Planning Initiatives

In the fall of 1995, Mayor Thomas M. Menino appointed a 40 member Task Force that worked with the BRA to begin the revitalization effort of one of Boston's most prominent and historic streets. Drawing from a diverse group of residents, community activists, neighborhood business owners, and city and state officials. The Washington Street Task Force began meeting in January of 1996 with the goal of recommending aggressive strategies to encourage investment and redevelopment along a 1.5 mile stretch of Washington Street in historic South End and Lower Roxbury. The Boston Redevelopment Authority owned 7 acres of vacant parcels and also two boarded-up historic buildings on the street. The Task Force plan was finalized in May, 1997.

Today, through implementation of the Task Force plan, new zoning was adopted by the BRA in 1997. Through the hard work of the local Boston Main Street program called Washington Gateway Main Street, there has been $650 million of investment from public and private sector, over 1950 new and rehab housing units have been built with 900 of them are affordable, 1100 new underground parking spaces created, 160,000 square feet of new retail spaces have been built, and 62 new business have opened. Over 50 businesses have received storefront improvements though the Main Street program. The tax base for this area has grown 247% (city Average 146%.Awards: 2005 The Great American Main Street Award by National Trust for Historic Preservation and in 2007 American Planning Association's, Great Places in America Award for Washington Street being one of the 10 best streets in America.

1. Presentation Dec. 20 2012
   
2. A New Washington Street
   
3. Washington Street Task Force Report
   
4. American Planning Association Great Streets
   
5. APA Great Streets Nomination