backstory to the horror show at Beech St. & Mass Ave?

[an-art-worker.livejournal.com]

Does anyone know the backstory (or have a link to another source) for the funeral home/ice box condo conversion at Beech & Mass Ave? I sit at that traffic light at least a few times a week and wonder about the law suits and zoning citations it must have stirred up.

Comments

[dominika-kretek.livejournal.com]

Because triple-deckers are so much better? I mean, I can understand that that particular building isn't everyone's cup of tea, but Somerville and North Cambridge are full of triple-deckers that are ugly inside and out, some of them covered with vinyl siding or even (shudder) wrought iron. If anything needs to be zoned out of existence, it's those.

[heliopsis.livejournal.com]

Boy do I agree with you. I'd love to see some of these wretched, broken-down old buildings replaced with beautiful, modern design. I'm fed up with gables everywhere. While I mourn the loss of Long Funeral Service (I always thought it would be good business to open a competing funeral parlor across the street, called Brief, but Heartfelt Funeral Service), I welcome an experiment.

[turil.livejournal.com]

The family who owned that funeral home was the family who was trying to get the death penalty reinstated in Massachusetts, I believe. Kind of interesting...