Well, this one snuck up on us and our old friend Boston Yeti! We have about 6″ of snow on the ground here from yesterday’s winter weather event, so we are calling our forces out onto the snowy streets to clear bus stops and curb ramps for our neighbors. As has been the case, if you send us pix of the clearing you’ve done, we will send you back $10 in Rozzie Bucks as a reward and heartfelt thank you. Send pix to matthew.j.lawlor@nullgmail.com. Thanks!!!
Today, we sent in our comment letter on the proposed zoning amendments from the Squares + Streets initiative. Given the significant impact on our core issue of housing, we collaborated with Rozzidents for More Rozzidents and Abundant Housing Massachusetts on the comment letter. The full letter is reproduced below.
The Boston Public Improvement Commission (PIC) approved the renaming of Bussey Street this week, which bisects the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University between Walter and South streets, as a result of a two-year campaign by local Roslindale and Jamaica Plain activists and organizations. The street will be renamed Flora Way, to elevate the name of Flora, a Black woman enslaved in the local area during the 18th century. Please see this flyer and join for the dedication ceremony on 10/26. Some other upcoming events that may be of interest:
This notice serves as a reminder of the upcoming Orange Line closure previously announced on September 18.
Following up on the previous announcement on September 18, the MBTA is today reminding riders that Orange Line service will be suspended between Forest Hills and Back Bay October 8 – 20 with the service suspension extended between Forest Hills and North Station October 12 – 14.
Riders can find more information at mbta.com/OrangeLine. More information on these service changes and alternate travel options is below:
This service change is in place to support critical work as part of the MBTA’s Track Improvement Program. The Track Improvement Program will replace tracks and ties to alleviate speed restrictions along the line while crews maximize the outage by performing signal work and station amenity upgrades, including new lighting, painting, tiling, power washing, and more.
The MBTA understands how these service changes affect riders’ daily travels during this period, but we are committed to improving your travels long term with more reliable, timely, and safe service. We thank riders for their patience as we deliver this important work and for continuing to ride our system.
More information is also available through in-station signage and public announcements. Transit Ambassadors and MBTA staff will be available on-site to offer information and assistance during these service changes. Riders are encouraged to subscribe to T-Alerts or to follow the MBTA on X @MBTA for up-to-date service information.
As some of our readers may have heard, the City’s Planning Department are now projecting the following milestone dates on the Squares + Streets Roslindale Square small area planning process based on current progress:
Here’s a helpful timeline graphic that was provided with the revised schedule:
This week, we sent an open letter to the Boston Planning Department (formerly known as BPDA) in support of certain pro-housing and transportation aspects of Squares + Streets. Our full letter is reproduced below and is also available as a PDF.
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WalkUP Roslindale’s intent with this occasional series is to take a few minutes to have a chat with folks with whom we’re involved and/or aligned and hear more specifically from them about their perspectives, how they’ve come to participate in the Squares & Streets process, what they think about it, and where they hope it takes this part of our neighborhood.
Interview with Elvira Mora, AHMA Boston Organizer and WalkUP Roslindale Board member
NOTE: This conversation has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
WalkUP Roslindale (WUR): Tell us about AHMA. What should we know about it?
Elvira Mora (EM): Absolutely. All right, so AHMA, also known as Abundant Housing Massachusetts, was founded in 2020, so in the heart of the pandemic. And there were just a couple of people that were very pro-housing, got together, and decided that this should be a thing. And four years later, here we are, ramping up. We had our first lobby day earlier this year. We’ve been making strides statewide with the bond bill advocacy. And now that we have me as full-time Boston organizer, I can really dedicate my time to different initiatives in Boston, which is definitely important just as we go along with the different timelines of the city’s planning efforts. Bottom line, we are an organization that focuses on the policy, on how we can help mitigate the housing crisis that we have in our state. We believe that supply is definitely a part of the conversation, a part of the solution. And I feel like not enough people know the context behind that or the why behind that. So I feel like our mission right now is to sort of not just talk about it, but talk about it in a way that is community oriented, right? So talking about the need for market rate housing, you can say, oh, well, everything’s expensive here in the city already or in the state, really. So why do we need more market rate housing? Well, it’s because there needs to be a variety of different housing options, right? For folks that have different income levels, for folks that might need different housing options, like moving into… an apartment or a duplex or a condo or even buying that single family home, right? And even pushing the idea of living in an ADU or having that be obtainable. Different housing structures and just in a lens of community is what we do at AHMA. And yeah, I think we are just getting started and four years in, we have a small but mighty team. So I think we’re off to a really good start there.
WUR: Following on that, how did you get involved with AHMA? What was your path?
EM: So I’ll start with my own housing story of living and growing up in a triple decker and fortunately still residing in one in Roslindale, no less. I was born and raised here and I have been a public servant in different capacities. Whether it’s political organizing or actually serving at City Hall for a limited amount of time, I’ve always had this calling back to housing and really how to help people at the most policy-focused point possible where actual change is achievable, where we’re actually interacting with lawmakers and other community advocates that do push the needle on certain things – like WalkUP did for getting those bus lanes to and from the square. And I feel like just small ideas can really sprout and become big ideas and become action. And that’s kind of my driving point behind getting involved with AHMA. It’s just that housing has always been really important to me. My family was lucky to be able to purchase a triple decker property in ‘95. Too many families now don’t have the opportunity to buy anything without substantial help of some sort, whether it’s government subsidies or city initiatives for a first home buyers class or something of that nature. So I feel like there’s just a lot more disparity now. And I’m fortunate that my parents were able to have, you know, the opportunity to buy a property and make it into a home. And I feel like that should be just the norm for everybody across the state, especially because I love the city of Boston. I love the state that we’re in. And I just feel like everyone deserves a home. And that’s really the mission of AHMA as well. Everyone deserves a home.
WUR: And how long have you been in your position?
EM: I want to say nine months now. It will be a year in November.
WUR: And then this may be a quick one, but how is your organization structured? So you guys are a nonprofit, I assume, or what’s the situation?
EM: Yes, we’re a 501(c)(4). So we don’t take PAC money or anything or endorse any candidates, but we do help with initiatives and even ballot questions so that we’re just basically advocating for the policy points that would help housing in the state. For me as the Boston organizer, I’ve kind of structured it neighborhood by neighborhood to start us off with before we can meld into something bigger. Right now, I’m focusing on the small area plans that are part of the Squares & Streets initiative as well as the situation in Allston/Brighton since I know that they have a lot going on with the Harvard property at Allston Yards. So I just want to kind of get ahead of all of those initiatives and sort of see where we’re at. I know that there’s a lot of organizers in the area that are in separate cohorts and separate silos, so I’d love to bridge them together and really just take this city-wide. From Hyde Park to East Boston, I want there to be some coverage of pro housing advocates in the area because they are out there – there just needs to be somebody to tap into and sort of get to know them, meet them where they’re at, and see if they can become part of our coalition. That’s very much ongoing.
WUR: That’s great to hear and a really important mission. Next question: What’s AHMA’s overall view of Squares & Streets? And then in Roslindale in particular.
EM: Generally, we love the idea of Squares & Streets. We applaud the mayor and her administration for putting this together, both the initiative and the skeleton work. We do think that it does not go far enough in terms of housing. I know that there’s different missions through Square & Streets, which is not just housing, but also in terms of transportation, in terms of small business, arts and culture, right? So I feel like the housing component could be pushed for a little bit more. We could upzone more in some areas. I know upzoning is a very scary term for some people, but it seems like it would be wasteful not to advocate for upzoning, especially when there’s first story businesses or first story homes that have the possibility to house more neighbors. And in Roslindale, I feel like we’re ready to meet that moment. At least, from what I’m seeing, there is support for this. And it seems that people are generally more on the grain of wanting something to change. And, you know, there were a lot of folks at the recent Ideas reception in Roslindale, and I feel like people are asking the right questions and seeing how they can get more involved and really just comparing it to their own daily experiences, right? We all take the commuter rail, we all take the bus, we all take the subway at some point. So I think… by just having those conversations and meeting people where there are, it really serves a purpose. Roslindale is doing really good in that regard, because there are already strong supporters, not just WalkUP Roslindale, but also Rozzidents for More Rozzidents.
WUR: Is there a particular aspect of the process and proposals so far you would pick and say, you know, this struck me as particularly interesting or a good thing or bad thing or whatever, any aspect of it that’s kind of hit you?
EM: Yeah, so it actually hasn’t been the housing front. It’s actually been part of the arts and culture bubble. Revamping Birch Plaza, which has been something that many Roslindale residents have been pushing for because it just feels undone when you go there. It used to be a street that people could drive on and now it’s not. And honestly, it’s benefited a lot of folks being able to sit down there, being able to have a space that is truly pedestrian friendly, and that they won’t have to fear about cars being in that area. So I just love that there is a focus to revamp it, you know, add planters and add all the things to beautify that area. And I love that that was included in this plan as well, just because it shows folks that, you know, city hall is really listening to them.
WUR: Agreed. And then last one on Squares & Streets: What would be a successful outcome for the small area plan in Roslindale?
EM: I would really love to see a little bit more upzoning especially across the square and we should be even taking it up a notch and upzoning to S-0 in the residential areas that are nearby just so that they could serve more homes for more folks. I feel like our main street is already so beautiful and compact and emblematic of a 15-minute neighborhood from a home in that area. Like for me on Belgrade, I’m able to walk 15 minutes to the square and it’s great. So why not have that be possible for as many people as possible to live there and actually have that experience? And then I’d also love to see, from AHMA’s organizing point, that more residents affiliate with us as we join forces with WalkUP Roslindale and Rozzidents for More Rozzidents. I feel like there can be more than one pro-housing organization in this space and that multiple groups can coexist and help push the needle more on what we feel we need here in Roslindale.
WUR: Completely agree. There’s plenty of room in this space for folks to get out there and welcome anybody who wants to contribute to the effort. And I think your point about the 15-minute neighborhood is right on point. There’s definitely an opportunity to make what is generally a well laid out, walkable neighborhood even better. And totally with you, obviously, on the notion that the more people we can let live that way, by building housing for them in those locations, we’re all better off. And then the last question is more free form. Is there anything you would want anybody who’s reading this to know about Elvira Mora, what she’s up to or what she’s done or wants to do?
EM: Sure. So for all those newbies out there, I am born and raised here in the city of Boston, in Roslindale. I do have an idea of what I’m talking about. For folks that like to have that notion that if a new neighbor moves in and they haven’t been here for the entirety of their lives, that their opinions don’t matter? That’s not true. As long as they’re a neighbor in a certain neighborhood, then they belong there, first off. And second, they have the same voice as anybody else. And it shouldn’t be diminished because of how many years they’ve been here. So I am proud, but I’m also fortunate to be born and raised in the city of Boston and in Roslindale specifically. I think, honestly, it’s my favorite neighborhood. I would not want to move anywhere else. And a little bit more about me. I’m a first-gen Ecuadorian-American, bisexual woman. So I cross a lot of different categories. And I just want… more neighbors in my neighborhood. I want more people to have homes. I want an abundance of homes. Everyone should have a home. Everyone should have a place to live. And that’s my mission with AHMA and that has been my mission before AHMA. I’m glad to have this as the place to call home career-wise and that is awesome.
WalkUP Roslindale have been active and enthusiastic supporters of the bus lanes on Washington Street all the way from initial conception and the early pilots to their implementation and operation the last few years. The Boston Transportation Department is now soliciting feedback on next steps and upcoming improvements. The squib from their website reads as follows:
“Since 2018, we have added new bus lanes to Washington Street from Forest Hills to Roslindale Village, serving 10 MBTA bus routes. Join us for a virtual public meeting on Zoom to discuss the bus lanes.
“At the public meeting, we’ll:
” – Share more about the Roslindale Bus Lane Project
– Discuss Bus Lane performance, including the impacts of COVID-19
– Ask for your feedback on next steps and upcoming improvements”
Information on the meeting, including the zoom link, can be found HERE.
This is the same day as Roslindale Porchfest, but it’s earlier (running roughly from 10 am to 2 pm), so you can definitely do both! LivableStreets Alliance have been a great partner for WalkUP Roslindale over the years, including most significantly on the Roslindale Gateway Path and the morning and evening peak period bus lanes on Washington Street between Forest Hills and Roslindale Square. TDS is always a great time, including an organized walk and two bike rides starting from and ending at the Allston Speedway, but this year will be especially poignant and important as long-time LSA executive director Stacy Thompson is ending her run with the organization. If you know Stacy at all, you know that she has been a tremendously effective advocate in this space and it will be great to give her a proper thanks for all that she has done. SIGN UP HERE and, if you’re interested, feel free to join the WalkUP Roslindale team. Thanks!!!