Author: Ben Bruno

Highlights from The Rozzie Zoning Zoom!

Ben Bruno

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!

Recording of The Rozzie Zoning Zoom!

Ben Bruno

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:

 

Public comment is open through March 31, and we want to show strong neighborhood support.

Here’s how to make your voice heard!

TONIGHT at 7pm – The Rozzie Zoning Zoom!

Ben Bruno

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

Tell the City What Street Safety Means to You by This Friday 3/7

Ben Bruno

UPDATE: View WalkUP Roslindale’s letter to the administration.

Mayor Wu’s administration has announced a sudden 30-day “Review” of safety and transit improvements that have been implemented in the past three years. This could signal a pivot away from multimodal infrastructure & safe streets (Boston Globe, Streetsblog Mass, Boston Better Streets). It is critical that we all tell the city how much we appreciate the improvements, and how we use this infrastructure every day and rely on it for our safety.

There are good people who work in the administration who probably want to keep the safety improvements they’ve helped build over the past three years, but the people they’re hearing from are those who want it dismantled; our officials need to hear from people who use and support it in order to justify keeping it, and they need to hear by this Friday, March 7th.

In your message, we suggest highlighting 1-2 specific improvements and how you use them and how they how they have affected your life. Here are maps of the City’s bus improvement projects, bike network, and road safety projects for reference.

We recommend emailing the mayor, BTD officials, and city councilors by clicking here.

Submit Your Public Comment on Rozzie Zoning in 2 Minutes!

Ben Bruno

Boston’s Planning Department released good zoning updates for Roslindale Square, like removing costly parking mandates, allowing buildings up to 7 stories in the commercial core, allowing buildings up to 7 stories in the commercial core, and identifying a potential site for a thoughtful mixed-use high-rise development.

Public comment is open through March 31, and we want to show strong neighborhood support. Here’s how to make your voice heard!

Still want to learn more? Join The Rozzie Zoning Zoom on Mar 13 at 7PM for an expert discussion on how the new zoning could shape Roslindale’s housing, affordability, and walkability over the next 10+ years.

The Rozzie Zoning Zoom!

Ben Bruno

Join WalkUP Roslindale and Rozzidents for More Rozzidents for a virtual community meeting to discuss the recently released draft zoning map for Roslindale Square. Zoning decisions help shape the future of our neighborhood—affecting new development, community amenities, housing affordability, and the risk of displacement.

The Rozzie Zoning Zoom!            

Thursday March 13, 7:00 – 8:30 PM

We’ve assembled a panel of experts, including city planners, housing advocates, and local officials, to provide insights on the zoning map, its upside potential for the community, and strategies to address community concerns. The conversation will cover how the proposed changes could shape future housing patterns and what policies can ensure new development benefits all residents.

 

S+S Zoning Map

Ben Bruno

small snapshot of part of the new S+S zoning map

On February 14, the Planning Department released a draft of zoning updates for the Roslindale Square area. In addition to the maps, a Zoning Updates Guide (English) is now available to help explain the changes (the Spanish version is coming soon, the link will be here when it’s available).

This is a major step towards implementing the community vision that was detailed in the Land Use and Design Framework of the Roslindale Square Small Area Plan, which was adopted on February 13. The Planning Department will be engaging Roslindale residents and taking in their comments on the zoning updates from now through March 31st.

Public Meetings

Presentation and Resource Fair for Tenants & Owners – Register
Tuesday, February 25th from 6-8PM
The Substation, 4228 Washington St, Roslindale, MA 02131

Draft Zoning Updates Public Meeting – Register
Thursday, February 27th 6-8PM
Virtual (Zoom)

Office Hours

In-Person at the Roslindale BPL (Thursday Afternoons) Sign up
Virtual (Tuesday Evenings on Zoom) Sign up

Public Comment Form

Submit your comments until March 31st through this public comment form or email comments to squaresandstreets@nullboston.gov.

Comment Letter on Squares + Streets Small Area Plan

Ben Bruno Leave a comment

Today, we sent in our comment letter on the Roslindale Squares + Streets Small Area Plan.

If you haven’t sent in your comments yet, you can still take a few minutes to do so by using the tools and resources from our prior post. But please hurry because the deadline is TODAY (1/31/25)!

Submit Comments by January 31 on the S+S Small Area Plan!

Ben Bruno 3 Comments

Make sure to submit your comments by January 31 on the Small Area Plan for the Roslindale Squares+Streets initiative!

  1. Draft your comment with this handy public comment generator (Español) or draw inspiration from these sample public comments and talking points.
  2. Submit your public comment (or send it to Eileen.Michaud@nullBoston.gov).

For a more in-depth pro-housing take on the Plan, check out Nate Stell’s what I like and what I dislike.

 

Wait, What’s the Small Area Plan?

The Small Area Plan sets a vision for new public investment and housing development in our neighborhood center. It recommends location, scale, and design standards for future development on our main streets, and it identifies priority improvements to public spaces, intersections, and transportation infrastructure. The Small Area Plan’s land use framework will inform the Planning Department’s zoning recommendations anticipated to be released in February 2025. The plan and the zoning recommendations are the culmination of Roslindale’s Squares+Streets process that began in January 2024.

 

Upcoming Squares + Streets Events

Virtual Office Hours (register in advance)
Thursday, January 28 | 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Thursday, January 29 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Roslindale Square Squares + Streets Plan Closeout Meeting (virtual)
Thursday, February 6 | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Squares+Streets Small Area Plan

Ben Bruno Leave a comment

The newly-announced Small Area Plan for the Roslindale Squares+Streets initiative sets an exciting, long-overdue vision for new public investment and housing development in our neighborhood center. It recommends location, scale, and design standards for future development on our main streets, and it identifies priority improvements to public spaces, intersections, and transportation infrastructure.

Perhaps most importantly, the plan’s land use framework will inform the Planning Department’s zoning recommendations in early 2025. The plan and the zoning recommendations are the culmination of Roslindale’s Squares+Streets process that began in January 2024.

 

Now is the time to make your voice heard!
Get involved with the action steps below and share our flyer.

 

ATTEND AND MAKE A COMMENT
at the public meeting (tomorrow!) which will focus on the draft small area plan
Wednesday, January 8 | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Virtual Meeting

 

TELL THE PLANNERS AT BOSTON PLANNING WHAT YOU THINK
at In-Person Office Hours
Roslindale Community Center | 6 Cummins Highway, Roslindale, MA 02131
Tuesday, January 7 | 12:30 PM  – 1:30 PM
Wednesday, January 15 | 12:30 PM  – 1:30 PM
Thursday, January 30 | 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM

 

SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS ONLINE
At the bottom of this page.

 

JOIN THE ONLINE DISCUSSION
Perci is hosting a discussion board for questions and comments about specific proposals in the plan.

 

Squares+Streets is one of several ongoing land use initiatives pursued by the Boston Planning Department that will impact Rozzidents. Others include:

  • The Anti-Displacement Action Plan will include tools and policies to mitigate the effects of residential and commercial displacement, whether stemming from rezoning here in Roslindale and elsewhere in the city or from other factors. Expected release: Winter 2025.
  • The citywide Neighborhood Housing zoning initiative to start zoning residential properties with up to 4 homes in a way that is consistent both with the existing residential development pattern and our city’s desperate need for more housing. Among the anticipated changes in the rezoning will be enabling property owners to make home improvements or add Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) without the need for an expensive and time-consuming variance process. We understand that Phase 1 of the Neighborhood Housing effort will address the existing zoning for large lots (~ 60’ wide). Expected completion: 2025.