Build Together Update

Build Together Update

Where Things Stand

While Trinity Financial has formally purchased the Fitzpatrick Brothers' site, their proposal to build a 4-story, 72-unit complex at 150 Centre Street is currently at a standstill.

In 2023, the Boston Public Development Agency (BPDA) approved the Trinity plan and, because they declared the site blighted, they removed any requirement for review by the Zoning Board.  We do not believe that the Fitzpatrick autobody lot meets the criteria to be declared blighted, thereby receiving exemption from our neighborhood zoning laws. Epiphany School, the residential abutters, and an individual community member have appealed the decision.

That's three appeals in total, so the fight is far from over!

A Few Key Points

• Epiphany School, the abutters, and the neighbors are pro-housing.  Our name says it all: Build Together!

• Our neighborhood is both high in density and diverse.  It is not blighted, as is claimed by Trinity Financial.

• Trinity Financial has characterized our neighborhood as blighted in order to secure massive government subsidies for the construction of its for-profit rental units.   Build Together has an alternative plan. 

• Rather than building a massive number of rental units which would provide a cash cow in perpetuity for a single new neighbor, the plan supported by the abutters and community provides Epiphany School with the opportunity to develop its existing lot.  Plus, the plan includes larger units, designed for families. These units would be homeownership opportunities and not rental units, so as to build generational wealth in the community.

• Contrary to what some of our neighbors have been told, Epiphany School is NOT an elite private school serving only neighborhood children.  Epiphany serves only economically-disadvantaged children, many of whom are formerly homeless.

In the News

Area around the Shawmut T station no blighted hellhole, school says in suit over BPDA approval of affordable apartment building there (Universal Hub: January 12, 2024)

Court fight pitches a different vision for Shawmut housing proposal (Boston Globe: January 29, 2024)

Epiphany School Seeks to Overturn Boston Planning & Development Agency Decision on Project (CaughtInDot: January 12, 2024)

For a complete listing of articles, visit our In the Media page.

Build Together's Proposal

The site currently consists of two separate parcels: a parking lot owned by Epiphany School and an auto body shop owned by Fitzpatrick Brothers.

Since Epiphany owns the parking lot, under Trinity’s proposal the 72-unit rental complex would be confined to the Fitzpatrick parcel, with a driveway on Centre Street (a very narrow and busy thoroughfare).

Our proposal, on the other hand, combines these two parcels into one large parcel, preserving Epiphany’s opportunity to continue to develop its campus by incorporating its existing lot.

Under our proposal, the new affordable housing would be built along Centre Street.  We advocate for 32 family-sized units with a pathway to homeownership for residents, and our proposal includes parking spaces for all residents.

Epiphany’s supporters have already committed donations of over $3 million to turn this dream into a reality.

Epiphany School, the abutters, the St. Mark’s Area Civic Association, the Melville Park Neighborhood Association, and the Codman Square Neighborhood Council are pro-housing, supporting affordable housing with a path to homeownership that is compatible with OUR community and goals.