The first Boston Planning Department Article 80 meeting on Vince O’Neil’s plans for a six-story apartment building at 3716 Washington Street, Forest Hills was held virtually on March 11.

It did not go smoothly with almost total opposition.

This may have surprised O’Neil, since as reported by The Bulletin the first two community meetings held by the Forest Hills Neighborhood Association (FHNA) on Oct 22,2024 and Aug 28, 2025 went smoothly.

O’Neil and Eric Gould of Helicon Architects filed the small project review on Feb 19, 2016.

Their submission for the six-story, 35-unit apartment house at the Tower Street corner stated the proposed building “complements the evolving character of the Forest Hills neighborhood… toward a mid-rise, mixed-use development around the Forest Hills MBTA Station.”

Few people on the call agreed with that.

O’Neil gave a brief presentation in his now familiar matter-of-fact way.

“I’ve driven by that site and wondered what could be done for 25 years,” he said.

Showing only the elevation of Gould’s design, O’Neil said the work would include widening the Tower Street corner, extending the alley behind the building towards the Brady and Fallon funeral home, adding crosswalks from that corner to the MBTA terminal and giving Forest Hills Pizza the right to return.

“The beauty parlor [Stephanie’s salon on Tower Street] has moved out,” he said.

There would be spaces for 11 cars on the ground level where the beauty parlor was located. There would be a 1,200 square common foot roof deck and 22 percent of the units would be affordable per the city’s Inclusionary Development Policy.

And that was all O’Neil had to say.

As raised hands flashed across the top of the screen, Boston Planning project manager Steve Harvey said the comment period will end on March 26.

“Depending on how the project is received, all the comments are reviewed then the decision if it’s appropriate to bring it to the BPDA Board, then to the ZBA and ISD for construction documents,” Harvey said.

Gould added while showing floor plans on the screen share, “There will be seven units per floor.”

“The residential entrance and garage entrance are off Tower Street and the retail entrance on Washington Street,” he said.

Michael West the owner of Brady and Fallon funeral home came on the call, “I’m vehemently opposed to this project,” he said.

“How does this six-story building fit into this neighborhood? At this dangerous intersection?”

“We have a long history [in Forest Hills],” West said “We serve 300 funerals a year. There is no space for construction vehicles.”

“This is detrimental to my business,” West said.” This is detrimental to Brassica.”

West said he owns 3710 and 3712 Washington St., Brassica and 3708 Washington Street – which houses Origination – as well as 11 Tower Street.

“We’re not in the real estate business. We bought these from a defensive position to preserve the fabric of the community,” West said. “Origination is important in our neighborhood.”

“We tried to buy the corner property [O’Neil’s site] but we were turned down.”

Perhaps ironically, Thomas J. Brady built it in 1928.

West’s brother Stephen added that he bought 11 Tower originally for a parking lot but instead rehabilitated the triple-decker to protect the neighborhood.

Brady built number 10 Tower Street opposite in 1945 for his new funeral home in the style of a residential house.

“This project does not belong. It’s a massive disruption,” West said. “Funerals are dignified and solemn services.”

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Masua Dibingo, who owns Origination at 3708 Washington St., said she was “100 percent opposed.”

“It will ruin our business” she said. “A negative effect on our business. No one has talked to us about this.”

“This does not belong in our neighborhood.”

Rebecca Keane said she is the co-owner of Brassica.

“I understand the balance,”she said. “We need more affordable, blue collar housing.”

“I know this personally. I moved out to Walpole. But this is very disruptive. We do not want more congestion. Parking, parking, parking. Safety, safety, safety.”

Robert Keith of Woodlawn Street said he was “disappointed in the format.”

“We need more housing. This should go forward without meetings like this,” he said.

Montell Khaldi said he lives on Chestnut Avenue and was “in favor of this project.” “We need housing in JP,” he said. “If not JP where else are we going to build? I’m 26 years old. Younger people need homes. People who oppose always monopolize these meetings.”

There was considerable discussion about how the Boston Planning Article 80 meeting was advertised; several callers claimed they only heard about it at the last minute.

Harvey explained that the Planning Department is no longer advertising meetings in the newspapers.

“Go to the BPDA website,” he said referring to the bosplans.org/Get Involved page. The BPD ran an ad for bosplans in the March 12 Bulletin.

“That’s the primary way for the community to learn about meetings,” Harvey said.

Much more time was taken up with arguments about the affordability requirements – 22 percent or eight units at 60 percent area median income (AMI) – that O’Neil has complied with.

Two callers wanted that number to be 50 percent AMI.

“You don’t know the rules,” a caller named George said. “I’m concerned. Be clear for yourself. Look up the requirements. You’re getting higher density.”

George wanted another Article 80 meeting.

“There’s no way to move forward,” he said.

Harvey seemed convinced; he said he would schedule a meeting with the Mayor’s Office of Housing to review the affordability.

“It’s not typical this early,” he said, “but easily achievable.”

Harvey also suggested that O’Neil meet with the JP housing committee.