The Globe’s John Hilliard is reporting that Boston College opposes Mayor Ruthanne Fuller plan for Newton to acquire approximately 17 acres of Webster Woods through eminent domain
“We are disappointed that Mayor Fuller has made this unfortunate decision, which we intend to oppose to the fullest extent possible using all legal avenues,” BC spokesman Jack Dunn said.
I’m very disappointed the BC does not pay much if anything in lieu of taxes to Newton (PILOT) and drives diesel buses up and down Newton streets that Newton residents are not allowed to ride on. Harvard shuttle buses are open to the public as part of Community outreach.
This could be interesting. Mayor Jeanette McCarthy next door in Waltham is also going up against an institution via eminent domain to obtain land. Maybe they should compare notes.
If the Mayor’s announcement is the prelude to negotiations for a conservation restriction, well played.
If not, well, sorry Charlie. Or Ruthanne.
@Pat Irwin: What land is Waltham acquiring?
@Newtoner – 46 acres of land owned by the Stigmatine Fathers and Brothers on Lexington Street for the new Waltham High School
I encourage Gail Spector’s BU/Globe reporters to take a look at the BC-Newton relationship. BC pays a tiny fraction of what it should be paying in PILOT payments, trotting out ridiculous excuses like “we’re a Jesuit institution so we don’t have to pay” and/or “if we make big payments we’re worried it’ll affect our tax status.” That may have been acceptable to former mayor and BC alum Setti Warren, who allowed BC to hijack Webster Woods in the first place, but we’re fortunate that Mayor Fuller is trying to right that wrong. If a light were shined on what BC contributes vs what they cost the city in terms of public safety services, traffic congestion, diesel smoke pollution from those buses that barrel down Comm Ave all day, and general disdain toward everything Newton, more than a few residents would be appalled at how bad a neighbor Boston College has come to be.
Why didn’t the mayor do this when the land was held by a non taxable Jewish religious institution for years? Why didn’t they take action at the time of the sale? And to the person who wrote “If a light were shined on what BC contributes vs what they cost the city in terms of public safety services, traffic congestion, diesel smoke pollution from those buses that barrel down Comm Ave all day, and general disdain toward everything Newton” Oh please – public safety – BC has their own extensive police force – traffic congestion – no worse than it’s ever been for years and most of it from Newton itself – buses and diesel – no worse than public transportation most everywhere – general disdain toward everything Newton – any worse than the general disdain in Newton of everything Catholic?
John Lucking:
“General disdain in Newton for everything Catholic”
You wanna spell that out for us? Because I haven’t exactly felt the Catholic institutions in our fair state have been treated poorly. In fact, quite the opposite.
BC isn’t being criticized because it is a Jesuit institution. And I see NO Catholic bias in how the city deals with the college.
I get that you disagree with the prior poster but cmon now.
So now the mayor is driven by both NIMBY and anti-Catholicism. What’s next?
She’s also against lung cancer and riding bikes without a helmet.
I’ve biked in downtown Amsterdam without a helmet. Much more fun.
https://dutchreview.com/culture/cycling/5-reasons-why-the-dutch-cycle-without-bike-helmets/
BC has not paid it’s fair share of anything and played the Dover amendment to the hilt. Go for eminent domaine and bring them to the table and explain what a good neighbor relationship really means.