At last Thursday’s regularly scheduled Hyde Park Neighborhood Association (HPNA) meeting, the main topic – though not on the agenda – were the multiple shootings reported at around 12:40 a.m. on Monday Aug. 3 outside Little Haiti International Cuisine (1184 Hyde Park Ave.).

The extreme violence – which erupted on Hyde Park’s main thoroughfare at the edge of Cleary Square and resulted in five people getting shot, one fatally – cast what could be described as a subdued, unsettled pall over the 30 or so who had filled the community room of the Area E-18 police station, which is located about a block up the avenue from where it had taken place.

The incident elevated the monthly police report, during which it was read off under Ballistics, with the notation that an arrest had been made and that the District Attorney is investigating.

Boston Police Sgt. Carolyn Ivens added that, per the Licensing Board, Little Haiti would remain closed from 8 p.m. that night at least through its upcoming hearing. On Aug. 10, official notice was filed, and that virtual licensed premise inspections hearing will be held at 10 a.m. this Thursday, Aug. 13 to address a list of violations ranging from homicide by firearm to failure to cooperate with police.

For hearing information, visit www.boston.gov/public-notices/16604001

Fielding questions, Ivens also noted that E-18 officers have conducted more than 200 Code 19 “walk and talks” at Little Haiti because of its prior issues. “We would have a car out there when it’s time for them to leave, but we can’t be there every single night of the week,” she explained. Boston Police Officer Matthew Conley built on what she had said by adding that “we can’t be there all the time because we are short-staffed” and because of Hyde Park’s large geographic coverage area.

Budgeting and a lack of applications were both acknowledged as understaffing causes.

Although Monday’s fatal altercation was between Little Haiti patrons, it spilled over to the 7-Eleven parking lot across the street at 1187 Hyde Park Ave., which is open 24 hours.

Related to that, the HPNA conducted its only official business of the evening concerning the shootings. At the request of the 7-Eleven franchisee, it approved a letter of support pertaining to his request to corporate headquarters for permission to close his store from 12 a.m. to 5 a.m. due to his increasing concerns, as well as those of his employees. District 5 City Councilor Enrique Pepén and Hyde Park Main Streets have also agreed to submit letters to that effect.

Stepping away from his store to speak to the HPNA about halfway through the two-hour session, Md. Fizul Haque stated that, over 10 years, he hadn’t had problems until Little Haiti was granted its liquor license, after which there had been escalating issues. “We are not feeling that safe, so we have to do something about that,” he said of his request to close during overnight hours.

Little Haiti had been granted its liquor license, with live entertainment – and an extension of its hours to 1 a.m. from Thursday through Sunday – in late 2024, and the HPNA had unanimously voted in support of its application. Prior to the vote, co-owner George Craan had been asked about not keeping it open so late on Sunday nights. In response, he said that he’d had reservations about it until he realized that many of the sites surrounding it were commercial.

Isaac Yablo – Director of the Office of Violence Prevention and Mayor Wu’s Senior Advisor for Community Safety – was also in attendance. In his remarks, he gave an overview of the City’s Community Healing Response Network, which serves as a support resource for residents impacted by neighborhood violence. In closing, he anticipated that there would be further organized outreach to the neighborhood to further address what had happened.

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The only scheduled appointment of the night – regarding the proposed change of use at 147 West St. – did not start until more than an hour into the meeting. It stretched to about 45 minutes and concluded with no vote taken by the HPNA and the proponent’s promise to return.

At issue was Clyde Nesbitt’s application to extend his property’s non-conforming use in order to allow his business – Metro Towing – to continue functioning as a 24-hour tow and storage yard. The lot is on a residential block, with houses on either side of it and across the street, and the proposal to bring that variance request and a handful of others to the Zoning Board of Appeal (ZBA) has been met with vocal opposition – and a lack of articulated support – from abutters.

As explained by representing attorney Joseph Feaster, the matter has been complicated by the fact that Nesbitt had bought the property in 2022 – after having received the necessary permitting to do business in the capacity that it is now seeking to extend – only to have the Inspectional Services Department (ISD) inform him that the permit may have been issued inappropriately, leading the City to go to Housing Court to compel Metro to pursue the variance process.

The court, in turn, granted a stay as that process runs its course, allowing Metro to continue operating for now, and bringing Feaster and Nesbitt before the HPNA to advocate for its support as they seek the zoning relief that would enable the business to continue as a 24-hour tow yard.

As the appointment unfolded, abutter Aria Frank spoke of the ongoing and myriad problems she and her four children have experienced since October of 2023 because of the towing business next door. Among them were their sleep disruptions and the negative effects that have resulted. This led Feaster to offer to talk with Nesbitt and Frank about possibly limiting Metro’s towing hours. HPNA President Mimi Turchinetz then suggested that no vote be taken until further mitigation had been explored. Feaster also agreed to return prior to any ZBA hearing date being scheduled.

The HPNA meets on the first Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at the Hyde Park E-18 police station (1249 Hyde Park Ave.). For information, email hydeparkneighbors@gmail.com