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Temple Likely
to Remain Institute

By Scott MacKeen
Staff Writer
7/15/10
The real estate agent working to sell off Temple Shalom’s property says he does not envision housing on the site.

Instead, marketing of the property is being geared toward those interested in maintaining it as a religious or educational institute, according to David Ross, of Boston-based NAI Hunneman.

“It will be going on the market momentarily,” Ross said of the four-acre parcel on Blue Hill Avenue, which until a few months ago was the most hotly debated piece of real estate in Milton. “It’s a nice piece of property in a wonderful community.”

Ross said he has been working with Temple Shalom leaders for about two months on a strategy to

market the land. He said the focus is on keeping it “owner-occupied,” and not having a housing-and-tenant scenario.

There has been speculation the site would be sold off for an affordable-housing complex under the state law known as Chapter 40B, something many neighbors have said they don’t want to see. Opponents of 40B say the law allows developers to skirt local approvals in creating what are often dense housing projects.

Ross said that scenario is not currently being considered for the Temple site.

“It makes sense for another institute to come in,” he said, explaining that continued religious or educational uses on the site are the preferred options.

Last week, Lynda Packer, who serves as president of the 140-family congregation, announced that the Temple board of directors has decided to move ahead in selling its property.

According to Packer, the congregation is hoping the proceeds of the sale will allow them to rebuild elsewhere in Milton.

The congregation’s preferred option is to remain in the town where they have existed for more than 60 years. Temple members say their facility is too large and outdated for the current membership, and have proposed a plan to downsize.

That proposal – which involved selling much of the land to a commercial developer – was met with a mixture of support and opposition from the neighborhood. Talks of the development consumed months of meetings. In March, Town Meeting failed to allow a zoning change for the development.

Ross said he anticipates high interest in the Temple property once it is put out for sale. He said his company has previous experience in town, previously serving as a consultant and appraiser for Curry College.

“We expect it to play well,” he said of the site.