Menino pulls backing for Suffolk dorm

The Menino administration has done an about-face and now opposes Suffolk University's plans to build a dormitory tower on Beacon Hill that was widely opposed by neighbors.

"We have been hearing loud and clear that dormitory use is inappropriate for that location. The mayor has heard that," Boston Redevelopment Authority director Mark Maloney said yesterday.

"By and large, we do want students to be in dormitories," he added. But, "hearing from so many neighbors about the difficulties of living in a community with Suffolk students, we concluded it was not good for town-and-gown relations."

Suffolk needed city permits for the 22-story building, but at Menino's request, Maloney yesterday told Suffolk University vice president John A. Nucci the city's support would not be forthcoming -- which means it is all but dead. Maloney said Suffolk was scheduled to make an important decision today about buying the property where the dorm was planned and had sought the city's position.

Neither Nucci nor other Suffolk officials could not be reached for comment.

The Beacon Hill Civic Association and neighbors of the proposed site, which includes a former Metropolitan District Commission building on Somerset Street, had fought Suffolk's plan to house more than 500 students in a new building there.

Most residents hadn't yet heard the news. But John Achatz, president of the Beacon Hill Civic Association, said: "If this is true, this is what we have been urging the city to do. We think this is a good decision."

The city will work with the university to find a better location for a dormitory, Maloney said, including looking in the Ladder District, the downtown neighborhood that runs between Tremont and Washington streets near Downtown Crossing.

Maloney acknowledged the city's opposition was both a change in position -- as well as in conflict with Boston's generally supportive policy for housing students in institutional buildings, not private residences.

"We were initially supportive, and we told Suffolk that," he said, "but we've been at many long night meetings where we heard about bad behavior by Suffolk students."

In September, Suffolk shrunk its plans for the building, from 31 floors and 800 beds to 22 floors and 500-550 beds. At the time, Nucci said Suffolk wanted to be "responsive to neighborhood concerns," and a BRA spokesman called the move "a step in the right direction."

The city's new position is likely to please supporters of the Garden of Peace, a statewide memorial to homicide victims located at the nearby redeveloped 100 Cambridge St. complex.

Advocates of the garden, which contains stones with the names of more than 500 murder victims, feared that sunlight would be blocked and that student activity would interfere with the contemplative nature of the space.

"I'm also really happy this means the Garden of Peace will be protected," said Achatz, "because that's been very important to us."

In most cases where the city has supported construction of student dorms, support from local representative and the community has been stronger than it was in this case, Maloney said.

"We decided it would not be good for Suffolk University."

Thomas C. Palmer Jr. can be reached at tpalmer@globe.com.