Neighbors raise safety, parking and property-value concerns after proposal to convert 8 Butler St. to sober recovery home

Attorney Andrew Tine and property partners presented to the Town of Blackstone Board of Selectmen on Oct. 11 about plans to convert the former 33-bed nursing home at 8 Butler Street into a sober recovery residence.

"They have it under contract. Their intention is to convert this former nursing home ... and their intention is to use it for a sober recovery facility," attorney Andrew Tine told the selectmen, describing the planned use for people transitioning from higher levels of care.

The presenters said the operator plans a long-term residence model with structured rules, intake screening, drug testing and daily or frequent meetings. David Estes, who said he manages other sober homes, described intake and on-site procedures: "If someone comes in and they have [alcohol] on their breath, the procedure is, you know, I'll usually watch them for the night, let them stand on the couch for the night ... if it's a major infraction ... someone might go straight to detox." The applicants said the facility would not provide medical treatment on site but would arrange medical care and that a nurse would visit daily to administer controlled prescriptions.

Why it matters: the applicants asked the town to consider a…