We’ve won commitments

The following principles must be followed by developers that seek to build on public land in Roxbury:

1- Economic Development:

Incoming development should promote local business and job creation, providing maximum opportunities for local, small and disadvantaged businesses and job creation and training for people of color and women.

2- Income Restricted Housing

Two-thirds of housing units must be income-restricted affordable housing, with one-third targeting low and moderate income households

Good Jobs Standards:

Proposal developments must support good permanent jobs at site and engage in fair hiring practices which will support the participation of people of Roxbury and Nubian Square.

3- Development without Displacement

Proposed Developments must assist the current residents of Roxbury to afford to remain living in their community and to find pathways to economic opportunity

4- Diversity and Inclusion

Proponents must include a plan for creating increased opportunities for people of color, women, and Minority/Women Business Enterprises (M/WBEs) to participate in the development.

5- Consistency with Area Planning History

Proposals should meet the goals stated in the Roxbury Strategic Master Plan, Dudley Vision, and Roxbury Cultural District processes. Development should act as a catalyst to promote the arts, culture, education, commercial, and retail enterprises.

6 -Sustainable, Resilient, and Healthy Development

Proposals should exemplify the community’s and the City’s goals for sustainable, resilient and healthy new construction, including Mayor Walsh’s Carbon Neutral Boston 2050 commitment. The development should target net zero energy or net zero carbon performance.

We improved the process: Democracy in decision making. 

Early on, we identified a breakdown in the community decision making process(see Figure 1). Since then, the process is more open as described below. Not only did we help create improved standards, but we also were able to push Mayor Walsh and the BPDA to bring more democracy into decision making in Roxbury public land development

After our advocacy:

New Project Review Committees

New Roxbury Strategic Master Plan Oversight Committee  (RSMPOC) members

Now: There is a public, and open process for project review committees where individuals can self nominate, local community groups, and local elected officials

Now: There is a public, and open process for project review committees where individuals can self nominate, local community groups, and local elected officials