Pine Street Inn's neighbors
WHILE I was pleased to read the Sunday Globe's article on our SoWa neighborhood here in the South End ("Call it 'Mario's Village,' " Real Estate, June 3), I was greatly taken aback to see one comment of mine from a 45-minute conversation highlighted: "When you turn on the lights, the roaches scatter." The juxtaposition of this quote with a paragraph discussing homelessness made it sound like my quoted reference was to the homeless. But that was not my intent.
Those of us familiar with this neighborhood's history know that in the not-too-distant past, it was a very different place -- a place where you could easily encounter people engaged in every manner of criminal pursuit including drugs, prostitution, and theft. It was to those people that I meant to refer, and "turning on the lights" has brought life and new businesses and residences to our neighborhood, eliminating the dangers of the past.
One of the most precious things about the rejuvenation of the SoWa district is that no one was displaced by improvement of the area -- mostly vacant lots and abandoned buildings.
The South End is nothing if not diverse. All manner of good people coexist here including the homeless at the Pine Street Inn, and I took pains in the interview to point out that they do not engage in any of the criminal behavior that turning on the lights has banished.
JOHN J. KIGER
Boston
The writer is leasing director of GTI Properties.
THE ARTICLE tells an interesting story about GTI Properties, an accomplished firm with historic accomplishments. However, that success need not be heralded by simultaneously denigrating the firm's neighbor, the Pine Street Inn . The reference to roaches scattering when the lights go on is chilling, classist, and inappropriate .
I spent two years as president of GTI Properties, and I had the surprising but pleasant experience of learning that Pine Street posed no challenges to or interference with substantial and sophisticated development activities on neighboring parcels.
I had serious apprehensions in 1999 when I was charged with working with others to develop properties adjacent to and near the Inn. I have since been excited to share my experiences with anyone who has an interest in inclusive, effective urban redevelopment. We would all be better served if lights were to be illuminated in the minds and hearts of callous critics so that they might be fully informed.
EDWARD J. LONERGAN
Boston 