Lee Goodman of Watermark was summoned to the Jan. 12 Stonybrook Neighborhood Association (SNA) meeting to answer questions about the affordability agreement changes for his three-building Doyle’s development, a former landmark of Jamaica Plain.

The Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA) Board approved the changes at its Dec.9, 2025 meeting. Project changes normally don’t require public hearings but the Mayor’s Office of Housing (MOH), which now writes affordability agreements instead of the BPDA, requested that Watermark meet with the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation (JPNDC), which it did on Oct.28, 2025.

As reported by The Bulletin, Goodman explained to the neighborhood council that the agreement would change from six affordable units to four; with one being a cash equivalent of $750,000 for an offsite unit and the other $750,000 returned to the MOH housing trust fund.

But the SNA wanted its own meeting and asked Watermark to meet in January.

What SNA heard –if it was listening – were the apparent cold hard facts of housing financing 101.

The hybrid virtual/in person meeting included State Rep. Samantha Montano and District 6 City Councilor Ben Weber, invited by SNA apparently to qualify what Goodman said.

Probably sensing the political vibes, also on the call was At-Large City Councilor Julia Mejia who last attended an SNA meeting six years ago.

Another guest was Bernie Doherty, vice chair of the JPNDC, who never attends neighborhood meetings.

Alcurtis Clark of the SNA summed the matter up from Jan. 12. Clark was not a member of SNA when the Doyle’s project was first introduced in October 2020.

“Correct me if I’m wrong, but is it our right to have a say on project changes?”she asked. “There was no communication with the SNA. I’m trying to understand is this our right to hear this?”

Goodman said the “JPNDC is an umbrella organization” and he did not want to schedule two meetings.

“We want to get this project done by the end of the year,” he said. “The real issue was asking the bank to extend additional money and add collateral. I don’t have any more money. We sell more units at market rate.”

Montano added, “The more you slow down the process, it gets more expensive.”

“My theory,” she said, “is the longer you delay the community process, prices go up, labor costs go up.”

“We can’t slow down projects, I need for us to say yes to housing.”

David Brewster wanted to know if Needham Bank is providing more financing. Goodman said yes.

“They’re excited to extend more money because there’s more equity. We can sell more units at market rate. They extended $1.7 million in interest. The off-site units are $1.3 million.”

Brewster seemed surprised.

“That’s higher than anything in the SNA neighborhood, 30 percent higher,” he said. “The community has to give up, not Needham Bank?”

“People advocate for more affordability, but developers can’t make these budgets,” Goodman said.

“It’s taking much longer to build. To build in 24 months, it’s $10,000 a month, in five years it’s up to $2.5 million. And we’re still paying interest.”

“That’s why the BPDA was willing to help.”

The Mayor’s Office of Housing (MOH) now writes the affordability agreements.

According to Alexander Sturke of MOH in a Jan. 13 message to The Bulletin, “The affordability agreement is still being drafted. It’s hard to say when it will be finalized unfortunately… it’s really up to the developer on how fast they want move. Maybe check back in a month or so?”

Jon McCurdy asked what other options were looked at.

“Will the off-site (units) be built in Jamaica Plain? Now or in 10 years?”

Goodman said “The issue is subsidy. There are no subsidies. A $300,000 [unit] will cost $1 million in subsidy.”

“There are already $4 million in subsidy.”

“Sheila Dillon [MOH ] said no,” Goodman said. “This [Doyle’s] sucks up a lot of money. Washington Street [JP] is already getting more subsidy, she said.”

“Following the JP Rox guidelines of affordability can’t be privately financed,” Goodman said. “Developers can’t get financing. JP Glass [ 3326 Washington St.] couldn’t get financing. Not a good ending.”

Weber said he will continue to make sure the offsite housing stays in Jamaica Plain.

“This is really difficult,” he said. “Nothing is happening [with JP Rox guidelines]. How to get things built?”

Mejia said she was concerned.

“The developer did not inform the community? How do we get community engagement?” she asked.

Sue Cibulsky of Rossmore Road seemed to be listening.

“This is really helpful discussion,” she said. “We have a lot to learn about housing. If to ask for more affordability and it can’t be done? What is achievable? We have to work to get housing without subsidies.”

Goodman answered questions amicably for over an hour, and as the meeting wound down Clark summed up her conclusion. “We’re not averse to housing, we just want to be heard,” she said.

Doherty of the neighborhood council listened for the full 80 minutes but seemed confused. “Why are we doing this?” he asked.