About a dozen residents from Mildred Hailey Apartments came to the first meeting of the Jackson Square Neighborhood Association (JSNA) on Aug. 27.

Chair Willie Mitchell introduced the hybrid meeting saying, “Welcome to our very first one.”

JSNA is still supported by the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation (JPNDC) with Andrea Grimaldi, Director of Community Organizing and Alyssa Benafew Ramos Director of Communications, providing tech support.

JSNA is also still operating on the Boston Children’s Hospital grant; Korean Street Food Gingham Spice at 250 Centre St. provided the food.

Mitchell introduced the other board members: Sarah Lewis, Purple Reign, and Danny Vargas.

Mitchell said, “Our mission is collaboration, supporting equitable development, inclusive neighborhoods, and shaping the future of the community.”

“There are two Committees within the Association,” Mitchell said, “Safety and Housing.”

“Housing is very important,” he said, introducing the Housing Committee Chairperson Purple Reign. “Housing is very important to me and Purple.”

Reign and Mitchell are also both in the leadership of the Jamaica Plain Housing Committee (JPHC).

Reign and Mitchell both live in income-restricted housing recently built and owned by JPNDC; Reign at 75 Amory Ave. and Mitchell at 61 Heath St.

Reign explained her own life experiences with housing insecurity and how / why her committee’s priorities include housing based on income, “so we all can stay here.”

“Some housing is not affordable to us,” Reign said.

Another priority is “family size, not just studios but three-bedroom apartments, housing open to all.”

Reign said she wants to work on 75 Amory St., “the big vacant lot with the double-decker bus.”

“It’s the biggest parcel of land in JP,” she said. “I want us to work on that.”

“Think about it. What would you like there? Please reach out to me,” Reign said.

The 32,734-square-foot parcel with the double-decker bus (Maxwell Silverman’s Restaurant) and metal shed was bought on June 24, 2016 by Mordechai Levin of Boston Community Ventures (BCV) for $1.3 million from Joseph Cappadona.

About two years ago a big sign went up on the fence: “For Sale. 617-522-4590.”

The vacant lot is adjacent to three consecutive parcels with two- and three-story brick buildings. BCV bought the old brewery, then the Trimont Tool Factory, in June 2001; BCV moved their office into the brewmasters building at 51 Amory St. in 2014.

In 2019 BCV announced plans for mixed-use development on the two-acre site but that was the last word from BCV.

Until about two years when a big red and white sign went up:

“Office for Lease. 92,000 square feet. 617-522-4580 / info@bcvinc.com.”

There is one tenant, Nuevo Dia Adult Day and Health Care at 75 Amory St.

In the 25 years that BCV has owned 41-75 Amory Street, five mixed-income and income-restricted rental buildings have been built up around it totaling 425 apartments.

Not mentioned by Reign was nearby 960-964 Parker, now being demolished by Urban Edge. This will be replaced by a six-story, 60-unit apartment house designed by Andres Bernal of Jonathan Garland Architects.

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Twenty-two of those apartments will be for Boston Housing Authority (BHA) tenant replacement units; eight more will be for new vouchers or one-half of the 60-unit building.

Bashur Kayou gave the Safety Committee report in place of the Committe Chair Bianca Terry.

Kayou acknowledged Boston Police Department District E-13 Community Service Officer Omar Cepeda in the audience.

“Safety falls on us,” Kayou said. “We have to take responsibility. We’re part of the community response team.”

Safety is more than just crime stopping for Kayou.

“Safety is also safe sidewalks and cross walks to walk on,” he said.

Mary from Centre Street stood up and addressed Cepeda.

“We love our E-13,” she said to applause.

“But we need more support from BHA,” she said. “I’m 72 years old. It’s not safe around my building at night. BHA needs to patrol the area at night.”

Mitchell wanted everyone to know about and everyone to come out to “our third annual Peace March.”

“The reason why we started looking at safety is because there’s so many young people,” he said. No other explanation was given.

“We’re doing it to make a difference.”

Mitchell continued, “The March will start at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12 at Mozart Playground, ending at the Horan Way Playground for a cookout.”

“We’re meeting every month,” Mitchell said closing out the hour. “The next meeting is Sept. 24 at 6 p.m.,” he added.

“We want to hear from you. These two buildings [4 and 6 Lamartine] have ~400 new people. They need to know about us. It’s going to take time.”

The new neighborhood association is taking full advantage of social media.

At the sign-in table a flyer about the JSNA was handed out that read:

“Stay up to date with all things JSNA. Scan the QR code, email us jacksonsquareneighbora@gmail.com.

Follow us on Instagram@jslovs.”