Menino's Manifest Destiny?

This sounds like a story from a much earlier time - but Boston might annex land from Dedham.

Dedham wants to shed 40 acres that a developer wants to make into a residential property because "the town can't afford to educate the children who might move in." Wow, that's sad. Beyond the high price of schooling, Dedham notes that the best way to get to that area of town is through Boston, so it may as well be a part of Boston.

The development is massive - 1,850 units according to the official website for the project, which is named Neponset Village.

The Daily News Transcript reported back on June 21 that the land is "half of the former Stop & Shop warehouse property." Mayor Menino would like to use that land for affordable housing.

But the really big winner in the annexation would be the developer, Campanelli Companies. The Globe covered the annexation back in April. According to the story, the developer approached Dedham about giving the land to Boston, and a partner of the company said himself that Dedham couldn't provide services to the area. But can Boston pull it off? And will that housing stay affordable when all is said and done?

An FAQ on the Neponset Village website that says Campanelli conducted a study saying that the annexation would be best for Boston and Dedham. But that's looking at the project through the developer's eyes, and we're hoping that Boston and Dedham keep the interests of the people who will eventually live there in mind.

Image of the land in question from the Neponset Village site.