Church Wants Developer to Pay $19M Over Shadows

A historic Boston church is asking a developer to pay $19 million to compensate for shadows cast by a proposed tower, per the AP. Old South Church claims the proposed Back Bay Station project will cast shadows on the 142-year-old church that will cause moisture damage and darken stained-glass windows, reports the Boston Globe. Church officials say $4 million of the payment will go toward repairs of the church, while the remainder will fund an affordable-home program.

"Old South Church is prepared to trade what we will lose in aesthetics for $15 million in justice and kindness," says the church's senior minister. Project developer Boston Properties says the request is unreasonable. The company says it's unlikely the projected shadows would cause significant damage to the church. Boston Properties plans to build three office and apartment towers on top of the train depot. (More Boston stories.)