-04-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Everett residents voice concern, support for proposed New England Revolution soccer stadium
Traffic, trash, and trouble are some of the main concerns about the proposed Everett stadium project. Neighbors for and against a soccer venue showed up for a spirited community conversation Monday night. "Why won't you put it on the ballot and see if the people want this?" one woman asked. Everett lawmakers leading the way to potentially welcome the New England Revolution to town, said there wouldn't be a ballot question because the city wouldn't be footing the bill. "You think there's someone else who's going to spend over $700 million of their own money and use union labor to do that work?" said Mayor Carlo DeMaria. Plenty in the city hall crowd Monday cheered the idea: picturing an old eyesore power plant transformed into possibilities. "We need more jobs. We need more opportunities. I think that will be a great opportunity for the city of Everett," another woman said. But with any big project, comes big worries. "Traffic, traffic and traffic. I can't imagine having a stadium 25,000 seats and no parking. Where do they park? How do they get here?" a neighbor asked. "There are 75 parking spaces. That's it. We have shuttles that run all day long, Encore runs shuttles from all the major T stations. We're hoping to get a commuter rail stop or two in the area," the mayor responded. Supporters are confident the plan promises fun. "I'm a big soccer fan so I would love to see a stadium, I would love to go see a game. It would be very exciting," a young man said. And everyone wants more details about exactly how future funds would benefit their city. "More to do here in Everett brings more people to Everett. Everett is a great town and people should know that. But I think the city leaders need to work a little bit harder on Everett for Everett, not just bringing more people to Everett," said an Everett parent. Next up in the planning process: a meeting with the Krafts and Revolution on Tuesday, then 30 days to come up with a community benefits agreement.
Boston Globe
12-03-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
Public transit, traffic, parking: Charlestown residents share concerns, priorities with Wu over proposed Everett stadium
Related : 'We have to leverage the stadium for what it is, we have to leverage it for fixing the road systems,' said one resident. Advertisement Speaking to the crowd Tuesday, Wu emphasized the importance of public input as her administration bargains over what benefits the Kraft Group will agree to provide Boston residents in order to get the city's sign off on the project. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'We need to make sure that the community that's most impacted by this proposal is right here with us, sharing what you're thinking, how you're feeling, how the other impacts that are already happening in the neighborhood have to be factored in,' Wu said. A While the project site, currently a shuttered power plant, is located in Everett, much of the traffic that would flow to the proposed stadium for games, concerts, and other events would go through Charlestown, just across the Mystic River from the 43-acre site. Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria has been in conversations with the Kraft Group over the proposal, and signed a preliminary agreement with the team in November 2023. But state lawmakers included Boston in the legislation passed in November, in response to concerns that the Wu administration was left out of those discussions. Advertisement Wu has argued the stadium, which currently only includes plans for about 75 parking spots, would have a significant impact on Charlestown, particularly on its transportation infrastructure and increased traffic at the Sullivan Square MBTA station. City officials at Tuesday's meeting said the administration is prioritizing securing investments related to transportation, open space, coastal resilience, and benefits for local businesses and the community, in the mitigation agreement. Related : State Representative Daniel J. Ryan and state Senator Sal DiDomenico, both Democrats who represent Charlestown on Beacon Hill, also attended the meeting, along with Boston City Councilor Gabriela Coletta Zapata, whose district includes Charlestown. The Globe previously reported that negotiations between the Revs and the city of Boston have gotten off to a tense start as a state-imposed deadline looms. The preliminary agreement DeMaria signed with the Kraft Group only includes an offer of $750,000 for improvements to Charlestown athletic fields. The Wu administration called that an inadequate starting point, particularly when taking into account a $68 million deal the city reached with the nearby Encore Boston Harbor casino nine years ago. According to the statewide legislation passed in November, the two sides must come to a deal by May 1, at which point a mediator would get involved. If the parties don't come to an agreement by Dec. 31, it'll go to an arbitration panel. But on Tuesday, Wu said she didn't have much of an update on those discussions to share with residents. 'Things really haven't kicked off very much in terms of substantive conversations, because there really hasn't been that much to discuss from the project proponents: We haven't really seen specific details,' Wu said. 'To this date, I still have not gotten a call from the Krafts. ... There's been just radio silence.' Advertisement Wu added that her team has had two meetings with the Kraft Group, and conversations are continuing, but her administration is waiting on more details. In the meantime, they intend to take community feedback and use that to inform what benefits the city pushes for in the agreement. 'I am not sold on a soccer stadium for the sake of soccer stadium,' Wu said. 'I would welcome this one, if we can get the transportation impacts right, if we can get them again to sign a legally binding agreement that does right by Charlestown residents and Boston residents. I hope we can get there.' A representative for the Kraft Group and the New England Revolution did not immediately return the Globe's request for comment. Longtime philanthropist Josh Kraft, the third son of Patriots and Revs' owner Robert Kraft, is challenging Wu as she runs for reelection this year. Kraft has said he would recuse himself from any negotiations involving his family's businesses should he become mayor of Boston. Wu, speaking on GBH's 'Boston Public Radio' Tuesday morning had a more curt response when asked what she would do in Kraft's position. 'I would stay working for my father,' she said. Jon Chesto of the Globe staff contributed to this report. Niki Griswold can be reached at
