The Hyde Park Board of Trade (HPBOT) held its monthly dinner meeting on Tuesday, April 28 at Delicias Colombianas (1231 River St.). Its discussion topic was Squares + Streets (S+S): City Hall’s controversial rezoning initiative now in its final pre-approval stages for Cleary Square.

The S+S planning process for Hyde Park’s downtown business district has been going on since early 2024, but the map of the proposed S+S zones was not released until March 17.

It immediately generated much local consternation due to the seven-story S4 district proposed for the Cleary Square section of Hyde Park Avenue, as well as for both sides of the block of River Street (described as a “catalytic” site by the Planning Department for its redevelopment potential in the near future) in which the small but popular Delicias Colombianas is located.

As the S+S process has played out in Hyde Park, another major concern has focused on the likelihood of small business displacement due to the new zoning’s increased income possibilities for developers – and the fact that many Cleary Square shops and restaurants are BIPOC owned.

The proposed zoning map and displacement concerns framed the evening’s discussion.

Miguel Gallego – the owner of Delicias Colombianas – personified both, and he set the tone of what would follow with remarks that showed his apprehension regarding his restaurant’s future.

“I got 10 of us, 12 employees, that are everyday asking me what’s going to happen tomorrow.”

The evening’s guests were four members of the Boston Planning Department’s S+S team, including Deputy Director of Comprehensive Planning Caitlin Coppinger and Cleary Square Project Manager Maya Kattler-Gold. Their responses to what have become familiar questions, comments, and complaints were reflective of the disconnect between Hyde Park and City Hall.

With Gallego’s concerns in mind, small business displacement was an early topic, and Coppinger cited the City’s new Anti-Displacement Action Plan, and its development displacement disclosure requirement as a potential resource for both residents and small business owners.

This drew a response from HPBOT President Scott Batey.

“The problem is, the whole Anti-Displacement Plan… It talks about all of these improved methods of being notified that you’re going to have to leave. That’s all it does.”

Coppinger responded that it serves as a policy document enforceable through the large-scale development process, making the City’s position stronger regarding anti-displacement.

As the discussion turned towards the Planning Department’s proposed S+S zoning map, more information came out regarding private meetings held between members of a neighborhood ad hoc S+S committee and Planning Department personnel – including Chief of Planning Kairos Shen. From what was described, during those meetings S+S zoning districts had been discussed and draft maps of Cleary Square had been looked at, leading the ad hoc group to believe that there was a de facto agreement regarding which S+S zones would be mapped where.

The group’s shock at seeing the released draft map – which bore little resemblance to the one they thought had been agreed on – informed much of the zoning portion of the discussion.

At one point, ad hoc group member Ken Fields – having noted the difference in the agreed upon map with the released map – asked if there would be an opportunity for discussions between the Planning Department and the community after the comment period ends on May 15.

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Coppinger said that there would be a meeting after the comment period ends to justify changes are made – or not made – to the proposed zoning map, but she didn’t go into much more detail.

It also was confirmed during that interlude that District 5 City Councilor Enrique Pepén and State Representative Rob Consalvo (14th Suffolk) had seen the same map as the ad hoc group.

“Right now, we’re feeling – as a community – that we’ve been kind of let down by the City because it’s not the map that our city councilor saw, it’s not the map that our state rep saw, and it’s not the map that we saw,” Batey said regarding the version of it that was eventually released.

At that point, Kattler-Gold provided what had the effect of another shock. “I just wanted to clarify that Consalvo and Pepén did see this version of the map. I just want to make sure that…”

“When did they see it?” Batey interrupted. “When?”

“Before we released it.”

Batey apologetically disagreed with Kattler-Gold. “We all heard the same thing: that they did not see that beforehand.” He received confirmation from Fields, who then diplomatically added that “you can’t remember everything you’re seeing when every little nuance changes.”

In that vein, Kattler-Gold acknowledged the many map iterations that the Planning Department has worked with, and that Pepén and his team have looked at over the past few months.

For all the talk of zoning, the meeting ended more or less as it had begun – with Gallego again expressing displacement concerns: this time about exactly how reopening in redeveloped sites would work. “Not just for me,” he clarified. “For whoever do the nails, or whoever do the haircuts. How they return? And how much is gonna increase the rent for us?”

Coppinger’s reply was straightforward but illustrated Batey’s point about the Anti-Displacement Plan. “It’s, unfortunately, the question that we don’t have a great answer to – to help you guys. But it’s one thing that, if you guys were to return in the new building, conversations early and often with that developer will set up the return process a little bit better over time.”

The comment period for the Cleary Square S+S draft plan and zoning map ends on Friday, May 15. To access the draft plan and zoning map and to submit comments, visit https://gvimes.link/hpsquaresmap