Photo: WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — The fight over the proposed redevelopment of Boston's White Stadium has now entered the city's mayoral race.
Mayoral challenger and billionaire philanthropist Josh Kraft is calling on Boston Mayor Michelle Wu to cancel the city's ten-year lease with Boston Unity Soccer Partners to bring a professional women's soccer team (BOS Nation FC) to a renovated White Stadium and to halt demolition work currently underway.
Read More: Boston City Council Holds Public Hearing On White Stadium Project
Opponents to the project are concerned about traffic, parking, the elimination of public green space, and the costly $200 million price tag. They also argue sharing the stadium with BOS Nation FC would be unfair to Boston Public Schools student athletes and community members.
A pending lawsuit brought against the city to stop the redevelopment is set to go to trial next week.
In a statement, Kraft said, "There are legitimate legal matters before the courts that deserve to be heard and adjudicated before any trees are removed and any demolition of the current structure occurs. The communities around Franklin Park and the people of Boston are not on board with Mayor Wu’s plan to pour more than $100 million in public money into a project that primarily benefits a private commercial interest. To race ahead in this moment when there are so many legitimate community concerns would be a total failure of leadership."
Kraft echoed his sentiments while speaking to WBZ NewsRadio at a St. Patrick's Day luncheon in South Boston Wednesday.
"I think we need a full reset on the project," Kraft said. "I think that’s what’s fair to BPS kids and families and fair to taxpayers."
The Wu campaign fired back Wednesday, saying in a statement, "Given the hardball tactics and taxpayer subsidies demanded by the Krafts, it’s no wonder Josh Kraft thinks every private partnership is a bad deal. Fortunately, the City has found a partner to cover half the cost to build and all costs to maintain a facility that will be open to thousands of BPS students, coaches, and community more than 345 days per year. Josh Kraft should address his own glaring conflicts of interest before criticizing a project he knows nothing about."
WBZ's Madison Rogers (@MadisonWBZ) reports.