What does it take for a venerable memory care home to expand its services and add senior housing in progressive Jamaica Plain?

The Rogerson House, on the Jamaicaway since 1957, discovered it takes longer than expected: 18 months since it filed its letter of intent on Aug. 7, 2024, five public meetings and a BPDA vote to approve on Jan. 15, 2026, and it’s still no closer to a building permit.

As reported at length by The Bulletin, The Rogerson House redevelopment on its own campus has changed more than any development in Jamaica Plain to satisfy abutters, notably a complete redesign and the reduction of senior apartments from 71 down to 41.

On the road to the zoning board Rogerson staff, consultants and architects stopped off at the March 2 Jamaica Pond Association (JPA) seeking approval; they just barely got it.

It’s not like the JPA didn’t know about Rogerson’s plans; its consultant Emily Regan of Joyce Consulting gave an “information session” on Jan. 6, 2025.

Thirty neighbors, eight JPA members, six Rogerson staff, two consultants and two architects were on the Monday night call.

Rogerson was represented by Director of Real Estate Jeremy Viera, VP of Real Estate Construction Ken Cristafelli, and VP of Development Bob Sherbourne.

Phillip Saad of Dimella Shaeffer Architects opened with a PowerPoint presentation he said was the same one he gave to the BPDA board in January.

He explained the new design from a seven-story, full build-out of the site to a single building with setbacks from four-to-five-to-six stories moved considerably back from Beaufort Street and the Lochstead Avenue houselots’ boundary.

The basement will have 39 parking spaces with an additional 15 surface spaces for guests and handicapped.

Showing a color-coded sandwich diagram, Saad explained the memory care units, memory care amenity rooms, social day programs and staff offices will occupy the first three levels.

Floors four, five and six – each with its own setback – will house the independent living apartments and associated amenities rooms.

JPA zoning chair Kevin Moloney opened the floor to public comment. What followed for nearly an hour was a litany of complaints about parking, traffic flow, trash pick up and confusing concerns about lighting and alarm bells related to the entranceway and garage ramp doors.

David Gdula of Lakeville Road, a frequent caller, was typical: he predicated his remarks with a ‘BUT’:

“This is very important for seniors,” he said. “But there are several concerns that Rogerson refuses to address: traffic flow, density is an issue, no traffic analysis. These are reasonable concerns.”

“I recommend you oppose this,” he said.

Jeri also of Lakeville Road was another ‘BUT’: “This project is seriously needed in our neighborhood, but we need more studies about traffic flow.”

Shade trees, traffic flow and parking bothered Lakeville Road resident Bruce Ecker.

Sally Zimmerman of Beaufort Road was another ‘BUT’; she commended the design but was worried about staff parking and the pedestrian entrance location.

The loss of 41 senior apartments didn’t seem to faze any neighbor but Zimmerman.

“I don’t agree that the affordability has decreased,” she said.“The call about NIMBYism has been overstated.”

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“Phase II will cover that loss of housing,” she said although she said she was worried about what Phase II will look like. Phase II would preserve the original 1957 building and replace a new building where the current memory care home is located.

Zimmerman said she wanted more documentation.

Saad explained that Phase II has not been planned yet and will require a separate project notification form. Phase II cannot be built until Phase I is completed and patients are transferred to the new building and is about 10 years off.

Dorr Fox of Beaufort Rd was another ‘BUT’:

“The design is better, I like the increase in brick,” he said, “but it’s too high.”

“I do support supportive housing, but it should not exceed five stories. I don’t think you can reduce the number of units [41] at five stories.”

Moloney called for a vote from the JPA board but member Tony Dreyfus seemed confused.

“What is the significance of our vote if the BPDA has already approved it?” he asked. Moloney said the vote will take it on to the Boston Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA).

Board member Peter Stieger was a ‘BUT’: he liked the project, but “We need one more round of conversation with the neighbors,” he said. “There’s a real discomfort for neighbors.”

Board chair Kay Matthews agreed.

“We should not vote,” she said. “I heard a lot of distress.”

Moloney disagreed with Stieger and Matthews.

“Rogerson has gone as far as they can go making changes,” he said. “Rogerson has come a long way.”

Steiger’s motion to oppose failed.

A second motion not to oppose passed six to one with one abstention.