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— GOVDOC T )STON4CiOUPDATE ™ -—•frb-CEIVgD iasM.Menino,CityofBoston Summer1999 1 hug st rsgy '] 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: 617-918-4338 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: 617-367-6087 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)