Boston 400 update

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by  Boston 400

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iasM.Menino,CityofBoston Summer1999
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Community partner!s adopt Boston 400
AsBoston400heldanotherroundofpublicmeet- Inthefallof1999,Boston400willtakeitsmore
ingsanddistributedinformationaboutitslongterm detailedagendatoeachofthecity’sneighborhoods
planningagenda,theCityworkedtodeveloppart- formorediscussionandinput.
nershipswithcommunity-basedgroups. “It’simportantforCityHalltodevelopacompre-
CommunitypartnerswillworkwiththeBoston hensiveagenda,butit’salsoimportantthatitbe-
RedevelopmentAuthority,whichiscoordinatingthe ginswithpeoplealloverthecity,andthattheytake
planningeffort,todevelopanimplementationstrat- ownershipoftheagenda,”saidLindaM.Haar,Di-
egyfortheBoston400planningagenda. rectorofPlanningfortheBRA.“Thecommunityhas
TheBRAexpectstoreleaseitsfinalreportinearly alreadytoldus,inmanydifferentways,thatthey
2000.Thereportwilldetailalongtermplanning supportthesegoals.NowtheCityisgoingtojoin
agendaandimplementationstrategies.Thereport forceswithourpartnerstomakethegoalsareality.
willalsocontainmaps,graphics,anddatathatwill Withthiscombination,wewillmakeithappen.”
beauseful“toolkit”forBostoniansastheyplan MayorThomasM.MeninoannouncedtheBoston
theirfuture. 400initiativein1997.Boston400hasheldcloseto
Thelatestrosterofcommunitypartnersappears 200publicmeetingsintheneighborhoodstodiscuss
onpage2ofthisBoston400Update. planningprioritiesintheyearsleadingtoBoston’s
Eachofthecommunitypartnersrepresentsa 400thanniversaryin2030.
broadconstituencywithstrongcommunityroots. Oncecompleted,thereportwillbeavailableatall
ThepartnerswillworkwithBoston400duringthe oftheCity’spubliclibraries,andelectronicversions
summertoassurethatthedocumentisacompre- willbeproducedfortheInternetandaCD-ROM.
hensivesummaryofthe
City’splanningpriorities
forthenextgeneration.
“'Boston400bringsto-
getheralltheissueswe
face—inthenextgenera-
tion openspaces,
neighborhoodrevitaliza-
tion,transportation,and
traffic,”saidThomasN.
O’Brien,Directorofthe
BRA.“Andtheagenda
camefromthepeople—
whomatterthemost
thepeopleintheneigh-
borhoods.”
Boston400recruited
thecommunitypartners
toke—epthegrassrootsfo-
cus andalsotoinvolve
citywidegroupswitha
lcaornrgytienrgmocuotmcmoimtmmuennittyto ABostonianfishesoffofColumbiaPoint,withthelandmarkgas
priorities. tankandtheBlueHillsinthebackground.
Our community partners
Listedbelowarecitywide,grassrootsorganizationsthathaveagreedtoworkwiththeCity
toensurethatthecontentoftheBoston400finalreportreflectstheprioritiesidentifiedin
itscommunityplanningprocess.
Bostonisacityofneighborhoods
Datingfromtheirseparatehistoriesasindependenttowns,Boston’sneighborhoodshavealwaysdefined
thecharacterofthecity.Boston400initiativesreinforcetheneighborhoodsasthefundamentalbuilding
blocksofBoston’sfuture.
Walkablecharmbracelets:BostonGreenSpaceAllianceandWalkBoston
Transit-orientedurbanvillages:MetropolitanAreaPlanningCouncilandConservationLawFoundation
Affordablehousingforall:Citizens'HousingandPlanningAssociation
Gatewaystothecity:NationalTrustforHistoricPreservation
Bostonisavitalnaturalenvironment
Boston'svitalitybeginswiththeprotectionandenhancementofitspricelessnaturalassets,including
parks,waterways,andinnumerablepublicandprivateplacesthatsustainusall.Boston400initiativesad-
dressthesegoals:
Communitiesconnectedbywater:SavetheHarbor/SavetheBay,TheWatershedInstitute,CharlesRiverWatershed
Association,ChelseaCreekActionGroup,MuddyRiverActionGroup,MysticRiverWatershedAssociation,andNeponset
RiverWatershedAssociation
ParksforBoston’scommonwealth:BostonGreenSpaceAlliance
InvestingInournaturalenvironment:BostonGreenSpaceAlliance
Playingfieldsforthenextgeneration:TheCenterfortheStudyofSportandSocietyatNortheasternUniversity
Protectionandmanagementofnaturalspaces:BostonGreenSpaceAlliance
Bostonisaculturalandlearningcenter
FromtheBostonPublicLibraryinCopleySquaretoCampMeigsinHydePark,Bostonprovidesunparal-
leledcivic,cultural,andhistoricspacesineveryneighborhoodofthecity.Boston400initiativesreinforce
theseassets:
Schoolsforthenextcentury:BostonSocietyofArchitects
ArtInpublicplaces:UrbanArts,Inc.
Historicpreservationforcommunitydevelopment:BostonPreservationAlliance
FindingyourwayInthecity:WalkBoston
PerformancespacesIntheneighborhoods:BostonYouthTheaterNetwork
BostonistheeconomichubofNewEngland
Bostonservesmarketsfarbeyondthecitylimits,astheunofficialcapitalofNewEnglandandamajorAt-
lanticportaltoEuropeandLatinAmerica.Boston400initiativesseektoimproveBoston’spositionasthe
centerofregionaltransportationandemployment:
HuboftheHub:BostonSocietyofArchitects
Anewgenerationoftransit:MoveMassachusetts2000
Designsfordevelopment:BostonSocietyofArchitects
FuelingBoston’seconomicengine:GreaterBostonChamberofCommerceandMetropolitanAreaPlanningCouncil
Regionaltrafficdesigntoprotectcommunities:MetropolitanAreaPlanningCouncil
PAGE2 B0ST0N400
Spring meetings find agreement on basic goals
InaseriesofmeetingsattheBostonPublicLibrary dentialareas,parks,culturalspaces,andbusinessdis-
andBostonPoliceHeadquarterslastspring,residents tricts.
andothersexpressedstrongsupportforthepriorities • Improvedplanmngaroundtransitstations.Boston
outlinedintheBoston400agenda. shouldreclaimitspositionasthenation’spremiercity
Atthemeetings,Boston400explainedthe—initiatives fortransit-centeredneighborhoods.Oncetransitnodes
thatfallundertheplan’sfourmajorthemes Boston providebetterconnectionstoresidentsandbusinesses,
asacityofneighborhoods,vitalnaturalenvironment, peoplemightnotneedtorelyasextensivelyoncar
economicandtransportationhub,andculturaland transportation.
learningcenter. • FullaccesstotheBostonHarbor.Manyresidents
Residentsexpressedconcernsaboutanumberofis- ofBoston’sneighborhoodsareisolatedfromBoston
sues,suchas: Harborandneedmoreextensiveandreliabletransit.
• Theneedforacitywidebicyclenetwork.Boston • Improvingtheaestheticappearanceoftheneigh-
hasagreatopportunityoverthenextgenerationto borhoods.Allneighborhoodsshouldofferattractiveand
buildamodelsystemthatprovidescommutingalterna- comfortablespacesforresidentsandvisitorsalike.
tiv•esPraostweecltlinagsrreescirdeeanttisonfarloompbpeoritnugnpirtiiecse.doutoftheir sy•stIemm.prBoevgiinngnitnhegewxittehntthoefUBrobstaonnRsmtgran—spaorptraotjieocnt
neighborhoods.TheCityneedstoadoptpoliciesthat thatwouldsupplem—entBoston’sradialsystemwithcir-
offerafullrangeofhousingchoicesforallhousehold cumferentiallinks theCityneedstolobbyforbetter
typesallacrossthecity.Buildingnewhousmgtofill transitaccesstoallneighborhoods.
twihlelghaeplspotfotahdedrheosusstmhgesduipsppllyacienmaelnltntehiagthbroesruhlotosdfsrom gi•onPalrottreafcftiicn.gTnheeigquhabloirthyooofdsliffermomBtohsetoinm’psacctosmmoufnrei--
gentrification. tiesmustbeprotectedbysteeringtrafficawayfrom
• Walkingmustbeatthecenterpieceofallplanning. pedestrianareas.
ImprovingthepedestrianatmosphereofDowntown Boston400willincludealloftheseideasinthefinal
andtheneighborhoodsisessentialtoenhancingresi- documentdueoutatthebeginningof2000.
Other planning initiatives complement Boston 400
AsBoston400identifiesa ductingamajorstudyofactiv-
longtermagendaforthecity’s itycentersaroundthecity.In
nextgeneration,theBoston concertwiththeMBTAand
RedevelopmentAuthorityhas theCity'sTransportationDe-
undertakenanumberofother partment,morethan50activ-
planningprocesses. itycenterswillbeevaluated
Thelatestundertakingis fortheirpotentialtoserveas
theRoxburyMasterPlan.The nodesforastrongercommu-
communityandtheBRAare nitylife.Theinitiativewillde-
evaluatingproposalsfromcon- viseeffortstoenhanceland
sultantswhowillworktode- use,urbandesign,andpublic
velopacomprehensivecom- Fenway’sMothersRestwasrecently transitattheactivitycenters.
munitydevelopmentplanin renovatedbytheParksDepartment. InMay,theBRAreleased
Roxbury.Theplanwillinte- thefirstdraftofitsEast
grateland-useandtransportationplanning. BostonMasterPlan.TheEastBostonplancontainsini-
IntheearlystagesoftheBoston400communitypro- tiativestorevivethewaterfrontfromChelseaCreekto
cess,RoxburyresidentsaskedtheBRAtoconducta BostonHarbor,fosterauniquenetworkofnatural
separateplanningprocess.TheBRAhasbeenworking spacesandhistoricresources,andstrengthenbusiness
withtheRoxburyNeighborhoodCouncilandothersto districtsandqualityoflife.
outlinethescopeofthisplantobegininSeptember. OtherCitydepartmentsarealsoworkingonlong-
TheBRAhasalsobegunacommunityplanningpro- termplanningprojects. TheBostonTransportation
cessintheFenway.Workingwithcommunityorgani- Departmentwillsoonseekpublicinputforitscitywide
zations,theBRAwillcreateaninterimplanningover- transportationstudy,andtheBostonParksandRecre-
laydistrict(IPOD)tocoordinatedevelopmenteffortsin ationDepartment,whichhasbeenapartnerwiththe
theneighborhood. BRAonfocusingonthenaturalenviornment,iswork-
AspartoftheBoston400process,theBRAiscon- ingonitsfive-yearplan.
SUMMER1999 PAGE3
BQST0N400
BostonRedevelopmentAuthority
OneCityHallSquare
Boston,Massachusetts02201
GovernmentDocuments
BostonPublicLibrary
700BoylstonStreet
BostonMA02117
Quote Unquote
/
“ThisisagreattimeforBoston. Alloverthecity,peopleareworkingtomaketheirneighborhoodsexciting
artisticallyandculturally,aswellasvibranteconomically. Museumshum,communitytheater,musicand
dancegroupsplaytomoreaudiences,andpark,waterfrontandneighborhoodgroupsareconsideringhow
toenhancetheartisticappealofcitystreetsan—dnaturalspaces. AstheOfficeofCulturalAffairsbeginsits
palnadntnhiengrepsriodceenstsstoofdBeovsetloonp—acouulrtugroaallaigsennodtahingwloersksitnhgawniathciCtiyttyhagtoviesranrmtiesntti,caltlhyeacluilvteuwrahlerceovmemrunyoiutygo.’
—
EstherKaplan,SpecialAdvisortotheMayoronCulturalAffairs
WhatareyourthoughtsaboutBoston’schallengesforthenextgeneration'? Sendusbriefstatementsabout
yourhopesandprioritiesformakingBostonabetterplacetoliveandworkforinclusioninourfinalreport.
Contact Us
Pleasecontactuswithquestionsorcomments. mail: Boston400
BostonRedevelopmentAuthority
LindaMongelliHaar,DirectorofPlanningandBoston400 OneCityHallSquare
CharlesC.Euchner,ProjectManager,Boston400 Boston,MA02201
LynnC.D.Berkley,Planner email: [email protected]
ErikS.Balsley,Cartographer phone: [phone]
JGeefafureaynnD.eTMu.bHbislla,nAddmAilniissotnrRa.tiWvaetkAisnssi,stIanntterns fwaex:bsite:6w1w7w-.36c7i-t6yo0f8b7oston.com/boston400
30-2030
DSION
MayorThomasM.Menino,CityofBoston
FourThemes Set Outlines of Long-Range Planning
dmmahBiseuoasBTebskcaootteusioocstfinnisotmBgiNynpos4oerso0ntotf4w0h—vo0inensE0weinsiologaplwgrnlirhgliaavlbanBnisongodbkpri.sr,rzhateoronoaedoptnnsdo’disscasdi,eceatfcynaootc1u—rus1vrldittiamuamnnilroangadsjnltotaaootartuinsthrmdiehaepnrelrioiltsrfeeeitosaantuatrvorinnoivtifqercnsuooqgcannulfoamtciolmieetriminnnteuuttipse,neeusbritlttht——ihhaycete fadpriailennsbDpaCfdtronoeorirnircnsitcminnitoancsegtftgeoctnifntfoaostbrininieenfvdtiagoerprbarscncuootsuobfuimhmolrttermmibuuastganhCnnhoniiedieottdtslydirieyefitesvhua.diie.rnnserEibdvtsaayeitrenalaIaetotbriadslpv,seiemsssPwetihieong—lotlnacp..rnplnedrCeaeort,ieveegnitafhdahtobeeerfocwrrnBeihaeodomseswoet-tdwarooonanvmrdneaakgr4prilf0dsnaos0,ygr
pblo“arnOhnuoirondgcsowmaomcrrukonsibsteytghuemneceiinttyimniongrs1e9p9tr7hoavanindd1e5d109u9ms8e.weittihngaswienalnetihgho-f sctiat“tyTiwshtieidcesp,ocironentsvoeourfrscaBetosis,otnoannadb4oo0ut0therhwahisenrfaoerlmwwaateyisonn.ebeedentotogofositnerthae
ithhnoefoodBrsmoastationondnRtaehbedoeucvtietywl,h"oapstmaeimndattTtAheuotrhsmoartishtey.Nm.“oBOso'tsBtrtiooennt,4h0eD0inreheiacgsthobtrroireo-df nPnelexaetndnigtneognehfrooalrtditohtneh,i"sBRcsAoa.nivd“eTrLhsiiasntdiraoenpMoroatnsgwewillelligmivoHeavaeurs,itnhtDoeirtteohcoetlosrnewxoetf
totranslatethisgrassrootsinformationintocitywideinitia- century."
tivesthatconnectthecityanditspeople."
Theinitiativesarelistedinthecenterfoldof
this edition of Boston 400 Update. This
spring’scommunitymeetingdatesarelisted
onpage4.
In the months ahead, Boston 400 will seek
feedback aboutthe majorand supporting initia-
tivesfrompeopleallacrossthecity.
Implementationrequiresfourbasicstrategies
•Partnerships Working on the model of
BostonMainStreets,someBoston400initiatives
wouldinviteneighborhoodstocreatespecialpart-
nerships between government and community
organizations.Examplesofthesepartnershipini-
tiativesinclude“charmbracelets,"transit-oriented
urbanvillages,andpublicart. —
•Specialfunding Onmanyissues suchas
animprovedcitywidetransitsystemandimprove-
mentof—thecity’ssystemsofparksand natural
spaces theCitywouldneedtoseekgreater
spendingfromstateauthorities.
•Strategicuseofexistingresources Toget
the“biggestbangforthebuck,"someinitiatives
would requirespecialplanningeffortstocoordi-
nate with projects already under consideration.
Forexample,asBostonrehabilitatesandrebuilds
fistoesrrsvtcehheoasoselsli,pfreoBljooenscgttolsenatrh4na0itn0ginacsieumnrsteerttoshaastentsdcsfhittoaoinlndtsoarwtidhlsel JBaomsatoinciaaPnsonednjiosyjutshteocnitey’osfntahteurmaalneynvpilraocnemsewnth.ere
Digitized by the Internet Archive
2015
in
https://archive.org/details/boston400update1998bost
An agenda for public discussion
Buildingon Boston’s assetstochart a courseto 2030
Acityofneighborhoods Avitalnatural
Datingfromtheirseparatehistoriesas environment
independenttowns,Boston’sneighbor- Boston’svitalitybeginswiththepro-
hoodshavealwaysdefinedthecharac- tectionandenhancementofitsprice-
teroftheCity.Threemajorinitiatives lessnaturalassets,includingparks,
andonesupportinginitiativewould waterways,andinnumerablepublic
reinforcetheneighborhoodsasthe andprivateplacesthatsustainusall.Twomajorinitia-
fundamentalbuildingblocksofBoston’sfuture: tivesandthreesupportinginitiativesaddressthesegoals:
‘Charmbracelets/BuildingonthemodeloftheEmerald ParksforBoston’scommonwealth.Completethe
Ntbhueescikcnlieatysc.se,Edincsrhteraaintcctese,neahinigsdtholbrioinrckhaponaorddksc",uclcthiuavriracmlbbsurpiaalccdeeilsne,gtssa,”ndntehriregsohiudbgeohnrothiuaotlod rtCieooslntusomraabntiidaoniRmoopafrdto,hveaenEmdmeenFrtrasalntdkolNiFenocrkPelasartckeH,ialnwldistoThthpseetradteniseotanrriabaryneacn,aotnunreacl-
srepcarceeastiinotnofsorearmelseisdsenstyssotfemevsetrhyatcoomffmeurnaicttyi.veandpassive scpoarcreisd.orSs,trienncgltuhdeinngretchreeCathiaornleosp-ptoor-tCuhnairtlieesscoonnnmeacjtoirong.reen
Transit'Orientedurbanvillages.Focusneighborhood Communitiesconnectedbywater.Enhanceconnec-
residential,business,cultural,andrecreationaldevelopment tionstotheBostonHarborandHarborIslandsandcomplete
ancceoornduoteruesanr.gsd,eDsecbtshrruiaortgacendhgiecpcsuo,btmlrhimaecnoaslunitstehs.npcoaMedcnaeteskes.re-sL,pisempcdiaheotrsoktlpsrsa,i-raklnaiisbnargcnaardnimeebpasiu,rcsyctecorslamenmtsaouictnecenis-tsy HhiteaynrsbailovorenwgasltBrkoa.stteUogsinie'snsgtfoirvileviernrikvoecvrosem.rmlauyniditsytreicnths,andceevmeleonptcwoimtphraec-tiv-
thecenterpieceofalldevelopment. SupportingInitiatives
Aasfsfeossrmdeanbtloefhhoousuisnignngeefdosracacilo.rdDienvgetloophoauscionmgprteyhpeenssainvde sFPuaarirerkgoarfsfouvtnheedn.uEesBspulioalfndfaedasetc,iivtBayloswsitadonendfCoatiohrmegmrroomunan,jdoatronedtvaeFknretasnp.krlesi-n
neighborhood.Developvacantparcelsthatstrengthentheur- Protectionofnaturalspaces.Developlegalandpolicy
btiaonnsceotsttisnga.nDdelveeslsoepnshpoeucsuilnatgioinn.itiEasttiavbelsitshhat"rraeidnuycdeayt”rafnsuancd-s svterlaotpemgeinest.toAspsroutreectprneasteurrvaaltisopnacoefsatnhdreaactceensesdtowintahtudrea-l
foreconomicdownturnsandmaintenance. spaces.
SupportingInitiative Playingfieldsforthenextgeneration.Workingwith
•Gatewaystothecity.Createattractivegatewaysfor theParksandSchoolDepartmentsandotheragencies,
thestreetsthatserveaspointsofentrytothecityfrom developacitywidesystemofplayingfieldsthatresponds
nearbycommunities. tothechangingdemographicsandpopularityofsports.
w
y
ThehuhofNewEngland Aculturaland
Bostonservesmarketsfarbeyondthe learningcenter
cNietywliEmnigtsl,aansdtahnedunaofmfaijcoiarlActalpainttailcopfor- mmH CForpolmeythSequBaorsetotnoPCuabmlipcMLeiibgrasryinin
taltoEuropeandLatinAmerica.Three HydePark,Bostonprovidesunparal-
majorinitiativesandtwosupporting leledcivic,cultural,andhistoricspaces
initiativesseektoimproveBoston’spositionasthecenter ineveryneighborhoodofthecity.Threemajorinitiatives
ofregionaltransportationandemployment: andthreesupportinginitiativesreinforcetheseassets:
HubofftheHub.Enhancethehistoriccorridorsandfocal Schoolsforthenextcentury.Buildandrehabilitate
pviosiinttosrst.oMmaakkeeCdeontwrnatloAwrntemroyraenadccCeistsyibHlaelltoPrleasziadeinmtpsroavned- slcohnogollseatrhnaitngcroepaptoerotausneistioefslfeoarrnalilnBgofsotroncihialndsr,ena,ndprsotvriednegltihfee-n
mentspartofacomprehensivepublicrealmplan. theurbancharacteroftheirneighborhoods.Locateschoolsat
Anewgenerationoftransit.Buildingonacompre- criticalcommunitycrossroads.
choennvsievrettorraenxstpoerntdateixoinstainnaglyTsilsi,nedse.vCeolompplneetwettrhaensUirtblainnesRianngd Pmeunbtliocfaperrtmeavneenrtyawnhdetreem.poPrraorvyiddiesipnlcaeynstoivfepsubfloirctahretplace-
aStnrdednegvtehleonptcroannsnietctaicocnesssbteotwtheeencitthyeforrincgomamnudtneordse.s. Hthirsotuogrhiocutptrheesceitry.vationfordevelopment. Provide
FuelingBoston’seconomicengine.Buildingon incentivesforthedevelopmentofhistoricbuildingsandother
Bitoys,tdoenv’eslpoopsisttiraotneagsicaalcleyntloecraotfedunbiuvseirnseistsyianncdubraetsoerasr.chReaccrtuiivt- resourcesaspartofastrategyofcommunityrevitalization.
newmanufacturingactivitytoappropriateparcels.Target SupportingInitiatives
firmsinearlyphasesofgrowthtolocateandstayinBoston. Findingyourwayinthecity.Developacomprehen-
sivesystemofsignage.BuildontheMayor’sstreetfur-
SuRpepgoirotnianlgtIrnaiftfiiactitvheastprotectscommunities.Separate nitureinitiativetoassurestrongorientationandameni-
regionalandcitywidetrafficfromneighborhoodstreets. Ttireas.nsittoBoston’scultureandparks.Developtransit
Developcomprehensiveparking, commutertransit,and improvementstohelpresidentsandvisitorsgainbetter
cwDaeorsrgikogwnsitstrahftooerugtideetshvrteehlaaottpegmneeitnngtg.onoeAdidsgohtpbotomraahnrodkoeedtncfhaoanrrdcaecptdeeeorsp.ilgento acPiceaclrefsssoerrtvmoiaccenuclfteourrsawpleaecakenesdndhisnis,ttohhroeilcinderaieysgsoh,ubraocnredsh.otooCudorsni.ssitDdseeevraesslopnoe.p-
standardsthatenhancetheoverallenvironmentforeco- multigenerationalperformancespacesformusicandthe-
nomicdevelopment. aterinallneighborhoods,usingschoolswhenpossible.
S3
BOSION
ConnectingtheCityandItsPeople
JZ9
BOSWN
BostonRedevelopmentAuthority
OneCityHallSquare
Boston,Massachusetts02201
GovernmentDocuments
7B0o0stBoonylPsutbolnicStLribereatry
BostonMA02117
Upcomingcommunitymeetings Quote/Unquote
Boston 400will hold fourcommunity meetings to "Manypeoplequestionthevalueoflongtermplanning
discuss planning priorities, at the Boston Police EvenWilliamWhyte,oneofthegreatestplannersofour
Headquarters, locatedatthecomerofTremontStreet time,saidhewasreluctanttoplanbeyondfiveyears.To
andRugglesStreet.TaketheOrangelinetoRuggles,or besure,wecannotprescribeexactlyhowacityor
takeBusNos.8,15,19,22,23,28,42,43,44,45,or47 neighborhoodshouldlookintwoorthreedecades.But
toRugglesStation.Meteredparkingisalsoavailable anykindof—planningrequiresacontext.Peopleneeda
March22 “BostonasaCityofNeighborhoods" foundation openspaces,publictransit,housingfor
March29 “BostonasaVitalNaturalEnvironment" atlile,se—coannodmifcouanctdiavtiityoncsendtoenr’st,jussttreheatpspaennd.pPuebolpicleampelnani-
April5 “BostonasaCulturalandLearningcenter” them.Weowethattothenextgeneration."
April12 “EBmopsltooynmaesntthHeuTbraonfspNoertwatEinognlaanndd" —LindaMongelliHaar.DirectorofPlanningand
Allmeetingswillbeginat6:30pm. Zoning,BostonRedevelopmentAuthority
ContactUs
Pleasecontactuswithquestionsorcomments. mail: Boston400
BostonRedevelopmentAuthority
ThomasN.O'Brien,Director,BostonRedevelopmentAuthority OneCityHallSquare
LindaMongelliHaar,DirectorofPlanningandBoston400 Boston,MA 02201
CLhyanrnleCsDC..BEeurcklhenye,r,PlParnonjeecrtManager,Boston400 ep-hmoaniel:: [email protected]
ErikBalsley,Boston400Cartographer fax: [phone]
GeauanneM.Hill,AdministrativeAssistant website: www.cityofboston.com/boston400
Special Issue: AReporttothePeopleofCharlestown, EastBoston,and NorthEnd/Waterfront
update
6§Bj
37'
A.'Z'
MayorThomasM.Menino,CityofBoston Winter1998-99
Neighborhoods Set Planning Priorities
Residents, Businesses
Call forBetterLinks
To Resources ofCity
Boston 400, the City’s comprehensive planning
initiative, hasdevelopedplanningprioritiesdesigned
tocreateseamlessconnectionsbetweenneighborhoods
and natural,cultural,andeducationalopportunities.
Thesepriorities,whichemergedfrommorethan
150communitymeetingsacrossthecity,willguide
planninganddevelopmentastheCitynearsits400th
anniversaryin2030.AtthedirectionofmayorThomas
M. Menino,theBostonRedevelopmentAuthorityis
coordinatingBoston400amongCityagencies.
To realize the vision of“the city as a natural
environment,”Boston400hascalledforgreateraccess
totheBostonHarborandHarborIslands,completion
oftherestorationoftheEmeraldNecklace,enhanced
systems ofneighborhood parks, and initiatives to
achieveenvironmentaljustice.
Well-definedandconnectednaturalresourcescre-
atethefoundationforotherefforts,suchasinitiatives
to connect community facilities to common civic
spaces,specialprogramstolinkfamiliesandchildren
to cultural and educational opportunities, and new
effortstoimproveschoolbuildingsandotherpublic
facilitiesthroughoutthecity.
Multi-modaltransportationandstrongstandardsof
streetscapeandurbandesignwillsupportallofthese
efforts.Boston400willcallforexpandedpublictran-
sitoptions,enhancedpedestrianspaces,andaseamless
bicyclenetwork.
Throughout the community planning process,
which began in September 1997, residents urged
Boston400todevisestrategiestotakebetteradvan-
tageofexistingassets.Thoseassets includeBoston
Harborandthecity’sfiverivers,aworld-classpark
PiersParkoffersunparalleledviewsofBoston'swaterfrontandskyline. system, a diverse economy, and vast cultural and
historicresources.
Peoplewhoattendedcommunitymeetingsurged
Planning Process Will Produce BosCtointy4w0i0detoPuanrdkesrtaaknedaNnautumrbaelrSopfaicneist.iatOivnees:ofthe
topgoalsforBoston400istodevelopcompleteaccess
Report on City’s Future Options forallpeopletoBostonHarborandtothenewBoston
HarborIslandsNational Park. Residentshavecalled
forthedeploymentofspecialtransitloopstoprovide
accesstotheHarborforneighborhoodstraditionally
Boston400aimstoconnectthepeopleofBostonto communitymeetingsatneighborhoodsthroughoutthe under-servedbypublictransportation like Roxbury,
theresourcesofthecitybydefiningalong-termplan- city,whichinvolvedmorethan1,000people. Dorchester,andMattapan. —
ningagendathatwill protect and enhance Boston’s Oncethe firstphaseofcommunitymeetingswas Othercitywideparksandnaturalspaces suchas
qualitiesasalivablecity. completedinJuneof1998,Boston400createdseveral Franklin Park, the Nepons—et River Greenway, and
Toprosperintothenextcentury,Bostonneedsto workingcommitteestosynthesizethematerialgathered CharlesRiverReservation alsoneedcreativetrans-
buildonfourmajorqualitiesthatmakeitdistinctive. intheneighborhoodsandgatheradditionalinformation portation and planning efforts to be connected to
Bostoniswidelyrecognizedtobe: fromcommunityleadersandprofessionals. Boston’sneighborhoods.
• Acityofneighborhoods. Fiveofthecommitteesexploredplanningopportu- NeighborhoodParksandNaturalSpaces.Boston
•Avitalnaturalenvironment. nitiesforthecriticalspacesandsystemsofthecity: 400 also will recom—mend a major effort to create
•Aculturalandlearningcenter. ParksandNaturalSpaces,TransportationConnections, “emeraldbracelets” seamlesssystemsof—neighbor-
•Thehuboftransportationandemploymentfor HousingOpportunities,DowntownCenterofActivity, hoodparksandothercommunityresources ineach
NewToEnpgulrasnude.thesegoals,Bostonneedstoprovidea andTChurleteuraolthaenrdcHoimsmtiotrticeeRses—ourcSetsr.eetscapeandUrban comMmousntitnyeiogfhBboosrthoono.dsalreadyhaveimportantparks
qcuaatliiotnyfpohrysscihcaoloLi-nafgreasrtersuicdteunrtes,,aannedxcheolulseinntgpufborlipceoepdlue- DSepsaicgens,fEomrpFlaomyimleienstaannddECchiolndormeinc—Devaerleopdmeevnetl,opainndg wpiatrhkisnawraelkoiuntgdadtiesdtanincedoefsirgesnidbeentcsa.usBeutosfocmheanogfetshesien
othfealplhyisniccoamleclietvyel-s.stBroeesttsonan4d00’sisderwolaelkiss,topafrokcsusanond guidFerloinmesntoowbeunutsieldtfhoerfsuptruirneg,detvheeloBpRmeAntwiilnlBossotliocni.t cpeormimoudniotfysemvearkaelupyeaarns,dtrheecreCaittiyonshpoautltedrncs.omOmvietrtao
openspaces,residentialareas,transit,schoolsandpub- ideas about which projects should get top priority. whateverenhancementsarenecessarytomakesure
lic buildings, Downtown and neighborhoodbusiness Those ideaswillbe incorporated into laterplanning that all communities have well-designed and well-
districts,museumsandotherculturalattractions,envi- documentsincludingBoston400’sinitialreporttothe maintainedparksthatexpresstheidentitiesoftheir
rhoonumseinntgaalndquaslcihtoyo,lasnydsttehmes.physicalcomponentsofour city.Thereportplannedfornextyear—tentativelytitled ccoonmnmeucntiitonys.,Ebmupthaasciqsuiwsiotuilodnboefonneiwmpsrpoavceesmenmtasyanbde
Boston 400 coordinated an extensive process of Connectingthe CityandIts People: A Boston 4—00 necessary.
publicengagementtodefinethegoalsandstrategiesto ReportonPlanningOptionsfortheNextGeneration Transportation Connections. Easeofaccess to
gceunitdeerptiheeceCiotfythteopirtosce4s0s0twhasanansievreiressaoryfmionr2e0t3h0a.nT1h5e0 wBiolsltobneiantshecasnubajgeacitnocofntsreivbeurtaeltsoptrhiengprofcoersus.ms where thecity’smanyresourcesiscriti(caClonftorinpueeodploenipnaegveer4y)