Several metropolis and state officers despatched a letter in opposition to Pine Street Inn’s proposed homeless housing at 900 Flaherty Blvd. to the BPDA on Friday, arguing the placement isn’t an acceptable website for the challenge.
“We are writing in strong opposition to Pine Street in and the community builders potential conversion of 900 Morrissey Boulevard, the Comfort Inn,” the letter reads. … “(W)e believe the placement of such in this area would do a disservice to the residents who occupied the Comfort Inn, as well as the community as a whole.”
The letter, signed by state Sen. Nick Collins, state Rep. Daniel Hunt, and City Councilors Frank Baker, Erin Murphy, Michael Flaherty and Ed Flynn, follows a neighborhood protest of the challenge on Dec. 17 and a Dec. 7 group assembly overflowing with contributors
The Pine Street Inn proposal would remodel the lodge into “104 new residential units, 100% of which will be affordable to individuals earning less than 30% of the Area Median Income,” for previously homeless people, in addition to outside group areas, amenity areas and ground-floor workplace area, in line with the BPDA.
The BPDA public remark interval for the challenge ended Jan. 6, and the proposal is now below overview.
Pine Street Inn stated they’re dedicated to “being good neighbors” and answering group questions in a response to the earlier protest.
“Projects such as 900 Morrissey Boulevard will provide safe, stable housing for some of the city’s most vulnerable residents, many of whom will be elderly,” the assertion reads.
In the letter the opponents expressed security considerations, noting the location is “bordered by a community center, a Boston Public School and a Catholic school, a daycare, a bowling alley, a park and a beach — all places where children congregate.”
Pine Street Inn beforehand responded that the residents will “undergo multiple screenings, pass criminal background checks, and will be drawn from a known list of the city’s chronically homeless individuals.”
“There is this belief that is going to be the Mass and Cass, the Roundhouse, which I do know that’s not what would end up in this space,” stated Councilor Erin Murphy. “But I do feel that the location is not a great location.”
Murphy stated she “definitely want(s) to continue working with the Pine Street in to find a better place for this.”
The letter additionally lists considerations concerning the lack of transportation within the space for the brand new residents, the “more than 200 beds” already obtainable within the space for folks in want of providers, and the hurt to the struggling hospitality business in Dorchester.
“123 Hamilton Street is an example of what we don’t want to replicate at the Comfort Inn,” Sen. Nick Collins stated of a present Pine Street Inn housing challenge, noting “over 100 police calls over the last year.”
“When it comes to public safety, we need to couple compassion with common sense,” Collins continued.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”
