WEST END—You might notice a parklet boomlet across from North Station on Tuesday. Design consultancy Stantec plans to turn two parking spots (pictured) outside their Portland Street offices into the mini-parks that may or may not take hold in Boston like they've done in San Francisco. The parklet will include synthetic turf, pavers, plants, a little retaining wall, and some information about landscape architecture. And! Stantec will be handing out tree saplings to pedestrians. All to mark the end of Landscape Architecture Month (what, you didn't know?). [Stantec]
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ALLSTON—A fatal fire over the weekend has led to calls for a look at student rentals Boston-wide: "A devastating fire that gutted a crowded student rental house in Allston yesterday and apparently left a woman dead is under investigation by the Inspectional Services Department and has at least one city councilor calling for a broad-based review of student-housing safety." [Herald]