Interest from developers leads Boston to launch two neighborhood ‘planning studies’
The neighborhoods are primed to be “transit-oriented’’ hubs for middle-income housing, according to the Boston Redevelopment Authority and Mayor Marty Walsh.
The Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) will look into zoning laws in two areas that Mayor Marty Walsh’s administration believes are “prime locations to support new middle-income housing’’ and other redevelopment, according to an announcement today.
This summer the BRA will conduct planning studies in two “transit-oriented’’ areas that Mayor Walsh has been talking about since at least December: Washington Street and Columbus Avenue in Jamaica Plain and Roxbury and Dorchester Avenue in South Boston.
“It’s clear that developers have taken a serious interest in both of these areas, and we should use that as an opportunity to put together a comprehensive vision to guide development in the future,’’ Mayor Walsh said in a statement. “We have an undeniable need for more affordable housing in the City of Boston. We know these areas have the potential to accommodate new housing, but we want to work with residents to see what else we can do to strengthen their neighborhoods.’’
The BRA notes a host of development proposals are already under review in each area, but the city wants to meet with other community stakeholders before moving forward. The city says public meetings will start in late July.
According to the BRA, these two development studies are the first two “instances of more targeted planning efforts to update the zoning code for areas experiencing significant development pressures’’ as a part of Mayor Walsh’s Imagine Boston 2030 initiative, which has the goal of improving Boston’s transportation.
“Transit-oriented developments are growing in popularity because they provide conveniences that aren’t possible when one has to rely on a car to get around,’’ BRA Director Brian Golden said in a statement.
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