White Stadium plans grab early mayoral race spotlight

Neighborhood advocates and mayoral candidate Josh Kraft gathered at Franklin Park Wednesday and called for the city to pause demolition work at White Stadium.

Neighbors and residents affiliated with the Franklin Park Defenders group urged the city to halt any additional redevelopment until the start of a trial concerning the stadium. The city has entered into a partnership with Boston's nascent professional women's soccer team to split the cost of renovating the stadium. In return, the team will play its home games have dedicated practice time at White Stadium.

Boston's share of the renovation will cost more than $90 million, according to city figures.

Opponents say crews began cutting down trees near the stadium late last week, and workers on Wednesday were visibly dismantling the damaged east grandstand.

Residents and the Emerald Necklace Conservancy filed a lawsuit last month alleging the stadium plan runs afoul of state law because it lacked sufficient legislative review for transfer of public land to private use, and a trial is set to begin March 18.

"We need to save this. We need to save the trees that are here. We need to save the stadium that we could still renovate. If this comes down, we are left with a hole in the ground and tree stumps. Why do we need that?" said Melissa Hamel, a member of the Franklin Park Defenders group fighting the project.

Kraft, who is challenging Mayor Michelle Wu in this year's election, joined opponents at the Wednesday press conference and said he believes the city should wait to see the outcome of the trial before proceeding.

He said if elected, he would try to rehab White Stadium for a fraction of the cost, referencing an earlier proposal by the city to spend $30 million in taxpayer money but still have private entities match the total price.

Wu and her administration have regularly pushed back against opponents, defending the project as a way to upgrade the run-down stadium for public and school use while helping to anchor a National Women's Soccer League team in Boston.

The city published a lengthy document online rebutting what officials called "false claims" about the project, its price tag and the associated process.

WBUR fellow Rachell Sanchez-Smith contributed to this report.