No. The property owner needs approval from the City to obtain an occupancy permit. The city has already rejected the application by the developer stating their intended use is not allowed by the zoning laws. The next steps should have been for the developer to appeal the decision through the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA).
Instead the developer has continued construction and recently resubmitted nearly identical plans with minor wording changes which has been interpreted by many as an attempt to avoid the appeals process and a public hearing with community input. The Inspectional Services Department (ISD) is currently reviewing the second application.
Your voice matters! Contact your elected officials and express your concerns and the need for this to be done in a transparent way with input from the community. If we don’t speak up now, this facility could open in weeks, with no public input and no plan for safety or support. The sooner you raise concerns, the better chance we have of stopping this project before it’s finalized.
Contact Your Elected Officials
Call and email your City Councilor, the Mayor’s Office, and your State Representatives. Tell them this project is not safe, not legal, and not in line with the State’s own stated goals. Demand they oppose the shelter and support zoning enforcement.
Call Governor Healey
Governor Healey has the power to shut this shelter down. Remind her that she said hotel-style shelters are “no place to raise a family.” Urge her to stop funding projects that replicate the same failed model.
Share the Petition
Send it to friends and neighbors. Post it online. Every signature adds weight to our case and shows the City this neighborhood is paying attention.
Stay Informed and Involved
Join our mailing list for updates. Attend public meetings. Show up and speak up.
Spread the Word
Many people don’t know what’s happening. Knock on doors. Leave flyers. Talk to your neighbors. The more people who get involved now, the harder it will be for this project to move forward in the shadows.
Stay Respectful
We support families in need. But this plan is flawed, legally, logistically, and ethically. Stay focused on facts and public safety.
This project is not a done deal but stopping it requires action. Your voice matters, and it is needed now.
You
Community input isn’t a courtesy. It’s required by law and is essential to stopping developers from putting their financial interests ahead of public safety.
City of Boston
The Inspectional Services Department (ISD) is reviewing a revised application from the developer. In May ISD rejected the previous application for violating zoning rules. The developer has since submitted a new, slightly reworded, plan in what appears to be an attempt to bypass the Zoning Board of Appeals process. If ISD denies the revised application again, the developer could appeal to the ZBA. That process includes public notice, community input, and a public hearing.
Local leaders can influence this project by voicing their positions. Contact your City Councilor, the Mayor’s Office, and other City officials. Urge them to recommend this project be stopped. Their support is key to ensuring the rules are enforced and the community is protected.
Governor Maura Healey
While the State cannot override Boston zoning laws, Governor Healey holds the authority to stop or relocate this project. The shelter would be funded through the Emergency Assistance Family Shelter program under the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC), which she oversees.
Governor Healey has already committed to ending the hotel shelter model. This proposal replicates many of the same issues: overcrowding, lack of services, and unsafe infrastructure. Residents should call and email the Governor’s Office to urge her to cancel state funding for this flawed site and redirect efforts to safer, more appropriate alternatives.
Both. Emails allow you to clearly document your concerns and create a written record. Phone calls can be more immediate and are often logged by staff, helping bring the issue to the attention of decision-makers. Using both methods increases your impact.
The developer submitted a modified application on July 15th to the City’s Inspectional Services Department (ISD) after their original zoning request was formally denied in May. Instead of appealing the original refusal, which would have triggered a public process, they altered some wording and resubmitted the same basic plan, which has been interpreted as an attempt to avoid public hearings and community input.
The City of Boston is reviewing this new application to determine whether it qualifies as an allowed use under current zoning. No public notice or hearing is required at this stage.
Community input is critical right now. Contact your elected officials and let them know your concerns. Call the Governor and tell her this location is unsuitable for this project.