Homeless Shelter at Church in Davis Square approved by judge

[Ashish Shrestha]

CS Indie just published an article about the homeless shelter at the First Church of Somerville in Davis: https://csindie.com/homeless-shelter-at-church-is-approved-by-a-judge-found-to-be-part-of-a-broader-religious-project/

Glad to see that we're making some meaningful and positive progress toward helping the unhoused in Davis Square.

[Mieke Citroen]

That is really good to hear, thanks for forwarding the article. 

--Mieke

On Wed, Apr 8, 2026, 00:50 Ashish Shrestha <ashres...@gmail.com> wrote:

CS Indie just published an article about the homeless shelter at the First Church of Somerville in Davis: https://csindie.com/homeless-shelter-at-church-is-approved-by-a-judge-found-to-be-part-of-a-broader-religious-project/

Glad to see that we're making some meaningful and positive progress toward helping the unhoused in Davis Square.

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[Mieke Citroen]

I sure hope the roof doesn't leak. 

If you're asking about alcohol - why does that even matter? They already state clearly that "The existing shelter is professionally managed and hasn’t been the source of signifiant complaints"

--Mieke. 

On Wed, Apr 8, 2026 at 8:18 PM Melissa Nelson Yu <hairgr...@yahoo.com> wrote:

Is it a dry shelter? 

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 8, 2026, at 7:32 PM, Mieke Citroen <mie...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Beth Kevles]

Hi --

From what I read, homeless individuals who are under the influence (both drugs and alcohol), will be permitted in this shelter. I'm not sure whether this is a change in policy, or whether the previous shelter run by the church also allowed that.

--Beth

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[Christopher Beland]

There's a lot of information about the project on this Somerville Homeless Coalition web page.

On the question of whether it's a dry shelter, in addition to concerns about behavior (justified or otherwise), the answer also matters to people concerned that a dry shelter policy creates an inappropriate barrier to accessing services (and for people addicted to intoxicating substances, stabilizing their lives in order to succeed at getting treatment).

SHC has this to say about this shelter in the former FAQ doc:

8. What is a low barrier/low threshold emergency shelter?
   ● SHC’s shelter operates as a low-barrier, low-threshold facility in compliance with our state contract. The purpose of a low-barrier shelter is to eliminate obstacles to entry into the shelter, ensuring that individuals experiencing homelessness can access safe lodging, shower facilities, meals, and essential services, such as housing search, that promote stability and support.
   ● SHC adopted this model gradually over the past several years (approximately 2020), aligning with national best practices. In 2023, state contracts began requiring all funded shelters to function as low-barrier programs.
   ● Our state contract prohibits SHC from denying services to individuals based on factors such as sexual orientation and gender expression.
   ● Additionally, our state contract prohibits SHC from denying entry to shelter to guests due to their past or present substance use or mental health conditions, intoxication (provided the individual is not a medical risk, not a risk to others, and is behaving appropriately), results of drug or alcohol testing, criminal history — unless any associated behaviors are actively and directly affecting the safety of self or others.
   ● The shelter addresses and holds guests accountable to behaviors that are not safe (up to and including program discharge), regardless of the origins of those behaviors.

-B.

[Ron Newman]

On Wed, Apr 8, 2026, 8:50 PM Beth Kevles <bethk...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi --

From what I read, homeless individuals who are under the influence (both drugs and alcohol), will be permitted in this shelter. I'm not sure whether this is a change in policy, or whether the previous shelter run by the church also allowed that.

To my knowledge, First Church Somerville does not and did not run any "previous shelter".

Somerville Homeless Coalition operates a shelter down the street, in the building that is now home to Holy Bible Baptist Church, a Haitian congregation.  That SHC shelter remains from the days when the church building belonged to College Avenue United Methodist Church (now ConneXion church in East Somerville).    The current shelter is not ADA accessible, one reason SHC is moving the shelter to First Church.

[Beth Kevles]

Thanks for the detailed explanations,  everyone.  I found them helpful.

--Beth 

[Madeleine Werner]

Hi all, 

Considering the longtime policy of low barrier thresholds, especially as it is and has been state mandated for multiple years, the complaints against this shelter moving 2 blocks is very unfounded. There is a four times increase in the number of unhoused individuals in our square -- public safety for everyone is improved by this shelter. The continued complaints about what has historically been working are unfounded when we are simply reducing the number of people on the street who we believe are "dangerous" or "introducing substances" into our area. 

M

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[Melissa Nelson Yu]

Is it a dry shelter? 

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 8, 2026, at 7:32 PM, Mieke Citroen <mie...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Edward Woll]

There are substantive questions regarding the financial viability of the Copper Mill proposal, its compliance with Somerville climate and energy/electrification priorities and the degree of need for substantial water and electrical infrastructure and who will pay for that.  

Copper Mill has been asked a series of questions, that address these issues, the answers to which will help understand the impact and viability of the proposed development. The questions are set forth in the first attachment and were submitted to DSNC on March 4, 2026, to be submitted to Copper Mill. Those questions were submitted to Copper Mill on March 15, 2026. Copper Mill has not supplied answers to those questions. They need to be answered.

Those questions inquire into issues raised in written comments submitted on Feb. 5 of this year to MassHousing in response to Andrew Flynn’s filing on behalf of Copper Mill, as the Developer, the Chapter 40B Site Approval Application ID: 368 for a finding of Preliminary Eligibility for Chapter 40B financing for the 26 a story project. The written comments are the second attachment. One of those questions is when the Option Agreement that Copper Mill has to buy the land expires, the dates for which are blacked out in Copper Mill’s filing.

 

The written comments submitted to Mass Housing are in three parts, ending with summary paragraphs, followed by two Addenda:

PART 1: Preliminary Information and Considerations pp. 1-3)

PART 2: The Application Does Not Provide Either the Required or Sufficient Information 

That Permits MassHousing to Make the Findings Necessary to Grant Eligibility (pp. 3-11)

PART 3: Comments on Pages 1-21 of Developer’s 40B Application (pp. 11-13)

Addendum A: Analysis of Rental Data From the 40B Application and the Comparables’ Actual Information (p. 11)

Addendum B: Amenities in the 40B Application Comparables (pp. 14-17)

 

The written comments cover many aspects of the Copper Mill 40B Application. Based on the financial information in the 40B Application, the written comments conclude that the 40B application does not show the project to be financially viable and is sufficiently flawed so as not to be entitled to a 40B eligibility determination at this time. The written comments address each  of the findings that MassHousing must make and the lack of support for them. The comments also cover architectural massing, water table impact, and gas and electricity issues in addition to apartment unit size and pricing. They pose the question that the last thing that Somerville needs is a project of this size and scope in Davis Square that is financially struggling or fails.

The comments point out that it is generally agreed that Somerville needs more housing and particularly more affordable housing and that Davis Square is a good area for that. However, it should be a development appropriately proportioned to the neighborhood, not at the density and height of the proposed 26-story tower. Moreover, there are other very appropriate parcels in the Davis Square area that, when developed, can also provide significant additions to the affordable housing base. 

 

A desirable outcome of MassHousing of not determining at this time eligibility of the 40B Application is the opportunity it will provide for this or another developer, the City, and the multiple, large, interested resident groups to spend the necessary time to come to a mutually acceptable overall Davis Square development plan, including the Copper Mill site.

Ed Woll

[Mieke Citroen]

Thanks for that information. For clarification, do you have an official role in this? Are you speaking for Copper Mill, the city of Somerville, the DSNC, as a person who lives in the area, or a combination? 

--Mieke

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[jlau...@comcast.net]

Mieke,

I think the two Woll documents make clear that the extraordinarily well researched letter to Mass Housing was submitted by the Wolls as residents of Winslow Avenue, while the unanswered questions derived from it were to have been submitted to Copper Mill through the DSNC process prior to the public meeting with Andrew Flynn.

Ed Woll is a very experienced land use lawyer, whose expertise raises the discussion to a whole new level.  I have taken the liberty to paste below the brief professional bio I found on line:

A publisher of Business Information since 1983         Search Business Search Executive   Advanced Search   Sign In  |  Hints

Profile of Edward Woll   Edward Woll   Partner - Sullivan & Worcester LLP   Edward Woll Email : Please login   Company Name : Sullivan & Worcester LLP   Company Website : www.sandw.com   Company Address : One Post Office Sq. , Boston, MA, United States,   Edward Woll Profile : Partner - Sullivan & Worcester LLP   Edward Woll Biography : Edward Woll, Jr. has been a partner in the firm's Litigation Department of our Boston office since 1978. His principal practice areas include real estate, environmental, zoning, and land use litigation and advice in federal and state trial and appellate courts, and before local, state and federal governmental agencies. Litigation experience has also included labor and employment matters and general commercial litigation, with both domestic and international clients. He has appeared before federal and state trial and appellate courts and various state administrative tribunals and before local city and town administrative boards and commissions. Mr. Woll's clients have included developers of recreational and marine facilities, private land owners protecting shorefront property and developers of land for residential purposes. Representative Client Work Handled disputes over tidelands jurisdiction, application of the public trust doctrine and Chapter 91 license proceedings Resolved zoning, zoning enforcement, title, easements and easements by prescription, adverse possession and other land and land use disputes throughout Eastern and Central Massachusetts, including Martha s Vineyard and Nantucket Represented clients in local and state administrative processes, including Historic District Commission, Conservation Commission, Zoning Board and Planning Board approvals and appeals Represented clients in environmental protection agency proceedings and appeals Represented generator defendants and third-party plaintiffs in various Superfund cases Successfully defended a manufacturing concern against claims of ground water contamination Handled litigation of boundaries of water resource areas, resulting in the relocation of a wetlands boundary that permitted residential development of shorefront property and the increase in value of that property to about $17 million Represented landowners in property tax assessment and abatement disputes Represented family disputes involving real estate, including ownership by family limited partnerships and other forms of ownership Bar Admissions District of Columbia, 1970 Massachusetts, 1971 Bar & Court Admissions District of Columbia, 1970 Massachusetts, 1971 U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts U.S. District Court, District of Columbia Publications Case Comment on Britton v. Zoning Board of Appeals, 59 Mass. App. Ct. 68 (2003) "A Fresh Look at De Novo Review in Chapter 40A, Section 17 Actions and the Role of Aesthetics in Zoning Decisions," 88 Mass. Law Rev. 213 (Spring 2004) "The Elasticity of the Borders of DEP Wetlands Jurisdiction," Mass. Bar Ass n Sect. Rev., Vol. 4, No. 1, p. 57 (Winter 2002) "Litigating Issues Involving Restrictions on Real Estate" (Oct. 2002), Mass. Bar Ass n PRB03, Vol. 2, pp. 1-55 and (Feb. 2003), PRC03 "Safeguarding the Independence of DEP Administration Law Judges," MCLE Pub. 2001-83040-25, pp. 131-311 Speaking Engagements Lorman Seminars, Sept. and Oct. 2004: Law of Easements: Legal Issues and Practical Considerations and Land Use Restrictions Lorman Seminars, April 2004: Advanced Zoning and Land Use in Massachusetts Presenter, The Conveyancer s and Litigator s Guide to Easements and Land Use Restrictions, Mass. Bar Ass n, CLE (October 2002) Limits on Governmental Authority to Enact or Enforce Environmental Regulations, MCLE (July 23, 2001) Grandfather Rights and Chapter 40A, Mass. Bar Ass n, CLE, April 23, 2001 Inc. Magazine Conference in 1987: ("Protecting Your Technology") Professional & Civic Activities American, Massachusetts, Boston, and International Bar Associations Arbitrator, American Arbitration Association Board of Editors, Massachusetts Law Review, since 1991 Massachusetts Bar Association, Property Section Council, 1999- Trustee, The Meadowbrook School, Inc., Weston, MA, 1978-1988; Treasurer, 1980-1988 Trustee of the Year Award, Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Finance Committee, Town of Wayland, 1978-1979 Advisory Board, WBUR Public Radio Chairman, Smaller Business Association of New England (SBANE), November 1997-1999; Secretary, 1996; Director, 1993-2000 Past Chair, Education Committee, 1992-1995 and Entrepreneurial Management Committee, 1992-1995 Education J.D., Georgetown University, 1970 Masters of Nuclear Engineering, Cornell University, 1966 Bachelor of Engineering, Physics, Cornell University, 1965

 

Best,

Lee

Josiah Lee Auspitz
17 Chapel Street 

Somerville, MA 02144 

Landline phone: 617-628-6228 fax: 617-628-9441

Phones do not receive text messages

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From: daviss...@googlegroups.com <daviss...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Mieke Citroen <mie...@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, April 9, 2026 12:18 PM
To: Edward Woll <e...@woll.us>
Cc: Davis Square Neighborhood Council <daviss...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [DSNC] Unanswered Questions filed with DSNC and posed to Copper Mill regarding issues raised in Written Comments submitted to Mass Housing on Feb. 5, 2026

 

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