Latest news with #MatthewNestor
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Boston's White Stadium legal battle continues as plaintiffs appeal judge's dismissal
The legal battle over the renovation of the historic White Stadium in Boston's Franklin Park will continue as a group of residents opposed to the project appeal a judge's decision to throw out their lawsuit. Franklin Park Defenders, the group of plaintiffs that includes the nonprofit Emerald Necklace Conservancy (ENC), said late last week they plan to appeal the April decision that the land surrounding White Stadium was not protected under the Massachusetts Constitution. They had argued that renovating the city-owned property for use in part by a new professional women's soccer team would illegally change it from park and recreation land to private commercial use. 'It's our mission to protect and support our public parks for future generations – even when it's hard,' conservancy President Karen Mauney-Brodek said in a statement. 'This proposal for Franklin Park is the biggest change to public land in Boston and the Emerald Necklace in at least half a century, and it hasn't received the thorough legal vetting the public deserves. ... We're committed to partnering with the city, and anyone else, to make a fully public renovated White Stadium a reality.' Since its construction in the 1940s, the aging venue has fallen into disrepair because the school district has been unable to keep up with maintenance costs. The interior of one of the two grandstands was locked off to the public after it was destroyed by a fire decades ago. It was never rebuilt and has since been demolished in preparation for constructing the new stadium. The city has partnered with Boston Unity Soccer Partners, the owners of a new professional women's soccer team to be known as Boston Legacy FC, to renovate the stadium at an estimated cost of at least $200 million. The city's portion, an estimated $90 million, will cover the renovation of the east grandstand for use by Boston Public Schools (BPS) students. The soccer team will cover the remainder and lease the venue for up to 20 games and 20 practices per year. Outside of game and practice times, the facility will be open for Boston Public Schools, city and public use. Opponents of the project have claimed that the renovation, which is already underway, would take away access to a public asset and would be an inappropriate use of city funds. The Emerald Necklace Conservancy and a group of individual Boston residents initially filed the lawsuit in early 2024, but received an early loss as a judge declined to pause the project as the case played out. During a three-day trial in March, the plaintiffs argued that the 14-acre parcel of land containing the stadium was protected by a constitutional provision known as Article 97. The rule requires a two-thirds majority vote of the state Legislature for any publicly owned parkland to be used for any other purpose. However, to be covered, the city of Boston would have had to explicitly record it as a park. Suffolk Superior Court Judge Matthew Nestor ruled that the property was not parkland and had instead treated it as a school building since the stadium was initially constructed. 'There is simply inadequate evidence that the everyday use of the property evinces an unequivocal intent to dedicate the property as public parkland,' he wrote. When announcing the appeal, the plaintiffs said Nestor had not addressed several of their legal arguments, including the effects the project would have on the surrounding Franklin Park, the legality of selling alcohol on school-owned property and their claims of violations of the trust that owns the land. Not all members of the surrounding community oppose the project. After the Franklin Park Defenders announced their appeal, another group of residents denounced the decision to prolong the case, calling it 'an irresponsible tantrum backed by deep pockets.' 'Rather than acting as a true champion for the community, ENC leadership has chosen obstruction over collaboration, using its position to disparage anyone who supports the stadium's revitalization — including BPS students and families who want nothing more than a safe, vibrant place to play and compete," said Dot Fennell and Beth Santos, two BPS mothers who have led a grassroots group of supporters of the project. 'Boston Public School kids need partners, not lawsuits. ENC should drop this baseless fight and put its millions where its mission is — into the park, not the courtroom.' A spokesperson for the city said that city officials had met with the ENC board after Nestor's ruling to 'pursue a collaborative approach' in the future and were 'disappointed and frustrated' by the appeal. 'We will not be deterred from delivering the decades-delayed White Stadium renovation that generations of BPS students and park users deserve, and which is now finally underway,' the spokesperson said. 'The renovated athletic complex will be open for student and public use at least 15 hours per day, more than 345 days per year, delivered at half the price for taxpayers because of our partnership with Boston Legacy, a professional women's soccer team ... Given the expense to Boston taxpayers of continuing to defend against ENC's already-rejected claims, the city will carefully consider the future of its relationship with ENC to better protect residents and our parks.' A spokesperson for Boston Legacy told the Boston Herald that the team was likewise disappointed, but remained 'focused on advancing the work that is well underway as we prepare for the 2026 NWSL season.' Boston celebrates White Stadium victory as construction moves forward Judge rejects lawsuit over White Stadium project, says land isn't protected Boston professional women's soccer team announces new name Read the original article on MassLive.
CBS News
03-04-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
White Stadium project in Boston clears legal hurdle, Wu calls it "historic victory"
White Stadium cleared a big legal hurdle, paving the way for the City of Boston to move forward with renovations, after a judge sided with the city. The city and Boston Unity Soccer Partners want to renovate the stadium inside Franklin Park and make it the home for the new National Women's Soccer League team and share the stadium with Boston Public Schools students. However, Emerald Necklace Conservancy and neighbors filed a lawsuit accusing the city of trying to privatize a public park on protected land. On Wednesday, Judge Matthew Nestor ruled that White Stadium is not protected as a park or conservation land under state law, saying the project doesn't violate the law formally known as Article 97. Mayor Wu called the ruling a historic victory saying in a statement, "In a City of sports champions, this is a historic victory. A renovated White Stadium will be open and used by BPS students, coaches, and community 15 hours per day, more than 345 days per year. We thank the Superior Court for twice affirming this vital project for our students and community as a year-round facility that will inspire the next generation of Boston students. Together, after so many years of broken promises, we will give our young people and all our residents the scale of investment and opportunity that Franklin Park and our City deserve." The price tag is expected to pass $200 million with taxpayers fronting half the cost. Reaction from the community was mixed. "As a resident and someone who uses the park every day, I think anytime you can get the private sector to put $100 million into a public asset and lease it back to you for a million dollars a year, that's a pretty good deal," said Jamaica Plain resident Tim Reardon. "Overall, it seems like a smart move and I'm excited to have a soccer team in the neighborhood." "I don't think the plans have come together the way they should have so I don't think it's a very good plan right now," said Jamaica Plain resident Nate Hafer. "It just seems like the plans have not come together and it is not going to be useful to BPS students since we're taking it away from public usage turning it into a private thing." Opponents with the Franklin Park Defenders say they're disappointed by the ruling. The group argues that a fully public stadium would be cheaper according to their proposal and would not displace student-athletes. "We're disappointed by the trial's outcome, but we're not surprised. Our community is used to seeing laws meant to protect the public get trampled when the rich and powerful see an opportunity to make money," said Dr. Jean McGuire, a Roxbury resident and plaintiff in the case. "Despite this outcome, we still believe that our community deserves an alternative to an oversized, for-profit sports and entertainment complex in Franklin Park. Losing 145 trees, two acres of green space, two tennis courts, and full use of the field for several months each year is not the price our Boston Public School students should have to pay for working plumbing and high-quality athletic facilities." Opponents say the fight to save Franklin Park is not over. Construction bids are due this summer and they hope the full scope of the cost will be revealed.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NWSL expansion team Boston Legacy gets White Stadium court win
NWSL expansion team Boston Legacy gets White Stadium court win A Superior Court Justice on Wednesday ruled that the renovation of White Stadium, the future home of Boston Legacy FC in the NWSL, is not in violation of state law. Judge Matthew Nestor found that the Franklin Park stadium parcel, where the stadium is being revitalized, is not subject to Article 97 of the Massachusetts Constitution, allowing the project to proceed as planned. Advertisement The decision is a major win for Boston Legacy and the City of Boston, which have long championed their vision of bringing professional women's soccer back to the city through a public-private partnership that would renovate the historic stadium, which will remain at 10,000-seat capacity once the work has been completed. The stadium would be shared by the professional team and Boston Public Schools (BPS). A release from the City of Boston last month said the renovation will triple the available hours the BPS can use the stadium to between 750-900 per year. 'With today's ruling, we are pleased to continue the revitalization of White Stadium alongside the city of Boston,' Jennifer Epstein, Boston Legacy FC's controlling manager, said in a statement. 'Boston Public Schools students and the communities around Franklin Park have long deserved the type of generational investment this project delivers.' Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, a staunch supporter of the project, called the decision a 'historic victory' in a separate statement. Advertisement 'A renovated White Stadium will be open and used by BPS students, coaches, and community 15 hours per day, more than 345 days per year,' Wu said in the statement. 'We thank the Superior Court for twice affirming this vital project for our students and community as a year-round facility that will inspire the next generation of Boston students.' The team is slated to begin play in 2026 alongside another expansion club in Denver. Construction is expected to finish next winter, in time for the start of the 2026 NWSL season. The end of this legal challenge removes a major hurdle for Boston Legacy, which has had a turbulent journey since Boston Unity Soccer Partners LLC, the investors group behind the club, was awarded NWSL expansion rights in September 2023 The White Stadium lawsuit, filed five months later, hoped to halt the project altogether. Advertisement The plaintiffs — the Emerald Necklace Conservancy and several residents who live near Franklin Park — argued the project would equate to the privatization of public land that was legally mandated to remain public. The plaintiffs, in their challenge against White Stadium, were met with various setbacks along the way. They failed to convince the Suffolk Superior Court judge to provide an injunction last March and then were denied their request for a trial delay. One day before the trial, a ruling by Nestor essentially threw out half of the plaintiffs' case, signaling that his decision may eventually sway in the defendant's favor. The judge in that pre-trial hearing ruled that the conservancy had no standing to bring a case against the defendants on the matter of whether the George Robert White Trust, which owns the stadium and the parcel of land where it sits, could make a deal with the city. The conservancy's president, Karen Mauney-Brodek, said in a statement on Wednesday that their group was 'deeply disappointed' by Nestor's decision and that they 'plan to assess our legal options.' Advertisement 'Our advocacy for Franklin Park and the community is about supporting our kids and the park with a truly public stadium. The communities around the park should be central to decision-making for our parks, not asked their opinion after decisions are already made,' Mauney-Brodek said in the statement. 'We are proud to stand with community leaders who are not being heard. It's our organization's mission to work with all to protect and support Franklin Park and the rest of the Emerald Necklace for today and the future.' The cost of the stadium project is expected to exceed $200 million, with the NWSL club responsible for more than half of those costs. The debate over the future of White Stadium has become a hotly debated subject in the city's current mayoral race, which inadvertently brings with it a version of soccer politics. Boston's current mayor, Michelle Wu, has been a staunch supporter of the White Stadium project, as well as the NWSL team behind it. The incumbent is facing a unique challenge by Josh Kraft, who has been an outspoken critic of the stadium. Kraft – son of New England Patriots and New England Revolution owner Robert Kraft – also has ties to his family's push to build their own soccer-specific stadium for the Revolution in Everett, which would require an agreement with the city. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. NWSL, Sports Business 2025 The Athletic Media Company
New York Times
02-04-2025
- Business
- New York Times
NWSL expansion team Boston Legacy gets White Stadium court win
A Superior Court Justice on Wednesday ruled that the renovation of White Stadium, the future home of Boston Legacy FC in the NWSL, is not in violation of state law. Judge Matthew Nestor found that the Franklin Park stadium parcel, where the stadium is being revitalized, is not subject to Article 97 of the Massachusetts Constitution, allowing the project to proceed as planned. Advertisement The decision is a major win for Boston Legacy and the City of Boston, which have long championed their vision of bringing professional women's soccer back to the city through a public-private partnership that would renovate the historic stadium, which will remain at 10,000-seat capacity once the work has been completed. The stadium would be shared by the professional team and Boston Public Schools (BPS). A release from the City of Boston last month said the renovation will triple the available hours the BPS can use the stadium to between 750-900 per year. 'With today's ruling, we are pleased to continue the revitalization of White Stadium alongside the city of Boston,' Jennifer Epstein, Boston Legacy FC's controlling manager, said in a statement. 'Boston Public Schools students and the communities around Franklin Park have long deserved the type of generational investment this project delivers.' Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, a staunch supporter of the project, called the decision a 'historic victory' in a separate statement. 'A renovated White Stadium will be open and used by BPS students, coaches, and community 15 hours per day, more than 345 days per year,' Wu said in the statement. 'We thank the Superior Court for twice affirming this vital project for our students and community as a year-round facility that will inspire the next generation of Boston students.' The team is slated to begin play in 2026 alongside another expansion club in Denver. Construction is expected to finish next winter, in time for the start of the 2026 NWSL season. The end of this legal challenge removes a major hurdle for Boston Legacy, which has had a turbulent journey since Boston Unity Soccer Partners LLC, the investors group behind the club, was awarded NWSL expansion rights in September 2023 The White Stadium lawsuit, filed five months later, hoped to halt the project altogether. Advertisement The plaintiffs — the Emerald Necklace Conservancy and several residents who live near Franklin Park — argued the project would equate to the privatization of public land that was legally mandated to remain public. The plaintiffs, in their challenge against White Stadium, were met with various setbacks along the way. They failed to convince the Suffolk Superior Court judge to provide an injunction last March and then were denied their request for a trial delay. One day before the trial, a ruling by Nestor essentially threw out half of the plaintiffs' case, signaling that his decision may eventually sway in the defendant's favor. The judge in that pre-trial hearing ruled that the conservancy had no standing to bring a case against the defendants on the matter of whether the George Robert White Trust, which owns the stadium and the parcel of land where it sits, could make a deal with the city. The conservancy's president, Karen Mauney-Brodek, said in a statement on Wednesday that their group was 'deeply disappointed' by Nestor's decision and that they 'plan to assess our legal options.' 'Our advocacy for Franklin Park and the community is about supporting our kids and the park with a truly public stadium. The communities around the park should be central to decision-making for our parks, not asked their opinion after decisions are already made,' Mauney-Brodek said in the statement. 'We are proud to stand with community leaders who are not being heard. It's our organization's mission to work with all to protect and support Franklin Park and the rest of the Emerald Necklace for today and the future.' The cost of the stadium project is expected to exceed $200 million, with the NWSL club responsible for more than half of those costs. The debate over the future of White Stadium has become a hotly debated subject in the city's current mayoral race, which inadvertently brings with it a version of soccer politics. Advertisement Boston's current mayor, Michelle Wu, has been a staunch supporter of the White Stadium project, as well as the NWSL team behind it. The incumbent is facing a unique challenge by Josh Kraft, who has been an outspoken critic of the stadium. Kraft – son of New England Patriots and New England Revolution owner Robert Kraft – also has ties to his family's push to build their own soccer-specific stadium for the Revolution in Everett, which would require an agreement with the city. (Andrew Burke-Stevenson/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
