Sober House Developer To Meet With Residents On Tuesday

Developer Stephen Sheldon isn't giving up his effort to open a house for sober living at 49 Hawthorne Street in New Bedford.

Neighbors and members of the City Council are strongly opposed to the proposal, and the city's Building Department has ordered Sheldon to "cease and desist" saying his plan violates zoning in that neighborhood.

Still, Sheldon is planning to meet with residents Tuesday night in the Ashley Room at City Hall, and he's hoping members of the City Council will show up as well. "i'm hoping that any or all of the City Councilors will come to the meetings and listen to what I have to say, and ask questions in a less hostile environment," said Sheldon.

Before the meeting, Sheldon will show a documentary in the Downtown Library at 5pm. It's entitled "The Faces of Addiction."

Sheldon says the film shows that people in long term recovery are just like anyone else.