Land taking by convention center under scrutiny
City and state legislators representing South Boston raised concerns Thursday that the state’s convention center authority may be land-banking property taken by eminent domain under “false pretenses.”
Sen. Nick Collins, Boston City Council President Ed Flynn and City Councilor At-Large Michael Flaherty sent a letter to state and city officials on Wednesday in opposition to the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority’s plan to lease for 99 years three parcels of land on the South Boston waterfront for what they say is not its intended purpose.
The land along D and E Streets near the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center was taken by eminent domain to expand the hospitality industry in the area.
The MCCA opened a 30-day bidding period for the land on the week of Thanksgiving, resulting in only two bidders, according to the letter.
“These assets were taken by eminent domain for a particular purpose that is not being executed with an open-ended bid offering. This has given rise to the concern about the MCCA land banking under false pretenses. We have heard from previous owners who would like their property returned if the aforementioned public purpose is no longer the driver for the need to own this land,” the legislators wrote to Administration and Finance Secretary Matthew Gorzkowicz and Boston’s Chief Financial Officer Ashely Groffenberger.
Collins, Flynn and Flaherty urged the MCCA’s board of directors to stop the “unusual and uncompetitive process.”
The MCCA board met Thursday to discuss the land sale, but members quickly retreated into an executive session. The session was closed to the public to discuss “a matter relating to the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property and discussions in open session could have a detrimental effect on the Authority’s bargaining and negotiation position.” Shortly after the public meeting was closed for the board to speak privately, Flynn tweeted, “Another example of @ MassConvention’s lack of transparency: their board meetings are neither in person nor public. Anyone from the public trying to log in to the meeting right now where a 99-year public land lease is being discussed has been shut out. Time for change! #bospoli.”