At a Glance

The Longwood Medical Area (LMA) is a world-class medical and academic center located between Brookline and Mission Hill.

The LMA features a mix of dense state-of-the-art hospital buildings, attractive college facilities, and apartment housing. Frederick Law Olmstead’s graceful Emerald Necklace park forms the northwest corner of the district. Huntington Avenue, lined with arts and cultural institutions such as the Museum of Fine Arts and nearby Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum, marks the southeastern edge and is known as Boston's "Avenue of the Arts".

Longwood Medical Area is also a major economic engine for both Boston and the region. World renown medical institutions including Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Joslin Diabetes Center, and other healthcare and research facilities attract billions of dollars in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding annually, making Boston the leading recipient of NIH funding among all U.S. cities for 18 consecutive years. Simmons College, Emmanuel College, Mass College of Pharmacy, Mass College of Art, Harvard Medical School, Harvard Dental School, and several other academic institutions attract thousands of students. The Longwood Collective offers planning, transportation, and coordination support to the area's many institutions.

Want to learn about and share your ideas on planning and development in your neighborhood? Email our Community Engagement team at PlanningEngagement@boston.gov to learn about upcoming engagement opportunities. For information about planning context, zoning, or Planning Department processes, please contact [email protected].