Business & Tech

Court Rules Housing for Homeless Can Proceed in Parkside

A Superior Court judge sided with the developers, who aim to turn 461 Walnut Ave. into permanent housing for 30 homeless people. Neighbors had sued to stop the project.

Neighbors of a proposed housing facility for the homeless have lost a court battle to stop the project.

The project, slated for 461 Walnut Ave. in Parkside, would turn the top two levels of the former Barbara McInnis House into efficiency apartments for 30 formerly homeless people. Downstairs there would be 20 beds for homeless persons in need of medical care.

The property is owned by the South End-based Boston Health Care for the Homeless. The JP Neighborhood Development Corp. is partnering with the property owners.

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The Development Corp. sent out copies of the ruling by Superior Court Judge S. Jane Haggerty. A copy is attached to this post as a PDF. The judge ruled that 11 neighbors who had sued to stop the project did not have legal "standing" to bring the suit. She also ruled that their arguments that the project would harm them by reducing property values did not hold water.

One of the plaintiffs, Walter Pollard, told the JP Gazette the group was examining the decision.

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Kyle Robidoux of the Development Corp. said in an email to supporters that the project will now start moving forward again.

"We are grateful for the strong support that this project has received from neighbors in the greater Egleston community," he wrote. "We are also committed to making 461 Walnut Avenue a good neighbor and one of which the greater Egleston community will be proud."


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