Like many of my neighbors, my family has lived on Culbert Street for close to 60 years. We all know each other, grew up together, and have built our lives here, preserving homes that represent both decades of care and generational wealth.
When the Zoning Board of Appeal chair stated in 2023 that “the rights of the many outweigh the rights of seven houses on Culbert Street,” the framing suggested that the long‑time Black homeowners of modest means who live on that street are somehow less entitled to the protection of their property rights than the low‑income renters who would occupy the proposed development at 1471 Blue Hill Ave.
Property rights are not contingent on wealth, political influence, or the size of the group asserting them. They are a protected trust and a moral boundary that public officials are obligated to uphold…