Praises All Around for Saving North End Nursing Home

By Phil Orlandella

No voting items were on the North End/Waterfront Neighborhood Council (NEWNC) January 9 monthly meeting held in the Nazzaro Community Center.

However, many residents gathered at the community public meeting to hear about and comment on the good news relating to the potential sale of the North End Nursing Home on Fulton Street, that will reportedly allow North End residents the option of remaining in the 34-year-old facility or relocate to another nurse home. The nursing home is currently owned by Spaulding Rehab Hospital.

Spalding President David Storto explained that it could take three or four months until the deal is finalized and Spalding will continue to run the operations of the Center until the sale is finalized.

Everyone at the NEWNC meeting appeared to be elated with the new owners of the possible sale. Pats on the back were giving to everyone involved in the community campaign to keep the nursing home open.

North End resident Francine Capodilupo Gannon summed it all up by saying, “It was a terrific community effort by everyone that resulted in a positive solution for the neighborhood.”

Once the sale is completed the new owners, Brick, N.J.-based Tryco Partners LLC, will reportedly conduct another neighborhood meeting to further discuss their policies and reconstruction plans that will not involve moving anyone out of the facility.

NEWNC President John Pregmon agreed to hold a public meeting once it has been established. The meeting will most likely be held in the Nazzaro Community Center.

In other matters, some residents complained about AirBnB in the North End creating problems especially with the late hour movements that disturb other people living in the same or other buildings.

Representative Aaron Michlewitz told residents that a potential bill will be filed to accomplish two things, taxing and setting up rules and regulations for AirBnB.

City Councilor Sal LaMattina noted that an ordinance will be filed by Mayor Walsh for a Council vote on the subject. He said, “I will vote under the conditions that only homeowners that resided in their building be allowed to utilize the system, not the owners that use the dwelling for profit only and don’t reside there.” Representative Michlewitz expressed the same opinion.

Austin Blackman, Chief of Environment, Energy and Open Spaces briefed residents on the most recent report on Climate Ready Boston, a program geared toward preparing the city’s waterfront areas for potential higher tides that could extend as far as Faneuil Hall.

One possible solution to prevent this type of major flooding was to build a seawall, according to Blackman.

He did however note that the “City is continuously working with many agencies to properly plan for environmental situations that will eventually impact Boston’s waterfront and adjacent parts of the city.”

            The next NEWNC monthly meeting will be held on Thursday, February 9 at 7 PM in the Nazzaro Community Center.