Despite a 2010 letter imploring the City of Boston to sell the vacant buildings on North Street to the highest bidder, the Boston Business Journal is reporting that the Boston Finance Commission has reconsidered its position. The report comes from an interview by the BBJ’s Thomas Grillo with FinCom’s Executive Director, Matt Cahill.
“The city should examine the needs of the neighborhood and not rush to judgment on a premature sale,” Cahill said. “It would behoove the city to do its due diligence to see if they could make one or two of the surplus properties a new home for the Eliot. The city could sell the Eliot to help pay for the renovation of the aging facilities.”
Perhaps the North End and Downtown Boston parents are making some progress on their longstanding efforts to expand the school that has a waiting list longer than its number of students. Yet, an RFP for the sale of the buildings is still pending by the City’s property management group. (See North St. Buildings Not Considered To Expand Eliot.) It is unclear if the RFP has actually been issued, despite reports that bids were due on January 20, 2012. Expected bidders are apartment/hotel developers and the North Bennet Street School.
Need quality schools, not more hotels & apartments. And college prep high schools!