Dorchester Reporter “The News and Values Around the Neighborhood” Volume 36 Issue 43 Thursday, October 24, 2019 50¢ Flooring retailer will move into Morrissey site left vacant since ’18 BY KATIE TROJANO REPORTER STAFF A high-profile com- mercial space along the Morrissey Boulevard cor- ridor near Victory Road will be taken over by the Georgia-based national retailer Floor & Décor, a The former site of the self-styled multi-channel National Wholesale Liq- American specialty real- uidators operation. tor of hard surface flooring and related accessories that hopes to open its doors by late 2020 or early 2021. The large building, at 729 Morrissey Blvd., has been vacant since National Wholesale Liquidators went bankrupt in 2018 after a decade at the site. Representatives from Kimco Realty, which owns the building and has a pre-existing business connec- tion with Floor & Décor, laid out their company’s The Osman family, (l-r) Omar, son Delshad, and daughters Shawnam and Ala, enjoy afternoon tea at plans for the site at a meeting of the Clam Point their home in Harbor Point, Dorchester. Jesse Costa/WBUR photo Civic Association on Monday night. While Kimco has not formally filed an application with the Boston Planning and Development Agency From the ‘Kurdish village’ in Dot, (BPDA), its officials are making their rounds to lo- cal civic associations, introducing their project and asking for community feedback. words of grief, and a sense of hope “We are working on our application but we wanted BY SIMÓN RIOS like the ability to speak the lan- and after a decade-long journey, he to come here and meet with you first,” said William WBUR REPORTER guage he now speaks at his home and his family landed in Dorches- Squires, an attorney who represents Kimco Realty. Surrounded by family, with a in Dorchester. ter’s Harbor Point neighborhood. (Continued on page 8) scarf flashing the colors of Kurd- “The ideology behind the free- In an interview, Omer noted istan draped across his chest, dom fighters was that we wanted that the Peshmerga revolution Kurdish war veteran Omar Os- peace, democracy – and our basic of the 1980s was crushed by Sad- Polito tours pier site man Omer recalled life before rights were violated by the Iraqi dam Hussein, who infamously coming to the United States more regime,” Omer said in Kurdish used chemical weapons against on Point being eyed than 20 years ago. From the age of that was translated by his 44-year- the Kurds. He then moved his 19, he spent 13 years battling the old son, Delshad Osman. family to Pakistan, where they Iraqi government as a Peshmerga But Omer, 65, eventually left lived as refugees for nine years, as ferry service stop Iraq to find democracy elsewhere (Continued on page 18) fighter, struggling for freedoms BY DANIEL SHEEHAN campus would be “a real REPORTER STAFF shot in the arm. It would Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito be completely transfor- Two at-large candidates – two views joined a contingent of mative on a peninsula Columbia Point stake- that is already under Garrison: Murphy: holders last Wednesday transformation,” she evening for a tour of Fal- said, noting the current Vote just for ‘Local’ is lon Pier, which has been explosion of growth of identified as a potential campus as well as the me, not any what counts location for ferry service looming development of first with me connecting Dorchester the former Bayside Expo of the others with Quincy and Long Center site. BY KATIE TROJANO BY KATIE TROJANO Wharf in Boston. Researchers at UMass REPORTER STAFF REPORTER STAFF UMass Boston Interim Boston received a Althea Garrison is First-time candidate Chancellor Katherine (Continued on page 17) not on Twitter or Face- Erin Murphy says her Newman and JFK Li- “independence” and fo- book. In an increasingly Althea Garrison Erin Murphy brary Foundation ex- left-leaning city, she cus on local issues is ecutive director Steven describes herself and her those councillors that what sets her apart from last month’s preliminary Rothstein were among base of voters as “mod- have been there for the field of eight finalists election with 6.84 per- the group that met with erate to conservative.” years. Get rid of all of in the at-large Boston cent of the overall vote. Polito at the library And, alone among sitting them,” she said at a City Council election set Murphy sees a path before taking a walking city council members, Roxbury forum early for Nov. 5. forward to one of the four tour of the pier setting. she is openly campaign- this month where she The Dorchester native citywide seats if she can Newman said that ing for the defeat of her also asked for a “bullet and longtime Boston broaden her message the possibility of having All contents © 2019 at-large colleagues. vote,” meaning just vote Public School teacher beyond Dorchester and a ferry stop just steps Boston Neighborhood “Replace all three of (Continued on page 20) finished in 7th place in (Continued on page 21) from the UMass Boston News, Inc. Focused, trusted, RECENT TRANSACTIONS UNDER AGREEMENT 19 Westglow – 2 Family (Seller) 28 Magdala – Single Family (Seller) and committed – one transaction at a time. 29 Milwood – Single Family (Buyer) Whether you are looking to buy, COMING SOON sell, or rent, let our Dorchester Jones Hill – Single Family 242 Neponset – Single Family (Seller) experts help. 856 Adams – Single Family (Buyer) REAL ESTATE We do Rentals too! TMC REAL ESTATE is a dba of THE MANEIKIS COMPANIES, INC 617-326-6365 • www.tmcregroup.com Page 2 THE REPORTER October 24, 2019 dotnews.com DOT BY THE DAY Police, Oct. 26 - Nov. 2, 2019 Courts, & Fire A snapshot look at key upcoming events in and around the neighborhood for your weekly planner. Suspect in Milton Ave. murder caught Saturday (26th) – Join a walking tour and learn in Atlanta – The man about the hidden rich history of Mattapan on Sat., arrested last week for a Oct. 26 at 10 a.m. as part of the Fall Mattapan/Open bank robbery in Atlanta Streets Open Studios weekend. Stops include Wel- has been identified as lington Hill, houses of worship, Simcos, the site of Ricardo Jamesy Wash- the Oriental Theatre, the new Neponset Greenway ington, 24, of Roxbury, and many more. The tour starts at Young Achievers who has been wanted School (formerly the Solomon Lewenberg school) at since May 8 in the shoot- 2 Outlook Rd. on Wellington Hill. The Open Streets ing death of Donell Davis Open Studios happening Oct. 26 and 27 includes an on Milton Avenue in artist reception, jazz brunch and Harvest Garden Dorchester. Washington Party. Learn more on our Facebook page or go to now faces a rendition mattapanopenstudios.com to download the full hearing in Atlanta be- program. fore he can be returned • Put in an hour to two to clean up Savin Hill Park here to face arraignment for the winter on Sat., Oct. 26 from 8 a.m.- 3 p.m. on the murder charge. Tools and refreshments available at the Caspian Police found Davis, 24, Way dead end at the top of the park. Sponsored by with gunshot wounds Friends of Savin Hill Park. The Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) Board of Directors last inside a Milton Avenue •Triveni Dance Ensemble performs “Faces of the week voted to approve a new mixed-use apartment building for 1297-1305 house shortly after 10 Blue Hill Ave. The proposed “Wellington at 1301” building will be five stories Divine” at JFK Library on Columbia Point from 10:30 and include 39 rental units, five of which will be “income-restricted.” There a.m. on May 8. He was a.m.-11:30 a.m. Part of Celebrate, a free performing will also be three ground-floor commercial spaces, a residential lobby and declared dead at the arts program for children. See jfklibrary.org or call parking for up to 40 vehicles. Image courtesy: Rick Schmidt Architect, LLC scene. 617-514-1600. – REPORTER STAFF • Pumpkin Palooza at Lawn on D — a two day event on Saturday and Sunday— includes live music, Possible challenger looking Southie man threat- circus workshops, magic show and of course: pumkin ens Michael Flaherty, carving. 7 a.m.- 10 p.m. on Saturday, 7 a.m.- 9 p.m. assaults BPD – A on Sunday. at Cullinane’s House seat 53-year-old South Bos- State Rep. Dan Cul- he discussed his candi- seek to mount another ton man was arrested Sunday (27th) – Harvest Festival at Cedar Grove linane will likely face a dacy at a house party in campaign for the seat on Monday morning for Gardens, 911 Adams St., Dorchester, 1-3 pm. Free, new challenger next year Dorchester. as well. Lacet’s Twitter allegedly threatening kids’ costumes encouraged. Horse drawn wagon for the 12th Suffolk seat On his website, Birch account describes him as City Councillor-at-Large th rides through Cedar Grove Cemetery. he has held since 2013. writes that he “hopes to a candidate for the 12 Michael Flaherty and Donovan Birch Jr., a empower more young, Suffolk. his campaign staff. John Monday (28th) – The JFK Library will host a Mattapan native who queer, Black, and Latino In September 2018, Donovan was placed public forum on Mon., Oct. 28 from 6-7:30 p.m. lives in Dorchester, has folks from the district Cullinane defeated Lacet into custody after two focused a new book about America’s first femal Su- been preparing his can- to lend their voices to in the Democratic pri- incidents in which he preme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.