devious_cruising t1_j4legid wrote on January 16, 2023 at 3:27 PM

Was it a house with crazy murals all over the fence? Corner of Brookline and Franklin? He is well known.

SpyCats t1_j4llif3 wrote on January 16, 2023 at 4:14 PM

I think it's across the street. Peter Valentine lived at 37 Brookline (the purple fence house) but he passed away in August.

devious_cruising t1_j4lnt4n wrote on January 16, 2023 at 4:29 PM

Really? In August? I knew Peter, but not that well.

SpyCats t1_j4lqxgj wrote on January 16, 2023 at 4:49 PM

Yeah, I think it was pretty sudden. Happened on the last night of an awful 5-day heat wave.

devious_cruising t1_j4lsero wrote on January 16, 2023 at 4:58 PM

Sad. You know the story about the house? AFAIK, Peter was squatting in that house when it was located on Blanche Street, and when MIT decided to develop the area he won a court settlement in which MIT moved the house to its current location. I don't know if Peter owned the house, or was allowed to live there and MIT maybe owns the land and building.

SpyCats t1_j4ltb9k wrote on January 16, 2023 at 5:04 PM

I know the story well! Now the big question is what will happen to the house now that he's gone. Apparently he did end up owning the property and family is preparing to sell it. There was a petition going around last month about turning it into an arts center.