We were thrilled to read in the Boston Globe  that State Rep. Aaron Michlewitz supports saving the Nazzaro Center from demolition, and will help us work to keep some public services, such as senior programs, there even when a new community center is built. He is encouraging the city to expand its current options, which do not save the Nazzaro and are not acceptable to the community (according to two petitions and three overflow public meetings, Oct. 17, Dec. 13 and Jan. 10). We will continue to pursue our Landmarks process, to protect the exterior, as these discussions go forward about the interior upgrades and second community center location.

We also appreciated the Mayor’s chief of operations, Patrick Brophy, confirming that the administration is committed to building a state-of-the-art new community center, and announcing for the first time that it will be “financed independently of any consideration of the Nazzaro, under the city’s capital spending plan.” We applaud City Councilor Lydia Edwards’ advocacy for a more transparent process, and her open mind about preserving some public use and architecture of the current Nazzaro building. These community leaders can help deliver a positive outcome: a new community center for the North End, while preserving some programs for seniors and kids in an updated Nazzaro building in the heart of our neighborhood. Meanwhile, we await word from the Landmarks Commission, hoping they will accept our petition for consideration, and schedule a public hearing.