Dialogue May Continue for 40 Warren Neighbors

Residents upset by the may have more opportunity to talk about the project, but that decision is up to Vahid Nickpour.

Nickpour said Friday that he has not decided whether or not he would ask for a deferral from the zoning board of appeals, which would delay his Tuesday hearing and allow residents opposed to the project to make their case to the Charlestown Neighborhood Council.

More than two dozen residents attended a development committee meeting Tuesday to protest the council’s approval of the plans, but learned that their efforts may have been in vain.

“As a subcommittee we don’t have the authority to change a ratified vote of the full neighborhood council,” said Mark Rosenshein, a council member and chair of the subcommittee.

The council approved the plan during an October 26 joint meeting with the Boston Redevelopment Authority, and will not have the opportunity to amend its decision until it meets again until Tuesday night—hours after Nickpour’s hearing is scheduled before the zoning board of appeals.

Should the appeals hearing happen, Rosenshein said the council may send a representative to reflect the turnout at Tuesday’s meeting. Brian Graves, the unofficial spokesman for the group of residents opposed to the project, said that he and others will attend as well. The group has also been writing letters opposing the project to zoning board of appeals, local representatives and other officials, Graves said.

Regardless of whether or not the hearing happens, Rosenshein said he expects the full council to have “a lively dialogue” around the issue Tuesday night.

Nickpour said Friday that he is “committed” to his building expansion project, which would add two floors atop the current three-story structure. He also wants to work with the building’s neighbors, he said, and reach a compromise if possible.