Waltham City Council to Decide Eminent Domain Taking of Stigmatines Tonight

WALTHAM, MA – The Waltham City Council will decide tonight whether or not to take the Stigmatine Fathers & Brothers property by eminent domain. The meeting, slated for 8 p.m., is open to the public. If approved, issue of land use will be taken up at the council's June 5 meeting.

The land has been eyed as the preferred site for a new Waltham High School, but the city has sought to acquire it for open space for several years, according to the Waltham Channel.

Editor's Note: An earlier version of the article stated that the meeting would be closed. The meeting is open to the public, but this is not a public hearing.

Ahead of Monday's vote, one official issued a final plea to parishioners: contact your city councilors, oppose the "hostile eminent domain seizure" of the land. In a letter obtained by Waltham Newswatch, Rev. Robert White wrote that the Stigmatines do not find the city's proposals suitable for the ministry's needs.

White highlighted Stigmatines' desire to maintain the Espousal Retreat House as a home for retired priests and brothers. Waltham Mayor Jeannette McCarthy has said that two buildings would be set aside for retired clergy.

The Waltham Channel reported last week that a lawyer for Stigmatine Fathers & Brothers has threatened legal action against the city if the council votes to take the land by eminent domain, saying the Stigmatines will not be "bullied" into selling the property. McCarthy has said the Stigmatines have not met with the city after multiple requests to negotiate.

The city has assessed the land at $22.7 million and Stigmatines have appraised it at $25.4 million, but an appraisal has not been sent to the city, according to the Waltham Channel.

McCarthy is asking the council to pay an appraisal of $15 million.