- Wednesday 12/11/24 TONIGHT 6:00 – 8:00 PM @ BTU School (25 Walk Hill St, Boston, MA 02130)
Hyde Park Ave Multimodal Corridor Open House - Thursday 12/12/24 Tomorrow
Roslindale Square Squares + Streets Small Area Plan to be released - Wednesday 1/8/25 6:00 – 8:00 PM (virtual) – rescheduled from 12/18
Roslindale Square Squares + Streets Small Area Plan Public Meeting - Monday 1/13/25 6:00 – 7:30 PM (virtual)
Neighborhood Housing Zoning – Public Meeting
Category: Events
UPDATED – Upcoming events: Walk-Shop, Dedication of Flora Way, and Town Hall on Property Taxes in Boston
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:
- 10/12 Saturday 9am – 1:30pm
Mike Tormey (BTD Project Manager running the below Walk-Shop) @ the Farmer’s Market in Adams Park
Mike will be at a table for the duration of the Farmer’s Market. Please stop by and say hello! - 10/16 Wednesday 5:30pm
Roslindale Square Transportation Walk-Shop
At this informal walk-shop, meet the Boston Transportation Department Project Manager (Mike Tormey) who will be leading the work in Roslindale Square. Share your ideas, hopes, and visions for the transportation network. We’ll meet at the flagpole in Adams Park and set off at about 5:30pm, walking approximately 0.5 miles to the Birch Street Plaza. We’ll discuss the streets and intersections around the square. - JUST ADDED: Mayor’s Town Hall on Property Taxes in Boston – WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 16, 2024; Time: 7:00PM; Location: William H. Ohrenberger School; 175 W Boundary Rd, West Roxbury, MA 02132 – RSVP Here NOTE: This is posted here solely for the purpose of getting information out regarding this meeting. WalkUP Roslindale has not taken a position with respect to any particular proposal or policy on this issue.
- 10/26 Saturday 2:00pm (rain date 10/27)
Dedication of Flora Way @ Arnold Arboretum between Walter St Gate and the current Bussey St gate
Local residents and organizations, with the support of the Arboretum and the Boston Parks and Recreation Department, led a community effort to rename Bussey Street for Flora, a Black woman enslaved in this area in the 18th century.
Roslindale Bus Lanes Virtual Public Meeting – This evening, 30 July 2024, at 6:00 pm
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.
Tour de Streets to support LivableStreets Alliance – 21 Sept 2024 – BE THERE!!!
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!!!
Birch Plaza finally gets where it needed to go and we are THANKFUL!
Conversion of the one-block section of Birch Street from Corinth to Belgrade has been long in the making, it’s true, and it’s also true that we have been steadfast supporters of this idea from its inception. And now that the planters and bench seating have arrived and been filled in with birch trees and other plantings by the city, we are simply delighted with the results. It’s a strong improvement over the prior condition, eliminates what had been a dangerous left turn onto by motor vehicle operators onto Belgrade and provides another great gathering space in our neighborhood for things like Salsa Night in the Square (picture above). Our sincerest, heartfelt thanks to so many folks who helped make this happen, including, in reverse chronological order –
- Mayor Michelle Wu and her Administration, especially Chief of Streets Jascha Franklin-Hodge; Jacob Wessel, public realm director for the City of Boston; and ONS Roslindale Representatives Josh McCorkle and Dianna Bronchuk;
- District 5 Councilor Enrique Pepen;
- Former District 5 Councilor Arroyo;
- The Janey Administration;
- The Walsh Administration;
- Roslindale Village Main Street; and
- friend and current WalkUP Roslindale Board member, Adam Shutes, formerly of Boston Cheese Cellar. Great job everyone!
REMINDER: Squares + Streets – Public Meeting at Community Center on July 17, 2024 6pm-8pm
REMINDER: We’re a week out from this critical, initial big reveal meeting. We strongly encourage our supporters to attend, take in this first cut from our city’s planners, and then advocate for our core pro-housing, pro-walk, bike, and transit mission. Make sure to register in advance at the bolded link below. Thanks!
The BPDA recently announced the next public meeting on the Squares + Streets planning process. It will be held on Wednesday, July 17, 2024 from 6pm-8pm at the Roslindale Community Center at 6 Cummins Highway, across from Adams Park. Details:
There will be an in-person public meeting to receive feedback on the draft ideas and recommendations for the Roslindale Square Squares + Streets Plan. This ‘ideas reception’, designed to be a drop-in style event, provides an opportunity for the community to share their reactions to a series of recommendations derived from previous community engagements, including small business support, housing production and stabilization, transportation improvements, open space and cultural programming, and the design and land use factors that will inform Squares + Streets zoning in Roslindale Square. Spanish interpretation services will be available, and childcare is available upon request with at least 2 weeks’ notice.
Attendees are encouraged to register in advance.
Grand Opening of Walter Street Path Saturday, 6/22/2024 at 1pm
This coming Saturday, June 22, 2024, at 1pm, the Longfellow Area Neighborhood Association and the Roslindale Wetlands Task Force are hosting Celebrating New Beginnings for 104-108 Walter Street with the grand opening of the new Walter Street Path to the Roslindale Wetlands Urban Wild area and its ecological restoration along with the start of the renovation/construction phase creating four units of affordable home ownership with Habitat for Humanity. We supported this project, which advances equity as well as climate resiliency, and encourage other supporters to attend this opening event. There will be fun, snacks, wetlands walks, info tables, and of course, a ribbon-cutting.
Spread the word!
Three Good News Items for your Tuesday!
We sometimes have the opportunity to write about actual newsy items happening around our neighborhood and today is such a day as we have 3 good ones for everyone:
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Sweeties has landed!
We were all sad to see Stephanie Ortiz move out of the area and Jimmie’s exit the square’s retail scene, but our sadness is now somewhat lessened by the arrival of their successors at 46 Corinth Street – Sweeties and their new “delightfully social” ice cream/fruit mix-ins concept. They’ve soft opened in the last few days. Go on down and give them a try. You won’t be disappointed!
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Rozzidents for More Rozzidents warms our hearts
As part of the pro-housing movement ourselves, we are greatly encouraged by the emergence of “Rozzidents for More Rozzidents” as part of the advocacy ecosystem here in Roslindale. On their facebook page, they describe themselves as “A group advocating for secure, abundant, and affordable housing in Roslindale, Boston, and beyond.” We couldn’t agree more with these sentiments and their buttons and stickers are supercool.
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We’re tabling! This Saturday – 8 June 2024! At the Farmers Market!
That’s right. Come find us anytime between 9:00 am and 1:30 pm this Saturday in Adams Park (we think; either there or Birch Plaza). We’ll be there with our table, banner, street chalk, and goodies, ready to talk about our mission, activities, and what’s next. Hope to see you there!
Squares + Streets Update – Visioning Workshop right ahead – 29 April 2024 – 6:00 pm at the RCC
We’ve just had an informative zoning session, anchored by a really useful zoning primer presentation, and now we’re on to a visioning workshop. Information pulled from the BPDA’s recent newsletter email directly below. Attendance is encouraged if you can make it!
Roslindale Square Squares + Streets Visioning Workshop | Register
Monday, April 29 | 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM | Roslindale Community Center BCYF | 6 Cummins Highway | Roslindale, MA 02131The BPDA is hosting an in-person visioning session to collaborate with the community on generating ideas for potential planning and zoning recommendations for the Roslindale Square Squares + Streets Plan. This session will include a summary of existing conditions analysis, feedback received to-date and community visions for different topic areas, as well as hands-on activities to contribute your ideas for potential recommendations.
ATTENTION: Mayor’s Neighborhood Coffee Hour – 25 April 2024 – 9:30 am to 10:30 am in Adams Park
This one snuck up on us, but very much worth attending to connect with the Mayor and City staff and our neighbors. Here’s the official write-up from the city’s website:
NEIGHBORHOOD COFFEE HOUR – ROSLINDALE
Mayor Michelle Wu and the Boston Parks and Recreation Department host the 2024 Neighborhood Coffee Hour Series in local parks citywide from April 22 to June 26.
Mayor Wu’s Neighborhood Coffee Hours are a unique opportunity to speak directly with the Mayor and staff from City departments about open space and their neighborhoods. Dunkin’ will be on-site to fuel the local community with freshly brewed Iced Coffee and Donuts. Dunkin’ will brew up even more fun with gift card giveaways. Residents at each event will also be eligible to win a raffle prize from Dunkin’. In addition, each family in attendance will receive a free flowering plant provided by the Boston Parks and Recreation Department, while supplies last. Fresh fruit will be provided by Star Market. Additional support by City Express.
For more information and updates on possible weather cancellations, please contact the Boston Parks and Recreation Department at 617-635-4505, on our social channels @bostonparksdept on X, Facebook, and Instagram, or by visiting the Parks Department website.