By George P. Hassett

Developer Stephen Smith estimates he has organized at least 20 community meetings over the last five years to learn what neighbors think of his plan to develop the old Max Pak paper factory site to luxury condo buildings. As a result of the meetings traffic plans have been redesigned and the number of units slated to be built have been cut in half.

“We welcomed the input,” Smith said. “And it is a stronger development because of the neighbors.”

Sandra Resnick, who lives across the street from the development, said her child has grown up at the meetings.

‚ÄúThere has been a lot of pushing from the neighborhood and [Smith] has been responsive. We’ve been able to bang our heads together and come up with something that works all around.‚Äù

And judging from the support the project has from the neighborhood, the meetings have been fruitful. At a Planning Board meeting last week abutters of the property expressed concern over the traffic and rapid change the project may bring to the neighborhood, but none spoke against it.

‚ÄúI’m exuberantly in favor of this,‚Äù said Tim Brochu who moved to Hinckley Street one year ago and soon heard about the development. ‚ÄúThe problems people once had with the project seem to be dwindling down over time.‚Äù

Since 1982 when Resnick first moved to the area, she said three developers have tried to build on the site. Unlike KSS, those developers were unwilling to compromise or listen to neighbors, she said.

‚ÄúThey’d say, ‘This is what we’re going to do’ and we would say, ‘No you’re not’ and they would say, ‘Yes we are.’ There was no negotiation or discussion and that is why nothing got built,‚Äù she said.

Smith and KSS Realty bought the five-acre plot of land five years ago for $5 million. He said they have spent $1 million cleaning up contaminated soil at the site. At the Planning Board meeting on Thursday, Smith said about one-third of the 199 units would be two bedroom condos and two-thirds would be one bedroom. He said the units would be marketed to young professionals for around $400,000.

KSS will build a new road into and out of the property and provide access to the community path and Green Line stop on Lowell Street when it is completed.

Ward 5 Alderman Sean O’Donovan was involved in negotiating the covenant between KSS and the neighborhood. He recused himself from those discussions after he bought a home at 30 Warwick Street which abuts the development. At Thursday’s Planning Board meeting he spoke in favor of the project but voiced some reservations.

“I have some concerns with the parking situation. With the number of units planned, the parking situation may be tight,” he said.

Resnick said the development will forever change the neighborhood known as “the Patch” made up of Clyde, Murdock, Warwick and Cedar streets. Once a close knit area of Italian-American families, the identity of “the Patch” could now be swallowed up by rapid gentrification.

“Our quiet little neighborhood is about to move in another direction,” Resnick said.