Jamaica Plain residents fight to keep community's flavor

Longtime Jamaica Plain residents are no strangers to struggle.

In the 1980s they rolled up their sleeves to fight a wave of crime and drugs that infiltrated the blue-collar and largely Latino Boston neighborhood. Fed up with burglaries, drug dealers, and a seedy reputation, residents organized community watch groups, pushed wayward teenagers away from gangs, and welcomed new small businesses with open arms. And by 1990, Jamaica Plain emerged as one of the most desirable places to live, shop, and eat in the city.

But today, residents find themselves immersed in another battle, this time from the front steps of The Blessed Sacrament Church, the 115-year-old landmark shut down last year by the Catholic Archdiocese of Boston to help deal with financial woes caused by the clergy sex abuse scandal.

As the archdiocese considers offers on the 3-acre property, perched at a prime spot on Centre Street between Hyde and Jackson squares, many residents fear it will be sold to the highest bidder, possibly a private developer who would turn the church into luxury condos, or worse, a high-end shopping center with a Starbucks.

And that, they fear, would accelerate the wave of gentrification that has crept down Centre Street, stamping out the area's unique flavor and pricing out the very people who rebuilt the neighborhood.

''I lived through getting my car hit, getting my car vandalized, and I stuck through it. I mean, with rent prices in Boston there was no place else for us to go," said Marjorie Kirstein, a Somerville public school teacher who has lived in Jamaica Plain with her son for the past 23 years. ''Now outsiders are coming in. They know nothing about our community. They are here just looking to make money. It's wrong."

Community leaders and residents have rallied to challenge the archdiocese on the future of the site, which includes four buildings, including a private school for troubled youths.

Organizers from the Hyde Square Task Force and the Jamaica Plain Neighbors Against Gentrification said they have collected more than 1,100 signatures on a petition urging affordable housing on the site.

''I've lived in this community for six years, I also work in this community, and I cannot even afford to buy a home," said Jesus Gerena, community organizer for the Hyde Square Task Force.

Neighborhood activists have also targeted one luxury condo developer, who has expressed interest in the site. In a letter posted on the Internet with the man's name, address, and phone number, Neighbors Against Gentrification asked residents to let him know that they will do everything within their ''power to make the zoning process extremely difficult for him."

Xerxes Agassi, project manager of JP Lofts LLC, confirmed yesterday that he put in a bid for that property, and said he was surprised the campaign was launched against him.

''The first few people who called I had a few conversations with," he said. ''And then bunches of calls came, and people were saying the same thing. I wasn't aware until later on that someone was probably passing out leaflets telling them what to say."

For the most part, Agassi said, the conversations were civil, but they did not change his mind about wanting to build condos there. ''I just don't think it's the correct way to approach the issue of housing affordability," he said of the calls. ''I feel it is an important issue, and that it should be discussed within the City of Boston and its government, not by harassing market-rate developers."

Agassi said he has had previous conversations with other residents and that he was considering setting aside some affordable-housing units even before the campaign was launched.

The nonprofit Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corp. has also put in a bid on the property, promising a mix of affordable housing and condos for moderate-income families.

''The community has spoken pretty loud already," said Susan Rohwer, a resident and member of the neighbors group. ''We're on pins and needles right now. We just don't know what's going to happen. But the thought that the families and loved ones who have lived here for decades can be just pushed out, it's maddening."

No final decisions have been made, said Ann Carter, spokeswoman for the archdiocese, which intends to close about one-fifth of its 357 parishes.

''A variety of people who participate in the decision-making process have committed to working very hard to balance needs and mission of the church and the concerns of the residents," she said.

Bolstered by an assortment of restaurants, culturally diverse stores and boutiques, artists' lofts, and refurbished apartments, Jamaica Plain is now attracting a fresh crop of young Bostonians -- and real estate agents and landlords are cashing in.

House prices have already spiked in recent years. In 1998, the average price of a single-family home was $252,000, according to city figures. The average price in 2003, the latest figures available, was $510,000.

The average rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Jamaica Plain has jumped from $1,100 in 1998 to $1,325 last year, according to the latest figures from the city's Department of Neighborhood Development.

Aileen Duggan, a community leader and resident, clutched her baby in the sleet and rain at a protest last week outside the church, one of several heated community meetings over the past few months on the issue. For more than a decade, Duggan has made cleaning up Jamaica Plain a priority, picking up litter and advocating for community services.

''Blessed Sacrament is the anchor, a key local landmark in this community," she said. ''It's crucial that whatever happens, the archdiocese takes the community into consideration and keeps the community intact."

Daniel Rodriguez, 29, was baptized at Blessed Sacrament. Fondly recalling barbecues in the church's backyard, Rodriguez said many of his boyhood friends were forced to move away from the neighborhood because of soaring rental costs.

''It's really scary," he said. ''My family came from Cuba, and they found a home in JP. But I've seen a lot of people, friends who I care about and family, worry. And I'm worried about my own family here."

Councilor at Large Maura Hennigan, who is running for mayor, also attended the rally, where she reminisced about attending Blessed Sacrament when she was a girl. Hennigan said the archdiocese needs to respect the character of the community.

''There is not a more important building in this neighborhood than the Blessed Sacrament Church," Hennigan said. ''I will fight with you to maintain affordable housing, so you can afford to live here and call Jamaica Plain your home."

Megan Tench can be reached at mtench@globe.com.