Summary
The Upham’s Corner Implementation process builds on goals established by the community, outlined in both Imagine Boston 2030 and the Upham’s Corner Station Area Plan of the Fairmount Indigo Planning Initiative. The Implementation process focuses on putting those plans into effect by developing strategic parcels in the neighborhood. The process produced an RFP to solicit development services to deliver affordable housing, affordable commercial space, and a branch public library. This effort is guided by a unique partnership between the City of Boston, the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA), the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative (DSNI), and the Upham’s Corner community.
Request for Proposals for 555-559 Columbia Road
The Boston Planning & Development Agency, in partnership with the members of the Upham's Corner community, Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative, and Upham's Corner Main Street, evaluated two proposals for the redevelopment of the 555-559 Columbia Road parcels within Upham's Corner. The objective of these proposals was to provide affordable housing, affordable commercial space, and a branch for the Boston Public Library to the neighborhood. Civico DREAM was awarded tentative designation.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the 555-559 Disposition, please fill out the form below or contact Natalie Deduck at [email protected].
Resources
Past Planning Phases
Development Without Displacement
This unique partnership is fully committed to working closely with community partners to promote economic development without displacement. Strategic public investment in the creation of affordable housing and affordable commercial space along the Fairmount Indigo corridor is intended to preempt gentrification typified by private speculation attracted by public investment in transportation.
A map of the parcels to be included in the RFP can be found in PDF format here.
Community Vision
Upham’s Corner is a revitalized commercial, cultural and community center that is a celebration of diversity and an arts and cultural anchor of the Fairmount Indigo Corridor.
Having consistently identified Upham’s Corner as an arts and culture destination, previous planning initiatives laid important groundwork for the concept of establishing a neighborhood Arts and Innovation District in Upham’s Corner.
Upham’s Corner Arts and Innovation District
The Upham’s Corner Arts and Innovation District is based on the belief that sustainable opportunities for local residents and businesses will be created by empowering the significant entrepreneurial talent that exists in the neighborhood. Upham’s Corner is a hub of creative activity enabled, in part, by the physical assets that exist in close proximity to each other, including the historic Strand Theatre, the Upham’s Corner Branch Library, and the small businesses supported by Upham’s Corner Main Streets. Together, we envision an Arts and Innovation District where:
- Economic development is anchored by cultural uses that are enhanced and expanded to provide local residents, entrepreneurs, small businesses, and artists with the housing, venues, public amenities, and resources needed to collaborate and thrive;
- Investments, both public and private, are made strategically in response to the robust planning efforts that have led to the designation of this District, and support the ethnic and economic diversity of the community; and,
- Committed, collaborative partnerships come together to engage in creative problem-solving for the future of the neighborhood.
Recognizing that entrepreneurship and innovation come in many forms, the Upham’s Corner Arts and Innovation District will be designed as a hub of creativity to bolster collaboration among local residents, entrepreneurs, and business-owners.
Past Engagement
555-559 Columbia Road Community Meeting | January 19, 2023
A community meeting about the redevelopment of 555-559 Columbia Road in Upham's Corner. The two development teams that submitted proposals presented their plans for the site and answered questions.
Review materials from the meeting:
555-559 Columbia Road Community Meeting | October 19, 2022
The City of Boston and the Boston Planning & Development Agency hosted a community meeting to present the two developers’ presentations for Site 1 (555-559 Columbia Road) within the Upham's Corner Arts and Innovation District. This was an opportunity for the community to share feedback on the two proposals submitted in response to the Request for Proposals (RFP). This site will include affordable housing and a new branch of the Boston Public Library to fulfill the community’s vision.
Review materials from the meeting:
Arts and Innovation District: 16 Hamlet Street Developer's Presentation | June 1, 2022
The City of Boston and community partners hosted a developer’s presentation for Site 2 (16 Hamlet Street) of the Uphams Corner Arts & Innovation District’s RFP processes. This was an opportunity for the community to provide feedback to the City of Boston on the development proposal submitted in response to this RFP.
Presentation materials and the meeting recording can be found here.
The City of Boston and community partners held a virtual community meeting on November 17, 2021 to provide an update on the Upham's Corner Arts and Innovation District.
View meeting recording
Update on the Arts and Innovation District Process | November 19, 2020
This virtual public meeting updated the community on the Upham's Corner Arts & Innovation District process and RFPs.
Review materials from the meeting:
Arts & Innovation District Community Meeting | March 20, 2019
On Wednesday, March 20, 2019 community members joined City of Boston staff, the Boston Planning & Development Agency, and the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative for an event to celebrate the upcoming release of the RFP(s) at the Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center. Opening remarks were given by John Barros, Chief of Economic Development at the City of Boston and Denise Barros, Executive Director at DSNI. They were joined by Kara Elliot-Ortega, Chief of Arts and Culture, Sheila Dillon, Chief of Housing, and David Leonard, President at the Boston Public Library- with a special appearance by Mayor Martin J. Walsh.
Review materials from the event:
Community Workshop | November 28, 2018
Community Workshop | June 28, 2018
Community Workshop | May 16, 2018
Community Workshop | April 4, 2018
What We Heard & What We Learned | January 17, 2018
On Wednesday, January 17, 2018, community members joined City of Boston staff, the Boston Planning & Development Agency, and the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative for an Open House event at the Cape Verdean Adult Day Health Center. Opening remarks given by John Barros, Chief of Economic Development at the City of Boston, Julie Burros, Chief of Arts and Culture at the City of Boston, and Priscilla Foley, Director of Neighborhood Services at the Boston Public Library.
The event focused on:
- Reflecting on the Hopes, Fears and Questions from the November 30, 2018 meeting.
- Exploring three possible scenarios for the public library and Strand Theatre developed from previous conversations.
Presentation materials can be found in PDF format here.
Strand Theatre: Past, Present And Future | November 30, 2017
This event celebrated the history of the Strand and Upham’s corner while considering possible futures. Opening remarks given by Chief of Economic Development at the City of Boston, John Barros, and Chief of Arts and Culture, Julie Barros.
The event focused on:
- Celebrating Strand Theatre’s success and long history.
- Identifying our Hopes, Fears and Questions about the future of Strand Theatre and its impact on the community.
Presentation materials can be found in PDF format here.
A Library, A Theatre And More | November 2, 2017
This event asked community members to consider what makes the library in Upham’s Corner special or unique. Opening remarks given by Harry Smith, Director of Sustainable Development at Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative, and David Leonard, President of Boston Public Library.
The event focused on:
- Identifying specific uses, programs, and amenities imagined for the area.
- The current and future relationship between the public library and Strand Theatre as anchors in the area.
Presentation materials can be found in PDF format here.
Open House | October 4, 2017
This event helped orient community members to previous planning initiatives and the intent for the implementation process to follow. Opening remarks given by Chief of Economic Development at the City of Boston, John Barros, and Harry Smith, Director of Sustainable Economic Development at the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative.
The event focused on:
Presentation materials can be found in PDF format here.
Working Advisory Group
This document builds on earlier community-oriented planning processes and is a reflection of ideas and priorities expressed by the community members participating in a robust public outreach process, and is guided by a community-based advisory group. The Working Advisory Group (WAG), is a City-appointed advisory group for this process and includes residents, business owners, advocates and other community leaders who have been meeting regularly throughout the process to help shape the content of public meetings and review community feedback. Several members of the WAG participated in previous planning initiatives and offered continuity to the process, connecting planning with implementation.
Resources
The implementation process was informed by the work of several planning initiatives.