The Hyde Square Task Force (HSTF) will hold an event at 7:30 p.m. in front of the Blessed Sacrament Church at 365 Centre St. on May 3 to oppose the plan to turn the church building into luxury condos.
The Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation and New Atlantic Development bought the church in 2005. Their plan to turn it into condos has been controversial since it was revived last summer.
“What prompted this event is that from what we see, almost no one in the community wants the luxury condos to be developed in the church and it is simply unacceptable,” said HSTF member Ken Tangvik. “We wanted to take some positive actions that will rally the community and tap into what we see is a deep well of passion in keeping the church for community use.”
He said HSTF wants people to recognize and celebrate the incredible history and beauty of the church. Tangvik said there is a group of faculty and students from Massachusetts College of Art who have made a multimedia presentation of voices and images from the Hyde/Jackson and Blessed Sacrament community. That presentation will be displayed at the event.
Tangvik said there will also be a drum circle led by percussionist Cornell Coley and a group of HSTF youth musicians to “drum up support” for a community-based use of the church building.
For more information, call Tangvik at 617-905-7424.