►
Description
The 109-year-old St. James African Orthodox Church in Roxbury will remain standing and get a much needed face-lift thanks to funding from the Community Preservation Act and Historic Boston, Inc. Mayor Walsh presents the check to community members and joins in the celebration.
A
A
Good
afternoon,
everyone,
if
you
haven't
grabbed
a
cookie,
a
brownie,
a
cup
of
water,
please
feel
free
to
go.
Do
that
we
don't
want
to
take
any
home
with
us
today.
I'm
Kathy
Katarina's
from
historic,
Boston
incorporated,
and
really
it's
a
true
delight
to
be
here
today.
I,
don't
know
whether
it's
because
we're
celebrating
a
church
or
because
we're
in
Roxbury
but
the
sun
is
shining
for
the
first
time
in
a
long
time
and
I.
Think
that's
a
really
good
sign.
I
want
to
thank
you
all
for
coming
out
today.
A
I
know
that
we
have
a
lot
to
celebrate
here
and
we're
not
going
to
take
a
ton
of
your
time,
but
it
really
is
an
opportunity
for
us
to
come
together
and
and
celebrate
the
achievement
that
partnership
can
really
bring
together
and
you
all
really
led
the
way
as
a
community
we're
here
to
celebrate
st.
James
African
Orthodox
Church's
survival.
A
Not
only
that,
but
it's
celebration
as
a
Boston
landmark
and
then
very
soon
we
will
be
celebrating
its
complete
renewal
as
a
really
as
a
beautiful
place
and
a
beautiful
structure
that
it
really
deserves
to
be.
But
that
would
not
have
happened
without
your
strong
work
last
year
in
mobilizing
this
neighborhood
in
this
community
and
all
of
its
friends.
A
So
you
are
the
stars
of
our
show
today.
This
neighborhood
is
amazing.
By
way
of
background.
You
know
that
this
building
was
built
in
1910
as
a
Norwegian
Evangelical
Church,
which
it
was
for
a
number
of
years
before
the
1950s,
when
st.
James,
African,
Orthodox
Church,
purchased
it
and
was
here
up
until
just
a
few
years
ago.
It
has
many
layers
of
story
to
tell
and
if
you
haven't
had
a
chance
to
read
the
landmark
designation
report,
it's
great
history
of
yes,
this
place,
but
also
the
context
this
neighborhood
and
the
people
within
it.
A
We
hope
in
the
next
few
years
to
bring
about
its
renewal.
We've
got
a
lot
of
work
to
do
and
that's
gonna
you'll
be
hearing
about
it
and
I
hope
you're
all
on
our
mailing
list
and
we'll
have
a
chance
to
do
that.
But
you
know
that
historic
Boston
incorporated
has
been
working
in
and
around
this
neighborhood
for
a
number
of
year.
By
way
of
mission,
we
rehabilitate
rehabilitate
historic
buildings
for
new
uses.
A
We
hope
that
in
the
next
few
years,
you'll
be
not
just
seeing
work
going
on,
but
that
you'll
be
able
to
come
and
participate
and
learn
about
historic
rehabilitation
about
the
construction
we
do
and
the
planning
in
the
context.
But
today
we're
not
gonna
take
a
lot
of
your
time.
There
are
a
lot
of
folks
who
have
important
things
to
say
and
things
to
bring
us
and
I
want
to
make
sure
that
that
we
are
all
aware
of
some
of
the
things
that
have
already
gone
on.
A
My
first
introduction
is
none
other
than
the
mayor
himself,
one
of
the
most
important
parts
of
the
rescue
of
this
building
when
it
was
threatened.
Last
year
the
mayor
filed
an
injunction
preventing
the
demolition
of
this
building.
He
was
using
every
active
tool
available
to
him
to
help
lead
the
way
and,
as
you'll
begin
to
see,
all
of
us
have
played
a
part
in
the
total
picture
here
and
without
each
one
of
our
roles.
This
wouldn't
have
happened.
B
Thank
You
Kathy
I
just
said
to
Kathy.
What's
the
announcement
I'll
tell
you
what
the
announcement
is
in
a
minute.
First
of
all,
I
want
to
thank
Kathy
and
historic
Boston
for
their
great
work
here.
I
want
to
thank
the
elected
officials,
Kim
Janie,
who
has
been
a
strong
strong
supporter
of
this
neighborhood,
but
also
efforts
citywide.
Thank
you
for
what
you
do
every
day.
B
I
want
to
acknowledge
a
former
colleague
of
mine
when
I
got
into
the
house
representatives
who
represented
the
South
End
in
Roxbury,
and
somebody
who
I
watched
and
was
was
was
one
of
the
people
in
the
legislature.
That
was
not
afraid
to
speak
up
and
not
afraid
to
fight
for
his
constituency,
but
for
all
people,
Commonwealth
she's,
by
rushing.
B
B
This
one
was
a
little
more
complicated
because
of
the
location
and
I
think
that
when
you
think
about
development,
so
when
I
think
about
development,
you
think
about
Roxbury,
and
you
think
about
Dorchester
I,
think
about
manna.
Pan
I
think
about
neighborhoods
that
people
20
years
ago
didn't
want
to
build
in.
Quite
honestly,
they
weren't
building
here
and
20
years
later.
People
want
to
live
here
and
when
I
say
that
I'm
not
talking
about
the
people
live
here,
the
people
live
here
obviously
want
to
live
here.
Just
like
I
want
to
live
in
Dorchester
I'm.
B
The
CPA
is
important.
My
announcement
today
is
that
this
project
gets
$500,000
and
CPAC.
We
already
get
the
announcement
done
before.I
now,
so
we
took
the
picture
that
was
in
picture
on
the
front,
but
but
the
Community
Preservation
Act,
you
passed
it.
The
voters
of
Boston
passed
it
a
bunch
ago.
In
2001
we
tried
the
city,
tried,
it
didn't
happen,
and
in
2015
we
did
it
and
we
made
it
pass
in
the
biggest
part.
In
my
opinion,
of
the
CPA
is
not
the
nocte
housing.
B
Even
though
we
need
housing
we're
putting
large
amounts
of
money
in
housing,
we're
getting
money
from
big
developers
in
downtown
we're
getting
money
from
the
city,
we're
getting
money,
we're
going
to
continue
to
build
housing
and
we're
setting
records
for
building
modern,
low-income
housing,
even
though
it
doesn't
feel
it.
We
are
building
it.
B
We're
making
record
investments
in
our
parks
and
open
space
in
the
city
budget
we've
well
and
we're
not
just
doing
kind
of
half
parks
anymore,
we're
doing
complete
parks
and
we're
building
them
up
and
doing
them
right
in
the
area
that
was
always
missing
was
historic
preservation
and
the
funding
for
that
was
very
complicated
in
that
that
funding
is
in
our
neighborhoods.
In
my
neighbor
who
I
grew
up,
I
walked
by
the
Blake
house
forever
and
I
ended
oracle
societies
there
and
that
house
we
didn't
understand.
B
The
importance
of
that
house
was
the
first
house
built
in
Dorchester.
We
didn't
understand
it
when
they're
growing
walking
by
but
understanding
the
importance
of
keeping
that
history
in
tradition
and
culture
there
and
that
and
then
also
the
Dorset
circle,
satya
Boston
Street
and
then,
as
men.
You
go
around
the
city
of
Boston,
there's
usually
the
story
years
ago.
B
There's
a
bunch
of
volunteers
that
is
trying
to
preserve
something
and
there's
really
not
a
deep
pocket
investment
place
to
go
because
people
want
to
give
to
hospitals
and
houses
in
schools
and
and
everything
else,
but
they
don't
want
to
give
to
story
preservation,
not
that
they
don't
want
to
give
to
it.
But
they
are
you
know,
that's
not
our
place.
B
Since
the
Community
Preservation
Act
has
started,
this
is
over
seven
million
dollars
of
funds
that
wasn't
available
that
is
now
into
Roxbury.
That's
coming
in
two
different
programs
and
I
just
want
to
take
one
minute,
just
just
to
read
them
connecting
Highland
Park,
Marcella
fields,
Jackson's
Granby,
ta,
community-driven
design
for
the
Pala,
tightest
Park,
the
First
Church
of
Roxbury,
the
historic
gate
and
grounds
in
the
Eliot
square,
say:
Luke's,
Chapel,
stabilization,
affordable
housing
for
seniors
and
individuals
to
the
Bartlett
station
and
rio
grande
project.
B
All
of
those
things
are
projects
that
that
have
additional
dollars
that
are
able
to
get
things
moving
forward.
So
I
just
want
to
say
today,
all
to
all
of
you
here.
Thank
you
for
your
vote
on
that.
Thank
you
for
being
diligent
here.
Saving
this
church,
because
the
history
of
this
church
is
so
important,
and
even
though,
when
this
projects
complete,
it
might
not
be
a
place
of
worship
inside,
but
there's
a
story
to
tell
about
what
that
building
is
and
what
that
building
meant
to
this
community.
B
So
to
all
of
you
today,
they're
here
today.
Thank
you
very
much.
I
want
to
thank
Christine
and
her
team
at
CPA
for
the
great
work
they
do.
I
want
to
thank
Sheila
Dillon
from
director
of
housing
in
the
city
of
Boston
for
the
great
work
she
does
and
again
to
your
City
Council
Kim
Janie.
Thank
you
every
single
day
for
your
advocacy.
A
Thanks
so
much
mayor
Walsh
before
I
introduce
our
next
speaker.
I
must
call
out
historic
Boston
staff,
because
you're
gonna
get
to
know
them
pretty
well
over
the
next
few
years.
So
I
want
you
to
know
their
faces.
Gabrielle
Chapman!
Where
are
you
right?
There
there's
only
four
of
us.
So
don't
worry
it's!
This
isn't
gonna
take
long,
Lisa,
Louis
you're
in
the
back
I
see
you
and
Shaurya
Batra
over
here
they're,
my
right.
A
We
have
a
wonderful
board
of
directors
who
makes
our
work
possible
and
I
I'm,
not
sure
I've
seen
a
lot
of
them,
but
I
know
there
are
a
few
here
today
and
I
want
to
say
thanks
to
them,
and
I
also
want
to
point
out
David
haseen.
Who
is
going
to
be
the
project
architect
here
from
Hasina
&
Associates?
He
is
someone
who
you
will
also
see
many
times
over
the
next
few
months
as
we
get
this
project
underway.
So
I
want
to
thank
him
in
advance
for
all
of
his
work.
A
A
It's
always
dangerous
to
call
it
individual
names,
but
you
know
who
you
were
in
lining
up
for
testimony
at
meetings
and
signing
petitions
and
organizing
those
petitions,
but
I
want
to
make
sure
that
we
say
a
specific.
Thank
you
to
Marshall
for
not
only
hanging,
posters
and
and
gathering
petitions,
but
also
being
just
a
stalwart
supporter
of
historic
preservation
in
the
neighborhood
one
of
the
one
of
the
difficulties.
I.
A
Think
when,
when
we're
trying
to
get
the
attention
of
public
officials
in
doing
this
kind
of
work
is
showing
how
important
it's
going
to
be
when
it's
all
done
and
that's
a
hard
thing
to
really
establish
for
people.
But
I.
Think
one
of
the
things
that
that
you
were
all
able
to
do
is
what
the
mayor
said,
and
that
is
to
tell
the
story
that
you're
going
to
want
to
tell
in
the
future,
through
your
advocacy
now,
and
so
congratulations
to
you
all
on
that.
A
But
I'm
going
to
tell
you
a
little
bit
more
about
Marshall,
because
she
has
been
gracious
enough
to
offer
some
perspective
on
the
work
that
was
done
out
here.
You
know
that
2,700
signatures
were
gathered
for
petition
back
in
in
2018
to
make
this
possible.
It
took
a
lot
of
folks
to
do
that
rallying
and
she
was
one
of
those
people
who
was
was
right
at
the
helm
of
it.
C
Good
afternoon,
Kathy
gives
me
too
much
credit,
because
I
know
that
it's
throughout
the
groups
in
Highland
Park
that
really
make
this
neighborhood
click
and
I
see
a
lot
of
the
members
here.
I've
been
here
43
years,
it's
hard
to
believe
that
we
still
stay
places
that
long,
but
in
those
43
years
I've
raised
two
children
here
and
been
able
to
hang
out
at
the
corner
of
door
and
seat
and
Lambert
Ave.
C
That's
the
way
you
find
my
house,
but
today
is
a
very
significant
and
special
day,
because
I
see
neighbors
old
and
new,
who
can
come
together
and
celebrate.
What's
what
we've
been
able
to
do
in
terms
of
restoration?
I
want
to
thank
the
mayor
for
hanging
with
us
and
being
a
strong
supporter
and
being
able
to
be
strategic
and
find
new
strategies
for
us
to
use
and
I
want
to
thank
CPA,
because
you
know
I
voted
for
CPA
and
often
wondered
what
it
was
gonna
do,
but
then
I
found
out
all
Christine's,
leading
it.
C
Okay,
so
I'm
in
good
hands
as
I
began
to
research.
What
this
church
was
about.
I
came
across
information
that
one
of
my
cousins,
who
was
a
Catholic
priest,
actually
preached
here
so
I,
was
very
shocked
to
know
that
that
I
have
some
kind
of
real
connection
to
this.
So
I
look
forward
to
the
investment.
That's
been
made,
I
look
forward
to
continuing
to
support
it,
to
have
energy
to
support
it
and
I
also
look
forward
to
working
with
what
comes
out
of
it.
C
You
know
one
of
the
things
my
children
went
to
Nathan
Hale
school
and
one
of
the
things
that
the
Nathan
Hale
we
always
needed
beyond
our
backyard.
Auditorium
was
a
real
space
to
celebrate
children
and
their
accomplishments,
so
I'm
hoping
that,
as
this
opens
as
a
community
space,
the
Nathan
Hale
will
be
able
to
do
that.
Kathy
is
right
and
that
we
did
hang
banners,
although
they
got
taken
down
quite
quickly,
but
but
it
was
community
that
in
vested
and
made
those
banners
and
said
this
is
critical.
This
is
important.
Do
not
demolish
anything
else.
C
A
Thank
You
Marshall,
and
that
concludes
our
program
today.
I
want
to
encourage
you
to
stick
around,
have
some
refreshments
and
come
talk
to
us.
If
you
have
any
questions
about
anything
and,
of
course
the
church
will
be
open
for
a
little
while
longer,
so
you
can
see
it.
Thank
you
again.
Everybody
for
everything
you've
done.