Readers React to Stonybrook Development Study Request

The Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council met Tuesday night and held a brief discussion regarding development in and around the Stonybrook neighborhood.

Developers are in the process of planning residential and mixed-use properties on Washington Street near Forest Hills and Egleston Square. Though the Stonybrook Neighborhood Association is not against development in the area, they want the Boston Redevelopment Authority to launch a corridor study similar to ones conducted along South Huntington Avenue and earlier in Forest Hills.

At least one neighbor had a lot to say about the situation. 

Below is a comment by RICHARD Heath:

Richard Heath 42 Bourne st
I have lived in Forest Hills for 40 years. Twenty at 319 Forest Hills St. I am concerned about the development at the tree large parcels in the near future. Two north of Forest Hills Sq and one at Ukraine Way + Walk Hills Street. I do not think a BRA planning study is necessary or useful in as much as these often lead to unmet expectations and resulting community frustration. Realistically the financial and real estate market is the driving force. But the new mayor MUST and HAS TO stand up and ask not WHAT but FOR WHOM are these large transit oriented housing developments marketed. We run the risk of driving out our low and moderate income neighbors confined as they are to the edges and and margins of theForest Hills community from Williams St to Eldridge Rd. We must look at Burnett Street and Hyde Park Avenue and Washington St neighbors and ask how can THEIR families benefit with new housing. We must INSIST for one third LOW . One third MODERATE and one third MARKET in ANY new homes built in the Forest Hills community-which again I define as Williams St to Eldridge Road 1/4 mile from the MBTA terminal. This was done very successfully in the South End in the 1980's and it MUST BE done in the Forest Hills community if we are to preserve what is left of the character of our allegedly diverse Jamaica Plain. The REAL one my wife and i moved into in late 1972.

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