Neighbors applauded a local rabbi/ landlord’s plans to remake an “eyesore,” the former St. Francis Home for Children in Prospect Hill.
Rabbi Shmully Hecht (at right in photo) recently purchased 682 Prospect St., a large brick home in the Prospect Hill neighborhood, which he intends to turn into a three-unit house.
The Board of Zoning Appeals approved Hecht’s plan at its monthly meeting on Tuesday night, after hearing from neighbors who came out in support of the rabbi’s plan.
Hecht (who has been in the news before) owns rental properties citywide and has his own home nearby on Prospect Street. He told the board that his brother would move into one of the new units at 682 Prospect.
In giving its unanimous approval to Hecht’s application, the BZA voted to reject the advice of the City Plan Department. City Plan’s advisory report recommended against Hecht’s application, saying that it did not satisfy the necessary criteria for a variance and that a three-unit dwelling would compromise the “single family nature of the area.”
BZA Chairwoman Cathy Weber said that she was swayed by the neighbors who showed up in favor of Hecht’s application and by the absence of any opposition. Three neighbors voiced their support. Several others raised their hands to be counted as being in favor.
“This is a very pretty house,” said Weber. “I would like to see us pass this for the neighborhood.”
Elizabeth Lopez, who lives at the corner of Highland and Park, said that 682 Prospect has long been a problematic, neglected property in the area. The renovation would be a “huge improvement in the neighborhood,” she added.
Prior to 2007, the building was owned by the St. Francis Home for Children, which used it as a dormitory. Neighbors said that the building had deteriorated under the care of St. Francis.
Hecht described the property as “an eyesore in a beautiful neighborhood that’s only getting better.”
The rabbi picked the house up in a “short sale” from the most recent owner, listed on an online database as “Halon Beata.”
The only point of contention that came up in association with Hecht’s proposal was the issue of parking. City Zoning Deputy Director Tom Talbot voiced his concern about what appeared on the plans to be parking spots in front of the house. Hecht was quick to allay his concerns.
“I will pay him [the architect] to do whatever you tell us to do,” he told Talbot.
In the end, the board’s approval included a condition that parking be limited to four surface spaces.
are the any pictures of floor plans and/or of the building itself so we can see if adding walls to the interior in order to make this a multifamily house would actually destroy the homes historic value?