Rectory gets new life as condominiums
A mother of two was among those who took to the podium next to a 115-year-old rectory she soon will call home.
At a ribbon-cutting ceremony yesterday, first-time home buyer Desiree Artu thanked a congregation of community activists, volunteers, and politicians for transforming the former Blessed Sacrament Church rectory in Jamaica Plain into affordable housing.
“I’m able to own a condo, an apartment that I’m going to call home,’’ said Artu, who plans to move into one of 16 two-bedroom condos behind the church in time to cook a Thanksgiving turkey.
In addition to the condos, priced between $167,000 and $188,000, the multimillion-dollar development will include a 36-unit family cooperative at the intersection of Centre and Creighton streets and 28 single-room units for people who used to be homeless.
Mayor Thomas M. Menino snipped the red ribbon at the former rectory to an outburst of applause, and chatter in Spanish and English.
“We have to give a lot of folks a lot of credit,’’ Menino said of the redevelopment project.
“Today, we have a development we’re all proud of,’’ he said.
Young professionals and parents carrying babies toured a first-floor apartment as a cluster of organizers gathered in front of a tiled fireplace.
Neighbors and organizers lauded the accomplishment of the activists and volunteers, saying they were glad to see the former church property remain a central part of Jamaica Plain. Blessed Sacrament was closed by the Archdiocese of Boston in 2004.
“It’s nice to see that it still belongs to the community and to a face of the community that’s often forgotten,’’ said Nelson Arroyo, who was a former chairman of the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council.
Among the new neighbors slated to move into Creighton Commons is Sharon Touw, a 35-year-old administrator at Boston University.
“To be able to live in the rectory they worked so hard to save, it really means a lot to be a part of that history,’’ said Touw, sitting on its stoop.
Betsaida Gutierrez, a community activist, who uses a cane, leaned on Touw’s shoulder.
“We were able to hear from the community, from house to house,’’ said Gutierrez.
Moments earlier, Gutierrez had addressed the crowd, calling the redevelopment a rebirth.
“I’m real proud,’’ she repeated, once in Spanish and once in English. “I’m real proud.’’
