Welcome! ¡Bienvenido! Byenvini!
The Roslindale Square plan will determine a public investment and growth-focused vision for the area focused on the central commercial blocks and transit assets. It is one of the first plans being developed as part of Squares + Streets, a new planning and zoning initiative that will focus on housing, public space, arts and culture, small businesses, and transportation in neighborhood centers and along main streets.
About Squares + Streets
The City of Boston is launching a series of Squares + Streets plans. One of the initial four locations is Roslindale Square, a key commercial district in the Roslindale neighborhood. The people who live, work, shop, and visit this commercial area will have the opportunity to participate in the development of the Roslindale Square Plan.
To learn more about Squares + Streets, please see the project homepage.
Roslindale Square Overview
Roslindale Square is a historic commercial area approximately 6 miles south of Downtown Boston in the heart of the Roslindale neighborhood. It retains many historic buildings and has a diverse mix of local restaurants, shops, and civic spaces, such as the Roslindale Branch of the Boston Public Library and the Roslindale Substation. Adams Park, a .7-acre public park in the center of Roslindale Square, is an important anchor of community events, including the annual Roslindale Farmers Market.
This area is serviced by the Roslindale Village station as part of the MBTA Commuter Rail, as well as several MBTA bus routes. For more information, see the:
Roslindale Square Plan
The focus of the Roslindale Square planning process will determine a public investment and growth-focused vision for the area focused on the central commercial blocks and transit assets. The planning process will:
- Focus on housing, small businesses, public space, cultural amenities, transit assets etc. that reflect the unique needs of this area.
- Develop Squares + Streets plans in 6–9 month timeframes.
Get Involved
Roslindale Squares + Streets Ideas Reception - Continuing Opportunities for Feedback!
Please find all of the materials presented at the July 17 Roslindale Squares + Streets Ideas Reception below, including a virtual survey to provide feedback on the draft recommendations presented at this meeting. The survey will be open through Wednesday, July 31! Refer to the linked virtual posters for more information, images, and context that further illustrates the recommendations.
Presentation
Packet
Posters
- Housing and Anti-Displacement
- Arts + Culture
- Small Business
- Land Use Framework
- Open Space and Resiliency
- Transportation
Roslindale Square Plan Ideas Reception Survey
Roslindale Square Squares + Streets Engagement Storymap
The newly released Roslindale Square Squares + Streets Engagement Storymap is a continually updated resource that documents community feedback and themes, engagements hosted to date, and provides a detailed engagement timeline for the entire 6–9 month planning process.
Upcoming Events
Stay tuned for upcoming engagement!
Previous Events
Roslindale Square Squares + Streets: Post-Ideas Reception Pop-up
Roslindale Boston Public Library (outside the library) | 4246 Washington Street Roslindale, MA 02131
Thursday, July 18, 2024 | 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Roslindale Square Squares + Streets - Ideas Reception Public Meeting
Roslindale Community Center BCYF | 6 Cummins Highway, Roslindale, MA 02131
Wednesday, July 17, 2024 | 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Roslindale Square Squares + Streets - Visioning Questions Pop-Ups
Roslindale Square Squares + Streets Visioning Workshop
Tuesday, May 7, 2024 | 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Staff hosted a virtual 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 included 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.
Presentation | Presentation (Spanish) | Recording
Roslindale Square Squares + Streets Visioning Workshop
Roslindale Community Center BCYF at 6 Cummins Highway, Roslindale, MA 02131
Monday, April 29, 2024 | 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Staff hosted 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 included 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.
Presentation | Presentation (Spanish) | Booklets | Booklets (Spanish)
Roslindale Square Squares + Streets - Zoning Workshop
Wednesday, April 24, 2024 | 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
At this workshop, community members were introduced to zoning as a tool that guides development and discussed zoning through a community development mindset. The workshop started with a walkthrough of how zoning works in Boston and focused on existing zoning regulations in Roslindale Square and proposed zoning in Squares + Streets zoning districts as context.
The second half of the workshop was an interactive, facilitated activity to think about how proposals for community development projects would have to interact with existing zoning regulations in Roslindale Square. By the end of the workshop, community members engaged in initial conversations about community development goals that will support future engagement conversations on how the mapping of Squares + Streets zoning districts can support those goals.
Existing Commercial Zoning Guide | Presentation | Presentation (Spanish)
Roslindale Square Cultural Assets, Transportation, and Public Realm 'Walkshop'
Adams Park, 4225 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02131
Sunday, April 7, 2024 | 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Staff hosted a walking tour of the main commercial streets around Roslindale Square that will ask the community for input on a number of areas including transportation, buildings, arts & culture, and public realm. Participants of the walk were able to share their perspective on the study area and offer ideas for improvements.
Roslindale S+S Engagement Report Out Meeting
Wednesday, April 3, 2024 | 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
At this virtual meeting, based on the newly released Roslindale Square Squares + Streets Engagement Storymap, staff reported on engagement themes, reviewed the engagement timeline, and asked the community to respond to and refine the themes and community goals developed to-date. A presentation and live poll followed a Q+A discussion.
Recording | Chat Log
Roslindale Square Squares + Streets Spanish Meeting
Menino Center, 125 Brookway Road, Roslindale, MA 02131
Wednesday, March 27, 2024 | 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
La agencia de planificación y desarrollo de Boston organizará una reunión híbrida de Plazas + Calles en español para revisar los objetivos del proyecto, el cronograma del proceso de planificación y participación, y resaltar las oportunidades para participar. Se proporcionarán servicios de traducción para inglés y criollo haitiano. Se ofrecerán refrigerios ligeros y cuidado de niños por orden de llegada.
Staff hosted a hybrid Spanish language Squares + Streets meeting to review the project goals, the timeline of the planning and engagement process, and highlight opportunities to be involved.
Presentation
Roslindale Square Housing and Small Business Visioning Workshop
Roslindale Community Center, 6 Cummins Hwy, Roslindale, MA 02131
Wednesday, March 13, 2024 | 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Staff is hosted a housing and small business visioning workshop as part of the 6-9 month planning and engagement process for the Roslindale Square Squares + Streets plan. At this event, community members learned more about current tools the City has to create and preserve housing and support small businesses, how the Squares + Streets Small Area Plan can address current housing and small business challenges in Roslindale, and envisioned through hands-on activities, what Roslindale Square might need for the future to support diverse households and businesses.
Presentation
Coffee Hours / Office hours
- Wednesday, May 1, 2024
- Wednesday, May 8, 2024
- Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Wednesday, May 22, 2024
- Wednesday, May 29, 2024
- Wednesday, March 6, 2024
- Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Roslindale Square Open House
Saturday, February 24, 2024 | 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Staff hosted an open house to officially kick off the 6-9 month planning and engagement process for the Roslindale Square Squares + Streets plan! At this event, community members learned more about the Squares + Streets planning & zoning processes while helping us understand their priorities, history, and hopes for Roslindale Square.
Presentation | Presentation (Spanish) | Presentation (Haitian Creole)
What makes Roslindale Square a great place to live, work, play, shop, or visit?
![Map of the Roslindale Square plan area in Boston.](https://www.bostonplans.org/getmedia/831dc401-6f29-460b-9dd3-df72e7d754b0/Roslindale-Square-Plan-Area)
Over the course of the spring and summer, staff will be at several community events to engage with you about the Roslindale Square plan. Check out the "Stay Connected" section for engagement notifications and our calendar to check out upcoming Roslindale Squares + Streets engagement activities.
Language Access
Through Squares + Streets the City of Boston is committed to making this as inclusive and open a process as possible. As part of this effort, we intend to offer interpretation and translation services at our key public meetings and engagements and ensure that key materials and updates are provided in Spanish and Haitian Creole. If you need any of these materials or information in an additional language please email [email protected].