The Dorchester Reporter

Is 31 Savin Hill Ave. ‘historically significant’? Yes, but not in a way that people might think

By Bill Walczak, Reporter Columnist

July 6, 2022

I recently received a notification from City Hall on an Article 85 Demolition Delay Application filed for the takedown of the house at 31 Savin Hill Avenue.

Demolitions are subject to a delay to determine if a building is “historically significant.” If so, there will be a hearing to determine if the building deserves landmark status, which can make it more difficult to demolish.

The house at 31 Savin Hill Avenue, a 1,700-square-foot single family colonial built in 1900, is not historically significant by conventional criteria. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have “history.” In the 1980s it was part of the “37 Club,” an after-hours club located in a back room behind Venice Pizza at 37 Savin Hill Avenue with a license that allowed it to operate 24 hours a day during the week. As the license did not extend to the weekends, the club moved into the house at 31 Savin Hill Avenue on weekends.

The 37 Club was originally for firefighters, but in the mid-1980s, it was taken over by Charles Matta, who turned the club into a neighborhood nightmare, with cocaine dealing, prostitution, and gambling all night long.

The neighbors around that location organized a crime watch, and at nearly every meeting of the Columbia-Savin Hill Civic Association there were reports from the crime watch group and from the police on actions by the police department, including many arrests of Mr. Matta. But he would be back in operation the next day.

For four years, the Treadway Road Crime Watch Group and the Civic Association worked with the Boston Police to no avail, with the result that many residents just gave up and moved.

The area around the club had become de-stabilized, a crime zone. Some people living in the neighborhood couldn’t find buyers for their houses so that they could get out. The police seemed mystified, and there was open discussion as to whether Matta had a “sponsor” who was looking out for him.

Then, in August 1988, a police raid found both gambling implements and cocaine, which resulted in an indictment and a trial at which Matta’s defense centered around the fact that he had been an informer for both the Drug Enforcement Agency and the FBI. These federal agencies were paying Matta to provide information about other criminals.

Even more disturbing was the testimony of FBI Special Agent Roderick Kennedy, who acknowledged that he was Matta’s “handler” for nine years, and that he had never visited the club or knew what went on there. He also admitted that he had never spoken with the Boston Police unit that was working with the community about the Matta situation, nor had he had any knowledge of Matta’s arrests, saying “I didn’t have any … reason to check” despite Matta’s January 1988 cocaine conviction.

The FBI even wrote a letter of support to the judge detailing Matta’s work as an informant. (Much of this information comes from a Boston Globe article, “Neighborhood pays high price for presence of FBI informant” by Kevin Cullen, May 13, 1990.)

The neighborhood was aghast. The notion that the FBI would sacrifice a neighborhood in pursuit of information was a shock to most; the Boston Globe’s disclosure that Whitey Bulger was an FBI informant was nine years in the future. The FBI refused to even discuss its actions with the neighborhood, and so the Civic Association called a press conference and demanded an apology and restitution in the form of a neighborhood stabilization fund of $300,000 that would pay for walking police patrols of this now-crime-infested area.

The press event, held on May 15, 1990, included Joe Chaisson, representing the Civic Association, Michael McGinn, who was chair of the Treadway Road Crime Watch, even though he had recently moved, and myself. It attracted the attention of the Globe, the Dorchester Argus-Citizen, and even the New York Times.

For its part, the FBI completely ignored the request. A month later, the Civic Association wrote to US Senator John Kerry with a summary request, which stated:

“The FBI has not responded to our letters or phone calls, even after the press conference. We are therefore asking you to intervene on our behalf. We are very concerned about the implications of FBI-sponsored drug houses, and wonder what other drug houses in our community are supported by the FBI. We wonder if the FBI has criteria for when they sponsor illegal clubs which de-stabilize communities. We are enraged that the FBI saw it fit to write a letter on Mr. Matta’s behalf but is unwilling to write a letter of apology to us. What is the responsibility of the FBI to communities, and what is their responsibility after they have de-stabilized it?”

The questions were met with silence. Perhaps if they had been followed up on, the FBI’s sponsorship of Whitey Bulger’s criminal activities would have come to light much sooner than it did.

At least we tried.

Support local news. Subscribe or donate to The Dorchester Reporter at www.dotnews.com

Bill Walczak articles and other related media offerings

“Let’s reconsider tax policy for when institutions sell their names to donors” June 9, 2022

https://www.dotnews.com/2022/commentary-let-s-reconsider-tax-policy-when-institutions-sell-their

“City should boost post-pandemic civic re-engagement” June 2, 2022

https://conta.cc/3Mm0VpM or https://www.dotnews.com/2022/city-should-boost-post-pandemic-civic-re-engagement

“Opinion: Let’s keep the zoom era going for open meetings” May 26, 2022 https://conta.cc/3PMso6M or https://www.dotnews.com/2022/opinion-let-s-keep-zoom-era-going-public-meetings

“Say it loud, say it clear: ‘No More Dirty Dot!’” May 5, 2022 https://www.dotnews.com/2022/commentary-say-it-loud-say-it-clear-no-more-dirty-dot or https://conta.cc/3vSsMJe

“Savin Hill Park: City park maintenance shouldn’t be a neighborhood burden” April 6, 2022

https://www.dotnews.com/2022/city-park-maintenance-shouldn-t-be-neighborhood-burden or

https://conta.cc/36Zt73b

“Wu must take strong lead on growing the city’s tree canopy” March 24, 2022

https://www.dotnews.com/2022/commentary-wu-must-take-strong-lead-growing-city-s-tree-canopy or https://conta.cc/3tHzjFx

“Commentary: The search for a BPS superintendent: Are we headed to the edge of a cliff?” March 16, 2022https://conta.cc/3N1XiXm or https://www.dotnews.com/2022/commentary-search-bps-superintendent-are-we-headed-edge-cliff

“Doubling down on our call to end the school committee.” February 24, 2022 https://conta.cc/3slaqyy

“Appointed or Elected? Let’s just eliminate the school committee” February 14, 2022 https://conta.cc/3sG75ZVor https://www.dotnews.com/2022/commentary-let-s-place-our-schools-directly-under-mayor

“Dot’s health care leaders discuss what they learned dealing with Covid” February 3, 2022 https://www.dotnews.com/2022/dot-s-health-center-leaders-discuss-what-they-learned-dealing-covid

“Dot Ave needs a makeover. How about making it green?” January 20, 2022 https://www.dotnews.com/2022/let-s-first-plant-and-then-nurture-more-trees-along-dorchester-ave or https://conta.cc/3KChqOP

“Commentary: Dorchester’s meaningful ties to the South Africa of Mandela and Tutu” January 12, 2022 https://conta.cc/3GqwRXJ or https://www.dotnews.com/2022/plumbing-commentary-dorchester-s-meaningful-ties-south-africa-mandela

“Some lessons we have learned as we enter Year 3 of the Covid Pandemic” December 30, 2021 https://conta.cc/3qQFunN or https://www.dotnews.com/2021/some-lessons-we-have-learned-we-enter-year-3-covid-pandemic

“Commentary: What can be done to stop the drop in Boston’s school-age population?” December 9, 2021 https://www.dotnews.com/2021/commentary-what-can-be-done-halt-drop-boston-s-school-age-population or https://conta.cc/3lSXnAZ

“Recommendations for Mayor Michelle Wu” November 18, 2021 https://conta.cc/3x8SR5H

“Why are we allocating tens of millions to horse racing as our T stations decay?” November 4, 2021. https://conta.cc/3CS0pMe or https://www.dotnews.com/2021/why-are-we-allocating-tens-millions-horse-racing-our-t-stations-decay

“Vaccinations defeated smallpox, polio; together, we can make Covid next to go” Dorchester Reporter October 20, 2021 https://www.dotnews.com/2021/vaccinations-defeated-smallpox-polio-together-we-can-make-covid-next or https://conta.cc/3C6yzva

“What we can do about Boston’s election problem” Dorchester Reporter September 29, 2021 https://conta.cc/3B01Abq

“Charter reforms needed to boost turnout” Dorchester Reporter, September 23, 2021

https://conta.cc/3kxr8qz or https://www.dotnews.com/2021/commentary-if-our-city-changed-few-things-more-us-might-turn-out-polls

“Election is close. Get out and vote!” Dorchester Reporter September 9, 2021 https://conta.cc/3l7a6P5

“The more voters there are, the better for all of us” August 26, 2021

https://conta.cc/3ymdSsE or https://dotnews.com/2021/more-voters-there-are-better-all-us

“Questions for mayoral hopefuls on development” July 15, 2021 https://conta.cc/2UDSvoJ

“City should reclaim historic open space at Franklin Park” July 1, 2021

https://conta.cc/2TrZCjD or https://www.dotnews.com/2021/commentary-city-should-reclaim-historic-open-space-franklin-park

“Commentary: Candidates' direct answers to queries can carry the day” June 10, 2021

Dorchester Reporter https://www.dotnews.com/2021/commentary-candidates-direct-answers-queries-can-carry-day or https://conta.cc/3ghjtuk

“The Codman Square Story: Where ‘nonprofit innovation’ wins the day” June 3, 2021 Dorchester Reporter https://www.dotnews.com/2021/codman-square-story-where-nonprofit-innovation-wins-day or https://conta.cc/3fUcM16

“Commentary: How reading a book brings me back to my work on the Irish peace process” May 13, 2021 Dorchester Reporter https://www.dotnews.com/2021/commentary-how-reading-book-brings-me-back-my-work-irish-peace-process or https://conta.cc/3wgaSNO

“Let’s think trees as part of cleanup of the X-Way mess” April 22, 2021.

Dorchester Reporter https://conta.cc/3xkNQqr

“Insult to injury: State property in Dorchester littered with trash” April 15, 2021. Dorchester Reporter https://www.dotnews.com/2021/insult-injury-state-property-dorchester-littered-trash or https://conta.cc/3aiVWWv

“Commentary: It's a race to the finish line--don't let Covid catch you” March 31, 2021 https://conta.cc/31y6e0ror https://www.dotnews.com/2021/commentary-its-race-finish-line-dont-let-covid-catch-you

“Walczak: use federal funds to make Boston a hub of equity” March 24, 2021 https://conta.cc/3fbB3Qk

“A year later, what have we learned?” March 11, 2021 https://conta.cc/30CcJyx

“Derek Chauvin proves America is still hiring the exact wrong people to be cops” by Frank Figliuzzi, MSNBC Columnist, extensive quotes of “Reimagining the city’s police force: Begin with the hiring” column from June 18, 2020 https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/derek-chauvin-proves-america-still-hiring-exact-wrong-people-be-n1259960

“With Boston flush with new US money, how about setting up universal Pre-K?”

March 4, 2021 https://conta.cc/38fVbwB

A teacher’s mural and drawings enrich Dorchester February 18, 2021

https://conta.cc/3uqh9GG https://www.dotnews.com/2021/teachers-murals-and-drawings-enrich-epiphany-schools-campus

“Reading the Globe then (1981) and now shows how democracy has been curbed” February 11, 2021 https://conta.cc/3d725r7 https://www.dotnews.com/2021/reading-globe-then-1981-and-now-shows-how-democracy-has-been-curbed

“We need a plan to speed up vaccinations; the following is one approach to consider”

February 4, 2021 https://www.dotnews.com/2021/we-need-plan-speed-vaccinations-following-one-approach-consider

Interview on BNN: What’s needed to close gap on vaccinations January 28, 2021 https://youtu.be/QqSXZDG9Vok

Interview on WGBH on Covid vaccine problems January 27, 2021

https://www.wgbh.org/news/local-news/2021/01/27/we-have-to-make-sure-that-we-dont-miss-any-opportunities-to-get-that-vaccine-into-the-arms-of-people-local-community-health-leader-says

“We need to lead, not follow, on doing mass vaccinations” January 21, 2021

https://www.dotnews.com/2021/commentary-we-need-lead-not-follow-doing-mass-vaccinations

“In the Wake of Trumpian seditionists, our region can lead the nation by example” January 14, 2021 https://conta.cc/35OqEVj

“Remembering a Friend who Died of Covid” December 31, 2020

https://www.dotnews.com/2021/remembering-friend-who-died-covid

“On the Allure of People Singing Together” December 16, 2020

https://www.dotnews.com/2020/allure-people-singing-together

“Strolling down Dot Ave. and shopping the world”

December 3, 2020 with Meg Campbell

https://www.dotnews.com/2020/strolling-down-dot-ave-and-shopping-world

“Opinion: Let’s think more about parkways and bikes, and less about the dreams of the auto-centric” December 2, 2020 https://www.dotnews.com/2020/opinion-let-s-think-more-about-parkways-and-bikes-and-less-about

“Good News on COVID but we’re still on a highway – don’t take your seatbelts off yet”

November 18, 2020 https://www.dotnews.com/2020/commentary-good-news-covid-scene-were-still-highway-dont-take-your

“Thoughts about a still-divided America” November 11, 2020

https://www.dotnews.com/2020/thoughts-about-still-divided-america

“This is the Man who wants a second term?” October 29, 2020

https://www.dotnews.com/2020/man-who-wants-second-term

“Put this on your Boston bucket list: Stepping into The Ether Dome at MGH”

October 22, 2020

https://www.dotnews.com/2020/put-your-boston-bucket-list-stepping-ether-dome-mgh

“Our polarized country needs changes in the way our elections are conducted”

October 14, 2020 https://www.dotnews.com/2020/commentary-our-polarized-country-needs-changes-way-our-elections-are

“Why Ranked-Choice Voting Makes Sense” October 8, 2020

https://www.dotnews.com/2020/why-ranked-choice-voting-makes-sense

"Massachusetts must fill funding gap for low-income students"

Dorchester Reporter September 24, 2020 https://www.dotnews.com/2020/massachusetts-must-fill-funding-gap-low-income-students

"Rev. "Doc" Conway sounds an alarm"

Dorchester Reporter September 9, 2020

https://www.dotnews.com/2020/rev-doc-conway-sounds-alarm

"Call it What you Will, but single-payer health care is what we need"

Dorchester Reporter September 3, 2020 https://www.dotnews.com/2020/call-it-what-you-will-single-payer-health-care-what-we-need

"How a 1976 Dorchester Court program has helped to keep our parklands clean"

Dorchester Reporter August 27, 2020

https://www.dotnews.com/2020/how-1976-dorchester-court-program-has-helped-keep-our-parklands-clean

"Timely test results are critical to curbing viral spread"

Dorchester Reporter August 20, 2020

https://www.dotnews.com/2020/commentary-timely-test-results-are-critical-curbing-viral-spread

"Science opens a door for getting students back into schools"

Dorchester Reporter July 22, 2020

http://www.dotnews.com/2020/science-opens-door-getting-students-back-schools

“How to increase turnout in Boston elections: Eliminate our odd-numbered year balloting”

Dorchester Reporter July 16, 2020

https://www.dotnews.com/2020/how-increase-turnout-boston-elections-eliminate-our-odd-numbered-year

“Inaction on fireworks prompts many questions”

Dorchester Reporter July 9, 2020

https://www.dotnews.com/2020/letter-editor-explosives-create-war-zone-feel-neighborhood

“The virology podcast TWIV has become an essential source for COVID-19 news”

Dorchester Reporter July 2, 2020

https://www.dotnews.com/2020/virology-podcast-twiv-has-become-essential-source-covid-19-news

“Commentary: Hold on! Reopening doesn’t mean that coronavirus is gone”

Dorchester Reporter June 25, 2020

https://www.dotnews.com/2020/commentary-hold-reopening-doesn-t-mean-coronavirus-gone

“Reimagining the city’s police force: Begin with the hiring”

Dorchester Reporter June 18, 2020

https://www.dotnews.com/2020/reimagining-citys-police-force-begin-hiring

“The making of the people’s health center. Getting things done in Codman Square”

Dorchester Reporter June 4, 2020

https://www.dotnews.com/2020/making-people-s-health-center

“Strong action needed now to avert more educational woes across state”

Dorchester Reporter May 28, 2020

https://www.dotnews.com/2020/opinion-strong-action-needed-now-avert-more-educational-woes-across

“Is keeping seniors locked in the best that society can do?”

Dorchester Reporter May 21, 2020

https://www.dotnews.com/2020/keeping-seniors-locked-down-best-we-can-do

“Boomers being left out? Readers offer their views”

Dorchester Reporter May 14, 2020

https://www.dotnews.com/2020/commentary-boomers-being-left-out-readers-offer-their-views

“Commentary: ‘Boomers’ need to flex their electoral muscles”

Dorchester Reporter May 7, 2020

https://www.dotnews.com/2020/commentary-boomers-need-flex-their-electoral-muscles

“Some hopeful signs from the battlefield” Dorchester Reporter April 30, 2020

https://www.dotnews.com/2020/commentary-some-hopeful-signs-battlefield

“It’s time to mandate masks, face covering in public spaces” Dorchester Reporter

April 23, 2020 https://www.dotnews.com/2020/commentary-time-mandate-face-coverings-boston-and-across-state

“State begins to wrestle with serious budgetary matters”

Dorchester Reporter April 16, 2020

https://www.dotnews.com/2020/state-begins-wrestle-serious-budgetary-matters

“Fast-moving crisis, fast-moving changes, and a plate full of what we’re still facing”

Dorchester Reporter April 9, 2020

https://www.dotnews.com/2020/fast-moving-crisis-fast-moving-changes-and-plate-full-what-we-re-still

“Wearing Masks Must Be a National Policy”

New York Times April 2, 2020

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/02/opinion/coronavirus-masks.html?smid=em-share

“Observations about a catastrophic month”

Dorchester Reporter April 2, 2020

https://www.dotnews.com/2020/commentary-observations-catastrophic-month

“Health Centers make urgent request for state support”

Dorchester Reporter March 26, 2020

https://www.dotnews.com/2020/health-centers-make-urgent-request-state-support

“The next two weeks will tell if we’re ready: We’re gonna need a bigger boat”

Dorchester Reporter March 19, 2020

https://www.dotnews.com/files/REP%2012-20web.pdf

“Walczak: “Social distancing” is critical right now, not later on”

Dorchester Reporter March 15, 2020

https://www.dotnews.com/2020/walczak-social-distancing-critical-right-now-not-later

Interview on BNN by Chris Lovett “What’s missing in response to Covid 19” March 12, 2020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VllymXoI4D4&authuser=0

“The goal for now: Slow down the infection rate” Dorchester Reporter March 12, 2020

https://www.dotnews.com/2020/goal-now-slow-down-infection-rate

“Charitable tax deductions will hurt the Commonwealth’s bottom line”

Dorchester Reporter March 5, 2020

https://www.dotnews.com/2020/comment-charitable-tax-deductions-will-hurt-commonwealths-bottom-line

Other

Bound by their Boston neighborhood. January 31, 2020

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/31/fashion/weddings/Bill-Walczak-Meg-Campbell-married-Boston-Dorchester.html?referringSource=articleShare

TED talk “Unlearning & Expanding our Definition of Health”

January, 2020

https://www.ted.com/talks/bill_walczak_unlearning_expanding_our_definition_of_health_may_2020?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare

TED talk “Codman Square” July, 2010

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBgMh0LBzj0