Plans settled for homeless housing

The Pine Street Inn will continue to move forward to convert two row houses on Upton Street into affordable housing for people who were recently homeless and have proven they can move on to sustained independent living.

The two homes will include 19 units, including a resident on-site case manager.

The plan was scaled back from the original proposal to convert three row houses into 37 units of affordable housing. Residents who qualify for the housing must earn less than 30 percent of the median income.

The original plan met strong neighborhood opposition because of concerns over a change in the character of the area. But on Thursday, the Pine Street Inn and the Union Park Neighborhood Association reached an agreement they believe will satisfy all involved.

“As a neighborhood association, we really look at our role in finding common ground in a situation like this,’’ said Norman Knickle, vice president of the association. “It took 2 1/2 years, but we’ve found that common ground.’’

Lyndia Downie, president and executive director of the Pine Street Inn, said: “It [the agreement] was settled amicably, and we can move on and we can get some housing for formerly homeless people. The neighborhood association has been agreeable to this and we appreciate their efforts.’’

The agency had bought the row houses at 38, 40, and 42 Upton St. last year for $2.6 million to add to what is now an affordable housing stock of about 550 units in Boston and Brookline.

But the plan stirred concern among some neighbors who were worried that the tenants would include criminals, possibly sex offenders, who would be under no supervision.

The Upton Street houses had been owned by the social service agency Hope House and were run as rehabilitation units with about 60 addicts, but those tenants had been under direct supervision.

The Pine Street Inn will sell the row house at 38 Upton St.

Milton Valencia can be reached at mvalencia@globe.com.