Boston, MA — A contentious plan to convert a long-vacant West Roxbury nursing home into temporary housing for homeless families is moving forward after Boston’s Zoning Board of Appeals rejected a neighbor’s appeal this week, clearing a major hurdle for the state-backed project.
The former Hebrew Rehabilitation Center at 1400–1410 Centre Street would house up to 48 families — roughly 150 to 200 people — under Massachusetts’ Emergency Assistance program. The two-story, 50,000-square-foot building sits on a wooded lot near Redlands Road and has been empty since 2022, following years of declining occupancy after the pandemic.
ZBA clears path amid legal challenge
On Oct. 28, the Zoning Board voted 4-0 to uphold a special permit, rejecting an appeal from an abutter who argued the project violates residential zoning by permitting a “congregate living” use. Board members cited the state’s emergency authority to expand family shelter capacity as Boston and surrounding communities face a persistent shortage.
The decision followed months of heated meetings and petitions. An opposition group, West Roxbury Residents Against Inappropriate Development, says it has gathered more than 1,200 signatures against the plan, citing worries about traffic, safety, parking and property values.
Governor Maura Healey has defended the effort as necessary. “These are Boston families in need — working parents, survivors of domestic violence, families who have lost everything,” she said at a recent press conference. “The state has a legal duty to provide shelter, and West Roxbury’s facility will help us close the gap without burdening motels.”
What the plan includes
According to public records and state officials, the building would be renovated into 48 private family units, with shared kitchens, laundry areas and on-site services such as case management, job support and child care. Average stays are expected to range from six to 12 months, with priority for Boston families displaced by evictions, violence or economic hardship. The state has earmarked about $15 million for renovations, which are projected to begin early next year and create roughly 50 construction jobs.
The nonprofit Home for Little Wanderers is set to operate the site under a state contract, according to procurement documents. CEO Susan Cole said the focus will be stabilization and rapid rehousing. “Eighty percent of families in our programs secure permanent housing within a year,” she said, pledging partnerships with local groups for job training and child care.
Security plans include 24/7 staffing and controlled entry. The site would provide approximately 60 parking spaces. Nearby bus routes and proximity to the West Roxbury VA Medical Center were factors in the state’s selection, officials said.
Neighborhood split over impact
The neighborhood remains sharply divided. Supporters, including faith leaders from the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization, frame the conversion as a humane response to a crisis. “NIMBY-ism shouldn’t win in West Roxbury,” said the Rev. Liz Garrigan-O’Connell. “These families are our neighbors — let’s build bridges, not walls.”
Opponents contend the project doesn’t fit the area and will strain local services. “This isn’t a nursing home anymore — it’s a massive shelter,” said abutter Michael Rufo during the ZBA hearing, warning of limited parking and potential congestion on narrow streets. A small business group survey last week found 55% of 300 respondents opposed to the plan, while letters of support from local clergy and residents have continued to arrive at City Hall, according to public filings.
Mayor Michelle Wu has said the city cannot block the state’s move under emergency powers, while calling for tighter coordination on traffic, school enrollment and public safety. City Councilor Sharon Durkan, who represents the area, pressed for more transparency, saying in a recent post that residents deserve impact analyses “before families arrive.”
From nursing home closure to adaptive reuse
Hebrew SeniorLife shut down the West Roxbury facility in 2022 and sold the property to the state this spring for $5.5 million, according to land records. The deal reflects a broader trend: as nursing homes close amid staffing shortages and financial strain, states and nonprofits are reusing buildings for housing and services.
Massachusetts has leaned on such conversions to ease a family shelter crunch that has persisted since the pandemic and intensified with rising rents and evictions. Advocates say creating family units in former institutional settings is faster and more dignified than relying on motel overflow. State officials project operational savings compared with continued motel placements, though critics want a fuller accounting and a detailed plan for school and public safety resources.
What’s next
With the ZBA decision in place, permitting and community outreach sessions are expected in November. Construction could begin in January, with families moving in as early as spring 2026, according to state timelines. Opponents have vowed to keep fighting and may pursue a court challenge before the end of November.
For now, the decision underscores a core tension in Boston’s housing response: balancing neighborhood concerns with an urgent, legally mandated obligation to shelter families. As one resident put it after the vote, the debate is far from over — but the building won’t sit empty much longer.
Discover more from Skilled Care Journal
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
