The City of Boston's Zoning Commission has sanctioned a new era of urban development with the approval of the Squares + Streets zoning in Roslindale Square. In a bid to amp up the neighborhood's mixed-use identity, the new zoning districts will cater to a variety of needs, emphasizing walkability, support for small businesses, outdoor gathering areas, and housing growth. Mayor Michelle Wu expressed her vision for a revitalized Boston, where each district's charm coalesces into a city that embraces all. "Transforming Roslindale Square into a robust, family-friendly neighborhood center is critical in our work to make Boston a home for everyone," according to the City of Boston's release.
As per the City of Boston's statement from Chief of Planning Kairos Shen, this zoning overhaul is more than just a facelift; it's a strategic move to enrich the local living and business conditions. Shen noted, "This zoning will finally expand opportunities for multi-family housing and businesses in Roslindale Square, supporting a bustling and vibrant neighborhood center." The enthusiasm comes after a methodical year-long community process, where Roslindale residents had a direct hand in shaping the vision for their turf.
Extending beyond the Square, the zoning shifts align with the Roslindale Square Small Area Plan's goal to bolster areas primed for residential and small business activity. District 5 City Councilor Enrique Pepen shared, “I’m excited to see this vision become a reality, taking a big step toward building a more dynamic and inclusive neighborhood,” as detailed by the City of Boston. The zoning map emerged from a blend of community engagement and critical feedback, pushing Roslindale forward with six distinctive districts, each outlined by diverse height and density considerations.
Local voices like Ben Bruno of WalkUP Roslindale and Kathryn Ostrofsky have heralded the zoning updates for addressing critical living issues like housing shortages and surging rents. Bruno, calling for bolder housing solutions, and Ostrofsky, yearning for a community that thrives on walkability, mirror each other's aspirations for a renewed Roslindale. "We desperately need more housing in order to slow the current rates of displacement and skyrocketing rent, in the neighborhood, and what better place to put it than close to transit and shops," as mentioned in the City of Boston's release. The collective hopes are for development that not only adds new structures but knits the neighborhood closer together, fostering a sense of belonging.
With the new jurisdictions, Roslindale. appears on the brink of transformation. This makeover facilitates the construction of housing near public transit, modifications to extant homes for wealth building, and new cultural and small business opportunities. The emphasis on transit-orientation wants to ensure that housing becomes more than shelter—becoming instead lynchpins in a progressive, culturally rich community fabric.
