By Patrick McGroarty
Reporter Staff

Two key tenants in the old Frank Wood nursing home on Morton Street will close up shop in June, the Reporter learned this week. Criterion Child Enrichment and the Evergreen Center announced Tuesday afternoon that they will terminate two of the programs they operate in the former Frank Wood home effective June 23.

The third program, the Boston Regional Childhood Development Early Intervention Center, will continue to operate in the building while Criterion searches for a new site to house the program.

In a letter to employees, clients, and guardians distributed on Tuesday, Dr. Richard F. Littleton, founder and president of Criterion and the executive director of Evergreen, wrote that plans by the building's owner, the Boston Center for Blind Children, to increase the rent at the site to a much higher commercial rate were the reason for the move.

Littleton explained that both Evergreen and Criterion had made offers to pay increased rent, and Evergreen had even offered to buy the building for 110 percent of its appraised value, but the Center for Blind Children had insisted that the tenants increase their rent to a higher commercial rate.

"It's been a history of fair negotiations between two non-profits," said Littleton, in a phone interview on Tuesday "It's entirely appropriate for them to raise rent, but with some consideration for the programs they have helped support. To turn away from that with radically upgraded rent, I don't think is responsible."

Discussions about the future of the site were underway prior to the announcement on Tuesday. Earlier this month, elected officials and representatives from the Lower Mills Civic Association met with a realtor representing the building's owner to express their desire to be kept abreast of any developments at the site. Whether Tuesday's news will affect that relationship is uncertain.

"I would think the process would be expedited now," said Richard O'Mara, vice president of the Lower Mills Civic Association. "My feeling is they're inclined to sell it. I don't think the foundation [of the Center for Blind Children] wants to be a landlord."

O'Mara added that representatives from the Center for Blind Children and their realtor, Wyman Street Associates, would be invited to a future meeting of the LMCA to discuss the future of the site with the community. Representatives from the Center and the realtor did not return phone calls on Tuesday afternoon.

Closing the Lower Mills Day Habilitation Program and Rise and Shine Academy will force the guardians of 40 handicapped adults and 72 children to find a new outlet for care and put 35-40 employees out of a job. Affected employees will be retained until June 30.

"We have good employees, and they're loyal, but they have to look out for their families too," said Littleton. "Our only hope is if this organization [Boston Center for Blind Children] steps up and reexamines its charitable mission."