A Boston Police investigation is underway following the death of a man in his 60s who was found unresponsive inside a newly renovated former hotel on Morrissey Boulevard that now houses formerly homeless individuals.
Police were called to the former Comfort Inn at 900 Morrissey Blvd. at 4:26 a.m. last Sunday (March 8) for a report of a person who was not breathing. Two female witnesses told police that they had spent the night drinking with the male victim “until they passed out,” according to the BPD account, which indicated that Boston EMS administered Narcan at the scene.
The cause of death is now under review by the state’s medical examiner.
Officers reported that the female witnesses told police “they know the victim from the street doing and dealing drugs.”
Sources told The Reporter the facility opened in December and is near full occupancy, and the victim – a military veteran – had recently moved in. The situation was described as not as simple as it might look at first glance. Residents do have certain stipulations in their leases about conduct, and are allowed two visitors at a time, but it’s hard to know what is going on behind closed doors. There were no complaints to staff noted on the night in question, sources said.
The former hotel is a partnership between Pine Street Inn and The Community Builders (TCB), a non-profit development company. TCB owns and operates the building, and Pine Street provides wrap-around services and had been working closely with the victim.
In a joint statement from TCB’s Andy Waxman, senior vice president of real estate development, and Pine Street Inn President and CEO Lyndia Downie, they said tenants began moving in on Dec. 3 and they remain focused on providing a “secure and supportive environment.”
“We are saddened to confirm that a tenant of 900 Morrissey Boulevard died at his home on the morning of Sunday, March 8,” it read. “Our thoughts are with the individual’s loved ones. The late tenant, who was a veteran, had a history of serious health issues. His cause of death is unknown at this time. We appreciate the response by the Boston Police Department and are cooperating with the BPD’s investigation.
The safety and well-being of tenants, staff, and the surrounding community is our highest priority, and we are committed to remaining a responsible neighbor.”
The conversion of the hotel into 99 “compact-studio” units was a controversial subject in the surrounding neighborhood before it won approval from city officials.
In a statement to The Reporter in 2023, Pine Street noted that residents at 900 Morrissey “will undergo multiple screenings, pass criminal background checks, and will be drawn from a known list of the city’s chronically homeless individuals.”
They also indicated there would be security and wrap-around services to address resident needs.
