By Patrick McGroarty
Reporter Staff

The city's department of inspectional services has issued a stop work order to construction at 911 Grant Place after Lower Mills Civic Association members noticed that the developing home on that property did not adhere to plans previously approved by the association.

Property owner Taz Flynn admitted that the designs had been altered, saying that problems with an interior staircase had necessitated changes to the home's exterior.

"We worked long and hard on this plan, and this isn't what we signed off on," said Richard O'Mara, vice president of LMCA. "But the neighborhood is willing to work this out."

The incident prompted District 3 City Councillor Maureen Feeney to file an order for a hearing with the city council to penalize developers who break with community and BRA-approved housing construction plans.

"There should be a hefty fine, but even that won't stop builders with deep pockets," said Feeney. "I would like to see sanctions against building in Boston if a builder breaks with plans, because then they will listen."

In a less contentious development presentation, representatives from Urban Landworks, the company developing the River's Edge Condominiums at 40 River Street, were on hand to present minor changes to their construction plan that had already been discussed with the LMCA executive board. The 62-unit development has been split into two buildings instead of one, and parking originally planned for an underground lot has been moved to the rear of the building.

The Boston Center for Blind Children has agreed to extend the lease of all three tenants at their 1135 Morton St. building by one year, said state Representative Linda Dorcena Forry.

The MBTA's Mattapan High Speed line will close for one year beginning Saturday, said MBTA representative Joe Nolan. Free shuttle buses will run along a comparable route in the interim.

Service at Ashmont station will be interrupted for three weekends this summer. Nolan said the MBTA currently plans to close Ashmont station for construction from Saturday morning through Sunday evening on the weekends of July 15-16, July 22-23, and August 5-6.