Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Madrid Presentation May 8
Madrid Presentation May 8
NEW HOUSING
COMMERCIAL & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PUBLIC REALM
OVERVIEW
INTERVENTIONS
Existing Housing:Interventions the quality, comfort and energy Improve Existing Housing Short-term Work with tenants, and Housing Code Enforcement efficiency of existing housing stock to landlords housing quality issues. cut household costs Division to address pressing in existing and enhance livability. Increase involvement programs. housing quality improvement and energy efficiency
Long-term
New Housing: Assess opportunities for developing new multifamily workforce housing that is high quality, energy New Housing Short-term efficient, transit accessible and reasonably priced.
Long-term
Advocate for more stringent regulation of housing conditions. Provide and manage information on housing quality issues to tenants and landlords. Assist in transferring ownership of renovated properties to tenants. Develop strategic roles in community energy efficiency. Investigate and purchase suitable sites for workforce housing. Develop new affordable housing. Explore new acquisition and financing strategies. Monitor neighborhood affordability indicators and other housing needs. Develop strategic partnerships to enhance economic development service delivery. Use the community space for business community engagement. Invest directly in commercial spaces. Develop programs for small business assistance. Develop programs for workforce development. Engage community groups in Fields Corner to start a conversation about streets and public spaces. Work with local businesses, building owners, artists, and the city to create more public art. Promote "pop-up" gardening and other uses of vacant space. Lobby the city to improve bike and pedestrian circulation. Lobby the city to create more green streets and public space.
Commercial and Economic Development: Increase economic Commercial and Short-term activity in the commercial core and increase employment Economic Development and entrepreneurship opportunities for residents;
Long-term Public Realm Short-term Public Realm: Promote sustainable modes of transportation and increased access and use of public space.
Long-term
EXISTING HOUSING
OBJECTIVES
Environmental Health & Livability
Upgrade housing quality Improve indoor environment and comfort Improve public health Improve overall quality of life of FC residents In longer run, revitalize residential areas of FC and encourage greater neighborhood pride
Economic Opportunity
Improve energy efficiency Reduce household energy costs Increase household discretionary income
KEY FINDINGS
Existing Housing Stock
Multifamily triple-deckers: 54.8% are 3-or-4-unit housing. Renter-occupied: 65.8% are rental units. Outdated: more than half were built between 1900 and 1910; two-thirds have never undergone substantial retrofit or maintenance. Low-quality: energy auditors found the following issues: outdated wiring, moisture, asbestos, combustion and structural safety
SHORT-TERM INTERVENTIONS
Housing Quality
Educate and organize tenants
Brochures and posters, cable TV and n/p community meetings Community organizers Bus and walking tours to attract attention of larger community
SHORT-TERM INTERVENTIONS
Improved Involvement in Energy Efficiency Programs
Bridge: Raise awareness among residents and assist them in program application
Use diverse outreach channels: integration into current educational and social activities Engage landlords through better targeted information: convincing precedents in neighborhood, cost-free home energy assessment, interest-free Mass Save HEAT Loan,
Ambassador:
Disseminate information among residents Eliminate misconceptions about EE programs Focus on owner-occuped triple-deckers
Partner: Enhance
collaboration with program deliverers Collect feedback from program participants and communicate with program deliverers
LONG-TERM INTERVENTIONS
Housing Quality
Advocate for improvements in existing housing quality regulations
Tracking persistent violations and reinspections of irresponsible landlords properties Tracking absentee landlords
LONG-TERM INTERVENTIONS
Strategic Roles in Community Energy Efficiency
Platform: Provide onestop community services
Incorporate information about all available programs, compare and recommend suitable programs for specific households Initiate meetings for representatives from different programs Establish a database of participating households, pay return visits or calls
Envision a more ambitious model for community organizations participation and leadership in energy efficiency programs
NEW HOUSING
Income limits to qualify for affordable units Boston vs. Incomes in Fields Corner
$41,350 $24,800 $49,620 $58,000 $32,000
Objectives
Environmental Health & Livability: Provide residents with nearly all of their daily goods and services needs in a safe and attractive commercial area in their neighborhood, thus reducing car travel and increasing pedestrian activity. Economic Opportunity: Provide entrepreneurship and employment opportunities that build up residents skills and provide sustainable sources of income. Social Equity and Inclusiveness: Help local businesses and residents, who are primarily lower-income and minority, take part in regional growth and prosperity.
Existing Conditions
Commercial Core: Retail businesses by number of employees More than 150 small businesses; Multi-ethnic cluster Businesses Assistance: Many programs around Boston; Viet-Aid has provided some vocationspecific programs Local Workforce: Most residents work in services, manufacturing, transportation, construction
Key Findings
Commercial Core: High vacancy and some poor building conditions, despite likely unmet demand Businesses Assistance: There is no robust source of technical assistance for the Fields Corner business community Local Workforce: 18% unemployment, and higher employment in the sectors where Fields Corner residents work
A Better City
Accion USA
BU Business Accelerator
PUBLIC
RATIONALE
Provide ideas to engage the community around physical improvements to the public realm Improve environmental health and livability by promoting sustainable modes of transportation Enable transit-oriented development Encourage the use of commercial core and public space Promote the use of green space Create a walkable neighborhood that enhances the pedestrian experience Improve visual connectivity to make to Fields Corner feel more cohesive and safe
KEY FINDINGS
Challenges:
Car-dominated neighborhood Bike infrastructure lacking Pedestrian connections confusing and incomplete Vacant lots and storefronts Street wall has varying conditions
Opportunities
Newly renovated MBTA stop Street art, urban gardens, and recreational amenities Recent street improvements
INTERVENTIONS: CONNECTIVITY
INTERVENTIONS: CONNECTIVITY
INTERVENTIONS: FACADES