Ethiopian Restaurant Eyes Hyde Square, Plus Other JP Neighborhood Council News

An Ethiopian restaurant aims to open in the tiny space vacated by in Hyde Square.

That was among the items discussed at Tuesday's meeting of the .

Blue Nile, which would be an Ethiopian sit-down restaurant with beer and wine, is seeking a closing time of 11 pm, according to Council Member Michael Reiskind. A more detailed vetting of the proposal comes .

Also on the agenda at that meeting will be exciting news for fans of Drambuie: is applying to add "cordials" to its permit to serve beer and wine. In the case of this outpost of Scotland on Perkins Street, that of course means Drambuie, the liquer made from Scotch whiskies and honey.

In other news from Tuesday's meeting:

• Vineet Gupta, planning director for the Boston Department of Transportation, gave an update on the wide-ranging Centre/South Street Transportation Action Plan. The next public meetings about controversial parts of the plan such as will come in July, he said.
• Council Member Pam Bender encouraged concerned residents to attend next week's meeting of the MBTA board to protest the likely non-inclusion of $220 million needed to bring the to life in the upcoming budget. The meeting is March 2, 12-4 pm, at the State Transportation Building at 10 Park Plaza. She said there are 325 signatures on a petition to fund the project, but organizers are seeking 500.
• Council members discussed how the council might respond to the in the fall, leaving four men dead. They came to no resolution about whether to hold a public forum. They continue to study the matter, trying to craft a response that would be helpful to the community.
• Neighbors protested plans to turn a home at 6 Peter Parley into a three-story building, according to Dave Baron, chairman of the Zoning Committee. The property owner will rethink the proposal.
• Baron reported that the Zoning Committee voted to recommend approval of putting a three-family house on a vacant lot at 16 School St., after the developer agreed to add six more off-street parking spaces.
• The council recommended approval of changes to the sign at the Walgreens in Egleston Square. The new sign would be much like the old one, and the company promises not to have it flash.
• The council set a date for their next elections: Sept. 24. Voting places will be in Forest Hills, the Stop & Shop and JP Licks. The all-volunteer council is elected and makes recommendations to other city boards about vital aspects of urban living like zoning and delivery of services.

Editor's note: The time of the MBTA board meeting changed since initial posting of this item. It has been updated.