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Waterfront restaurant Boston hoped for might not happen

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The protracted legal saga to open a restaurant at the end of Long Wharf centered on dueling maps from the 1980s.David L. Ryan/Globe Staff

A longstanding proposal to open a restaurant at the tip of Boston's Long Wharf was dealt another — and possibly decisive — setback last week when a federal appeals court ruled against the plan, which the Boston Redevelopment Authority had backed for eight years.

The BRA, the city's planning and economic development agency, had hoped the restaurant, boasting a spectacular harbor view, would attract more people to the waterfront. But a group of North End neighbors objected, saying the recreational area should be off limits to development.

The protracted legal saga has centered on dueling maps from the 1980s. The BRA relied on a map that seemed to allow private development on the property, while neighbors found an earlier map that showed it was protected space.

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Sanjoy Mahajan, a former neighbor who helped lead the legal fight, said it was time for the city to give up the fight over what he called "one of the most historic and scenic places in all Boston."

"We hope that the BRA, having spent over half a million dollars in legal fees trying to turn this public park into a late-night restaurant and bar, will now spend our money on Long Wharf Park itself," he said.

The BRA declined to comment.


Sean P. Murphy can be reached at smurphy@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @spmurphyboston.