A Suffolk Superior Court judge on Friday ruled against the plaintiffs who sought to block the White Stadium renovation project, ruling against the city of Boston and Boston, which plans to bring a professional women's soccer team to the city by 2026.・Provided a victory for Unity Soccer Partners.
The lawsuit, filed by the Emerald Necklace Conservancy and 21 residents, seeks to halt the demolition and construction of the stadium at Franklin Park. But Judge Sarah Ellis rejected their claims in a ruling released later that day.
“Having considered the pleadings, motions, and relevant legal standards discussed herein, Plaintiffs' motion for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction is denied,” Ellis' decision reads. . “Plaintiff's claim (notice of pending action) against Lis Pendens is also dismissed.”
Judge Ellis said George's last wish was that the proposed plan would give the public greater access and its use would leave money in the city for the benefit of residents, including the purchase of land.・The court ruled that the will was consistent with Robert White's will. In the 1940s, he built White Stadium for Boston schoolchildren.
“Plaintiffs prohibit the city from renovating White Stadium with private partners, restricting public access to portions of the stadium grounds, and/or leasing portions of the stadium grounds to private entities. “Plaintiffs allege that it violates the terms of the will. Will,” she wrote. “But the renovation of White Stadium, a public-private partnership that brings a women's professional soccer team to Boston and prioritizes BPS and public access, appears to be consistent with that intent. .”
“Private interests are not primary, but ancillary to the public purpose of the White Stadium,” she continued.
Mr Ellis also pointed out that the will contemplates leasing White Fund assets and that the only requirement it stipulates is that such leases be revalued every 10 years.
“The proposed lease agreement with the city is [Boston Unity] The term is 10 years,” she reasoned.
The plaintiffs argue that the injunction is necessary because if the stadium is allowed to be demolished or leased, it would cause irreparable harm, change the nature of the stadium, and harm the perpetrators. Ta.
“I am not persuaded,” she wrote.
Louis Elisa of Dorchester, a plaintiff in the lawsuit, said he was very disappointed in the ruling.
“The court's failure to consider concerns of possible harm or displacement is similar to the Dred Scott decision that our rights as black citizens are not worthy of serious consideration or respect. “Nothing has changed in Boston,” says Elisa of the Garrison-Trotter Neighborhood Association.
Karen Mauney Brodeck, director of the Emerald Necklace Conservancy, urged the city to abandon the project despite the court victory.
“We call on the city to abandon this flawed privatization plan, which has no support from a single neighborhood association. and support the park,” she said. “We will continue to stand up for Boston's students. They deserve a state-of-the-art, public white stadium, and we will not bow to the demands of commercial investors to get it. No need to.”
However, Boston Unity Soccer Partners said in a statement that it is pleased that Boston residents can move forward with the groundbreaking public-private partnership, offering the Conservancy and others the opportunity to participate in planning for the stadium and soccer team. I called out. .
“We are grateful that today's decision shows the court understands that the communities surrounding Franklin Park and White Stadium do not have to wait any longer to resolve decades of neglect and underutilization.” mentioned in. “We believe there is no legal basis for this lawsuit and that this public-private community partnership can be achieved.
“We invite the Emerald Necklace Conservation Society to join us and welcome the opportunity to collaborate,” they concluded.
The city plans to borrow municipal bonds to finance the $50 million construction cost, and Boston Unity has announced it will spend $30 million toward that portion. The city plans to renovate the east grandstand and create a hub for student-athletes with locker rooms, athletic facilities and a place to hang out. Boston Unity plans to renovate the west grandstand and locker rooms, as well as Grove Square, just east of the stadium. Ownership will be maintained by Boston Public Schools and the George Robert White Foundation.
