This really is a great event every year and if you register early enough, you get a free Boston Bikes t-shirt. Get with the program if you can! Registration link is HERE.
BTD Open Houses: Roslindale Transportation Action Plan & Hyde Park Ave
Mark your calendar for two upcoming Boston Transportation Department (BTD) open houses this May!
Roslindale Transportation Action Plan Open House
Tuesday May 13th, 6:00 – 7:30pm @ St. Nectarios Greek Orthodox Church
BTD will be introducing the project, sharing what they’ve heard, and asking for some initial feedback. There’s no formal program and no need to stay the whole time. Come any time to meet the planners, learn about the project, and share your thoughts! See the flyer for the event.
Hyde Park Ave Multimodal Corridor Open House #3
Wednesday May 21st, 6:00pm – 8:00pm @ Boston Teachers Union School
Come listen and provide feedback on the latest design concepts for Hyde Park Ave.
Soft Open Alert – Roslindale Gateway Path Phase 1!
We here at WalkUP Roslindale have been advocating and organizing around the Roslindale Gateway Path since our inception almost a decade ago and, thanks to the sustained leadership and partnership of the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, the Arboretum Park Conservancy, LivableStreets Alliance, the Tufts University Department of Urban and Environmental Planning, Rozzie Bikes, Hubluv, the Solomon Foundation, and of course the City of Boston (especially the leadership of Mayor Michelle Wu as well as the Parks and Recreation Department, the Department of Public Works, and the Transportation Department), we now have the first tangible result of those efforts – the Phase 1 extension from the terminus of the Blackwell Path at South Street alongside and then under the MBTA Needham Line tracks to a brand new and fully fledged Arboretum entrance on Arboretum Road. This is a great step forward in providing better access to this Emerald Necklace jewel to/from this part of Roslindale. It’s long overdue and very welcome, and we will continue to advocate for the rest of the path going forward, so that improved access can be achieved at Archdale Road and at the Roslindale Village Commuter Rail Station. We also urge everyone to mark your calendars for Saturday, 19 July 2025, when the formal grand opening celebration will be held. We’ll share details on that as they become available. Many thanks to all of the players who made this possible!
Our most recent summary piece on the full path can be found here: Roslindale Gateway Path.
Planning Department advances Squares & Streets Zoning Map and Text for Roslindale Square through BPDA Board
There’s been light reporting on this so far in the broader media, but we can confirm that the Planning Department successfully moved the proposed Squares & Streets Zoning Map and Text Amendments through the approval recommendation stage with the BPDA Board at their meeting this past Thursday, April 10. The next and final step for the small area plan and zoning process will be the Boston Zoning Commission’s public hearing and vote on adopting the proposals as part of the city’s official zoning map and code. That is expected to occur in May, on a to-be-determined date. Many thanks to Planning Department staff (there are many, but special thanks to Abdul-Razak Zachariah, Kathleen Onufer, and Eileen Michaud) and everyone who has been involved. Stay tuned for more information on the BZC date as it becomes available!
Hyde Park Avenue Safety Walk – Saturday, April 12 1-3 PM
The Boston Better Streets Coalition has organized a Hyde Park Safety Walk tomorrow, Saturday April 12 from 1-3 PM, to help envision a safer Hyde Park Avenue. Meet at Forest Hills Station at 1pm. City Councilors, officials, and Boston transportation planners will be in attendance.
Squares + Streets Zoning Map – Roslindale Square – Closeout Meeting – 8 April 2025 @ 6 pm on ZOOM
Close on the heels of the end of the comment period yesterday, the Planning Department is hosting their scheduled closeout meeting on the zoning map and the revisions made thereto since its release in February. We encourage supporters to attend and thank the staff who have worked so hard over the last year to move the process from visioning to the small area plan and now the adoption of a new zoning map for the plan area. Information on the meeting and how to sign can be found HERE. Thanks!
Last Call for Comments on the S+S Zoning Map!
The deadline for comments on the Roslindale Squares+Streets Zoning Map has been extended to this Saturday, April 5th. We’ve just submitted our comment letter on the map, make sure to submit yours!
You may have submitted comments back in January or February for the Small Area Plan which was accepted by the BPDA, but the zoning updates are a separate process that follows the recommendations from the Small Area Plan. Make sure to comment on the Zoning Map as well.
Make a Public Comment on the Roslindale Squares + Streets Zoning Map by the Deadline on This Saturday, April 5th!
- Check out the Planning Department’s Zoning Map Guide (Español) (Kreyòl Ayisyen).
- Write and send a public comment in under 2 minutes with this handy tool (Español).
- Draw inspiration from these sample talking points (Español).
- Submit your comment here or by email to squaresandstreets@nullboston.gov.
- You can also use the City’s new interactive map-based comment form to identify and share thoughts about a specific area on the draft zoning map.
Highlights from The Rozzie Zoning Zoom!
Key highlights from The Rozzie Zoning Zoom are now available! You can also watch the full recording here.
Balancing Zoning Flexibility & Community Input
Boston City Planner Abdul Zachariah discusses how the new zoning grants greater flexibility to property owners interested in redevelopment, but it is also sensitive to neighborhood character and community input.
Roslindale Housing Growth Projection
Eric Ouyang, CEO of Perci PBC, shares a projection of housing growth in Roslindale based on assumptions of which parcels are more likely to be redeveloped under the new zoning.
New Zoning Makes it Easier to Build Affordable Housing
MAPC Director of Land Use Andrea Harris-Long and Boston City Councilor Enrique Pepén discuss how the new zoning flexibility and faster approval for projects means lower costs, making it easier for affordable housing developers to succeed.
Housing Types For Different Life Stages
Should we require developers to build more family-sized housing? Insights from MAPC Director of Land Use Planning Andrea Harris-Long, Boston City Councilor Enrique Pepén, and Perci CEO Eric Ouyang.
Community Interest in Upzoning
Boston City Councilor Enrique Pepén shares what he’s been hearing from community members interested in the new zoning.
Addressing Displacement
Our panelists discuss the risk of displacement today, as well as what tenants and businesses may encounter under new zoning. They also tackle different strategies for addressing it.
Tax Revenue Impact of New Development
Perci PBC CEO Eric Ouyang and Cambridge City Councilor Burhan Azeem describe the impacts that new development can have on local property tax revenue.
Removing Parking Minimums in Rozzie & Cambridge
Boston City Planner Abdul Zachariah and Cambridge City Councilor Burhan Azeem talk about the implications of allowing developers the flexibility to determine how much on-site parking to build.
Make a Public Comment on Squares + Streets Zoning by the March 31st Deadline!
- Write and send a public comment in under 2 minutes with this handy tool (Español)
- Draw inspiration from these sample talking points (Español)
- Submit your comment here or by email to squaresandstreets@nullboston.gov.
- You can also use the City’s new interactive map-based comment form to identify and share thoughts about a specific area on the draft zoning map.
Recording of The Rozzie Zoning Zoom!
Last night, over 70 people joined us live to listen to a rich and lively discussion with an expert panel of urban planners, local officials, and housing advocates and dive deep into the new Squares + Streets zoning for Roslindale – what will this mean for the community? How much new housing and public amenities should we expect? What will be the impact on affordability and displacement risk?
Video and audio versions of the recording are now available:
Audio only:
WalkUP Roslindale and Rozzidents for More Rozzidents extend our thanks to the excellent panelists who participated.
Resources discussed during the panel:
- Roslindale Squares+Streets Zoning Map
- Zoning Map Guide
- Squares+Streets Zoning Summary (descriptions of S0-S5 zones)
- Boston’s Anti-Displacement Action Plan
Public comment is open through March 31, and we want to show strong neighborhood support.
Here’s how to make your voice heard!
- Write and send a public comment in under 2 minutes with this handy tool (Español)
- Draw inspiration from these sample talking points (Español)
- Submit your comment here or by email to squaresandstreets@nullboston.gov.
- Voice your support at the public meeting on Tuesday, March 18 at 6PM. Showing up matters!
TONIGHT at 7pm – The Rozzie Zoning Zoom!
The City proposed new Squares + Streets zoning for Roslindale – what will this mean for the community? How much new housing and public amenities should we expect? What will be the impact on affordability and displacement risk? Join us for an expert panel of urban planners, local officials, and housing advocates tonight to find out!
The Rozzie Zoning Zoom!
Thursday March 13, 7:00 – 8:30 PM
