Imagining South Boston The Way It Should Be

Join your fellow South Boston neighbors for a creative evening of imagination exploring how you would like to see South Boston in 2030.

Imagine Boston 2030 is Boston’s first citywide plan in 50 years.  Under the leadership of Mayor Walsh, this multi-year initiative will engage the public in creating framework to guide the preservation, enhancement, and responsible growth of our city between now and 2030.

GET INVOLVED IN THE PLANNING PROCESS!!!  We want to hear from you.  

Wednesday, April 13th, 6:30 p.m.

Mass Bay Credit Union – 147 West 4th Street

(parking available)

We hope to see you there!!

Andrew Square Civic Association
City Point Neighborhood Association
Cityside Neighborhood Association
Dorchester Heights Association
Fort Point Neighborhood Association
St. Vincent’s Lower End Neighborhood Association
West Broadway Neighborhood Association

originally posted 4.1.16

Dot Avenue Corridor Plan: Placemaking & Mobility Workshop

Join the Boston Redevelopment Authority on Wednesday, January 27, 2016 from 5:30 - 6:00 PM for networking and an open house on the Dorchester Avenue Corridor Plan. Then from 6:00 - 8:00 PM participate in a Placemaking and Mobility workshop, which will focus on the future character of the study area and various components of the emerging plan. The meeting will take place at the Mass Bay Credit Union located at 147 West Fourth St in South Boston. This is the sixth workshop of the Dorchester Avenue Corridor planning process. More details on the Dot Ave Corridor Plan.

Dot Avenue Corridor Plan: Design Workshop

Join the Boston Redevelopment Authority on:

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

5:30–6:00 PM: Open House and Networking

6:00–8:00 PM: Design workshop

195 Old Colony Rd

The workshop will focus on the future character, density and open space within the study area.

This workshop is the fifth and final workshop in this phase of public planning meetings for the Dorchester Avenue corridor in South Boston.

A Dot Ave. Design Recap Session & Dialogue will be held on Monday, December 14th at 6PM at the same meeting location. There will be also be a conversation about the elements and components of a draft plan.

More details on the Dot Ave Corridor Plan.

originally posted 11.10.15

Imagine Boston 2030 Drop-In Open House

Mayor Walsh invites you to imagine the future of Boston!

Monday, November 16

4:00 – 7:00 pm: drop in anytime

Bruce C. Bolling Municipal Building

2300 Washington Street, Dudley Square

Across from Dudley Square Station on the Silver Line

Register for this free event

Imagine Boston 2030 is the first citywide plan in 50 years. The public is invited to give input to help define a vision for the future of Boston, and guide the preservation, enhancement, and growth of our city’s neighborhoods.

Fort Point & Boston Seaport Neighborhood Forum Recap

The neighborhood forum of Boston’s historic Fort Point and the Seaport District at the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) on October 22, 2015 focused on the arts, culture and planning. The event was organized by Mayor Walsh’s administration in partnership with the Fort Point Arts Community, the Institute of Contemporary Art and the Urban Culture Institute. View slideshow.

ICA Executive Director Jill Medvedow welcomed the speakers and attendees. The eighty year Institute of Contemporary Art moved to the waterfront in 2006. 

Jen Mecca, Chair of the Board of Directors introduced the Fort Point Arts Community (FPAC). Founded in 1980, FPAC has developed three artist live/work buildings in Fort Point and hosts two open studio weekends every year in the spring and the fall. 

Christina Lanzl, co-founder of the Urban Culture Institute, gave an overview of her 20-year history in Fort Point and highlighted current projects in partnership with the City of Boston, the MBTA and FPAC. 

City of Boston presenters were Julie Burros, Chief of Arts and Culture, John Fitzgerald, Deputy Director of Imagine Boston 2030, and Rich McGuinness, Deputy Director of Waterfront Planning.  

Richard McGuinness shared his current work on the downtown waterfront and his insights on the series of planning projects he completed for the Boston Redevelopment Authority in Fort Point and the Seaport from 2000 to 2015. He concluded his remarks with lessons learned and inspirations drawn from a recently completed research trip to Seattle. 

Julie Burros gave an update on the ongoing Boston Creates city-wide cultural plan, which is expected to build a shared vision for arts and culture for the first time in the city's history. Of note are her plans to update the BRA's Artist Certification program and to increase the number of artist housing units. To bolster the capacity of the office of Arts and Culture, a new planner has been added to the team in October 2015.

​John Fitzgerald introduced the recently launched municipal urban design plan Imagine Boston 2030. The City's last master plan was completed 50 years ago. A robust community participation process is part of this initiative, similar to the cultural plan process.

Full summary at the Urban Culture Institute.

Dot Avenue Corridor Plan: Streets & Blocks Workshop

Update: Next meeting dates are November 17, Tuesday 6 pm - 8 pm "Draw with Us" Workshop and December 14, Monday 6 pm - 8 pm "What we Heard" - Recap Session.

In a follow up to October 1st's Dorchester Avenue Corridor Plan Visioning Workshop, the Boston Redevelopment Authority is holding a Streets & Blocks Workshop on:

Monday, October 26, 2015

6 pm - 8 pm

Iron Workers Local 7

195 Old Colony Road

The community is invited to come together to begin creating planning scenarios that will include new streets and blocks, and future land uses in the study area.

This is the fourth in the series of Dot Ave Corridor Plan public events, which have included a Visioning Workshop, a Walk & Bike Tour and the Open House launch. 

originally posted 10.20.15, updated 10.26.15

Dorchester Ave. Visioning Workshop

The Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) invites you to attend a visioning workshop to prioritize feedback received from the Walk/Bike Tour and Open House, and to begin shaping a vision statement for the plan on: 

Thursday, October 1

6:00 pm

Iron Workers Local 7, 195 Old Colony Ave

orginally published 9.23.15

Walk or Bike Dorchester Ave With The BRA

UPDATE: Due to Thursday's rain forecast, tour will be Monday, September 14th at 5:30 pm.

Grab your walking shoes or bike and join Boston Redevelopment Authority staff for a tour of the Dorchester Avenue study area to continue the dialogue about priority items that the Dorchester Avenue Corridor project plan can address. 

Both tours will leave from the parking lot at 195 Old Colony Avenue at 5:30 PM on September 10th. Participants should register for one: either the walking tour or the bicycle tour. Register now.

Please check the project website for updates on weather-related cancellations.Rain date will be September 14th, 2015 at 5:30 PM, departing from 195 Old Colony Avenue.

What to learn more about the Dorchester Avenue Corridor project? Read this related article.

South Boston - Dorchester Avenue Corridor Open House

Update: Open House notes available here. 

The BRA is launching a process to create a new vision and plan for the Dorchester Avenue corridor area in South Boston. Residents, property owners, business owners, community and civic groups are invited to this open house event to learn more about the study, the area, and how to get involved.

July 30, 2015

5pm - 8pm

Iron Workers Local 7 Building

195 Old Colony Avenue

In South Boston, the Dorchester Avenue corridor from Andrew Square to Broadway Station is undergoing a shift away from traditional manufacturing and industrial uses, as demand for residential and mixed-use development increases. Situated between two major Red Line stations and bus hubs, the corridor is ripe for transit-oriented development. The goal of the South Boston study will be to create new zoning that aligns the aspirations of the community with predictable development conditions.

Dorchester Avenue’s underutilized light industrial buildings will be the primary focus. The BRA will look to residents for ideas on how such properties could be transformed to contribute more positively to the corridor in the future. The study will suggest strategies for improving access to retail and developing affordable housing to meet the needs of local families, in addition to public realm improvements, traffic mitigation, and other economic development opportunities.

The Dorchester Avenue study area encompasses a portion of South Boston’s largest residential zoning district. The so-called H-1-50 zone, which touches Andrew Square, will be analyzed in hopes of updating antiquated zoning to allow for reasonable increases in density that would accommodate population growth. 

Based on resounding feedback from neighborhood residents and South Boston’s elected officials, Mayor Walsh has asked the BRA to work with the community so that any new zoning recommendations maintain the character of this residential district and place a renewed emphasis on architectural continuity.

originally posted 7.16.15