The Boston Globe is reporting that at least two Dorchester residents are planning on suing the Boston Planning and Development Agency to stop a plan for housing for formerly homeless people via expansion of the St. Mary’s Center for Women and Children in Jones Hill. Part of the reason for the suit is what residents believe is a flawed city review process.
This lawsuit – when it is filed – is similar to one that was filed last week in Charlestown. Also in Dorchester, the Epiphany School sued the BPDA and developer Trinity Financial over a “problematic approval process” in allowing an all-affordable four-story apartment building to be constructed nearby at the MBTA Shawmut Red Line station.
According to the Globe, the Planning Office for Urban Affairs received approval from the BPDA board on Thursday to renovate the 51 shelter units at St. Mary’s and add another 71 units of permanent supportive housing for formerly-homeless people.
The St. Mary’s expansion project received substantial support from elected officials but was opposed by several neighbors who were against the project, stating it was too large and would make parking difficult. They are also concerned that POUA and the BPDA had not formed a neighborhood impact advisory group to review the project. Hence the lawsuit.
You can read all the complicated details of this neighborhood dispute here.
Maureen Dahill is the editor of Caught in Southie and a lifelong resident of South Boston sometimes mistaken for a yuppie. Co-host of Caught Up, storyteller, lover of red wine and binge watching TV series. Mrs. Peter G. Follow her @MaureenCaught.
This article we need to help all people homeless people are people and other racial backgrounds
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