Fields Corner
Fields Corner
Activists 'break up' with bank
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Tenant activists took to the streets Saturday in front of the Bank of America's Fields Corner branch: The group was protesting the bank's evictions of tenants in foreclosed properties. Photo by Chris Lovett.
Federally-backed mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac recently ended evictions of rent-paying tenants in foreclosed properties in response to the current economic crisis. Corporate lenders like Bank of America have held out, however, prompting a coalition of activists to take the battle to the streets. Read more
HUD scrutinizes subsidized units in Fields Corner
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Under new leadership just last month, the Fields Corner Community Development Corporation (CDC) has been taking home failing grades on its federal report card for the last two years, the Reporter has learned.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development reviews all the properties it subsidizes each year, grading how well they are maintained on a scale of 1 to 100. Properties graded in the 90 to 100 range are considered high performers. Those below 60 are designated "troubled." Read more
Director of Fields Corner CDC retires after 20 years
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The first floor retail space in Fields Corner CDC's building at 1400 Dorchester Ave., which has been vacant for over a decade: Reporter file photo.
Jane Matheson, who for 20 years ran the Fields Corner Community Development Corporation with a philosophy against using public money to develop affordable housing, retired earlier this month. Read more
Investment pays off for Fields Corner shopping center
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Fields Corner shopping mall
Some call it a retail area. Others a strip mall.
To Tom Cifrino, it is the "Fields Station Shopping Center," and for him, it's a family legacy, a Dorchester business begun by his father and uncle almost a century ago. Read more
Sentences rolling in for Fields Corner gang beating
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Three of five adults involved in a brutal youth gang beating that took place in Fields Corner in August, 2007 have been sentenced. Two others have court dates in early December. Read more
ACORN offices in Fields Corner ransacked; $5,000 reward offered for information on last week's break-in
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ACORN Massachusetts' head organizer Noemi "Mimi" Ramos arrived at her office the morning after last week's presidential debate to find the front door unlocked, three desktop computers missing, Internet and phone lines ripped out of the walls and general disarray. Read more
Vote No on 1' push in Fields Corner
Oct. 15, 2008
Mimi Ramos, center, leads a team of ACORN volunteers and staff dedicated to defeating the ballot question 1, which would eliminate the state income tax. From left: Mattapan organizer Kesner Forestale of Dorchester, field organizer Ricky Nelson, Ramos, Mary Ann Jones of Boston, Becky Pierce of Dorchester, Loreliei Kluever, Ben Kuss and Chris Leonard, campaign director for ACORN. Photo by Bill Forry /p>
Karen Brown, like a third of people who are likely to vote Nov. Read more
ACORN office in Fields Corner burglarized, ransacked
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ACORN Massachusetts' head organizer Noemi "Mimi" Ramos arrived at the organization's offices in Fields Corner Thursday morning, Oct. 16, to find the front door unlocked, three desktop computers missing, internet and phone lines ripped out of the walls and general disarray. Read more
Viet-AID goes back to the drawing board, again
Oct. 8, 2008
After a tumultuous meeting on Tuesday night, Viet-AID is again carrying its carefully-crafted presentation for Bloomfield Gardens - a proposed 29-unit affordable housing building - back to the drawing board.
After making several changes - reducing the height of the building, setting it five feet back from the sidewalk, and taking off part of the fourth floor - they have less support than they did with the old plan. Read more
MOD breaks the mold in Four Corners
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As the current financial crisis sends an uncertain nation scurrying for shelter, Four Corner's MOD Boston boutique is in the midst of a confident expansion that will add a men's section and an online store in time for holiday shopping.
Owner Patrick Targete's combination of entrepreneurial skill, creative marketing and community involvement - along with the keen fashion eye of manager Janeen Williams-Casey - is propelling the Washington Street shop forward and solidifying it as an anchor of the neighborhood.
"That's what's keeping us in business," said Targete. Read more
