Planning Initiatives

The North Allston-Brighton Community-Wide Plan (known hereafter as CWP) is intended to augment, re-evaluate where necessary, and refine the goals and vision of the 2005 North Allston Strategic Framework for Planning (NASFP), especially with respect to how Harvard’s Institutional Master Plan relates to, and integrates with, the plan for the North Allston-Brighton neighborhood. The NASFP vision for the North Allston-Brighton neighborhood was intended to protect and enhance the traditional residential neighborhood. The NASFP vision framework provides information to help the BRA address and direct general real estate growth and development in the area and provides a broad neighborhood context for Harvard’s on-going master planning process for its campus.

The main purpose of the CWP is to create a master reference document that will list a series of specific planning and implementation measures some of which will be immediately developed and executed as part of this planning process, such as revised recommendations for codifiable (re)development regulations for certain areas.

The CWP will not create a new “Master Plan” for North Allston-Brighton but rather create an updated plan to ensure that there is a clear mechanism for implementing the goals which emanated from the community process and strategic framework.

Other planning and implementation measures identified as part of the CWP process will be included in the master reference document for near-term action along with a list of responsible parties and City departments. The objective of the document is to translate the community goals into codified development regulations and urban design guidelines, deed restrictions and easements; institutionalize City department policies for daily administration purposes; formalize future development review and regulatory requirements through written agreements and memoranda of understanding; and propose a clear economic development strategy that reflects the priorities of the City of Boston and the community for coordinated residential, retail and other real estate development.

The purpose of the CWP is to:

• Create a clear strategy for implementing recommendations and a vision for North Allston-Brighton by building upon, re-evaluating and updating the NASFP goals and vision.


• Gather and analyze data on residential and commercial real estate, retail market demand, business trends and other factors which will inform development decisions


• Provide an internal (City of Boston agencies) planning mechanism for responding to and coordinating development scenarios in light of the on-going Harvard Institutional Master Planning process as well as potential development by private property owners.

• Feb 27 Process approach


• Mar 12 Process & content approach


• Apr 9 & 12 Planning scope workshops


• Jun 11 Summary & RFP scope feedback


• Jul 23 Public realm workshop


• Sep 9 Area-wide armature, mutually-beneficial development strategies, & Brighton Mills – Holton Street corridor planning context


• Sep 24 Multi-modal transportation approach & long-range public transportation – BTD, EOT & MBTA


• Integrated streets, bike paths/lanes, pedestrian paths, & bus/shuttle networks


• Public transportation – buses, UR & commuter rail


• Oct 7 Urban design framework & opportunities – open space & sustainability – Barry’s Corner context


• Oct 14 Area-wide options, opportunities & development scenarios – housing, retail, workforce, mutually beneficial development strategies


• Oct 22 Campus planning response to Oct 14 CWP meeting *


• Oct 27 Community benefits *


• Nov 12 Preferred area-wide options & strategies – open space, retail & workforce development, housing & mutually beneficial development strategies


• Nov 17 Multi-modal transportation – area-wide options, opportunities & development scenarios


• Dec 1 Community benefits *


• Dec 10 Postponed - to be rescheduled


• April 27 2009 CWP Framework Review and Future Planning


• May 13 CWP Module I: Holton Street Corridor Planning


• May 27 CWP Module I: Holton Street Corridor Planning


• June 10 CWP Module I: Holton Street Corridor Planning


• June 29 CWP Module I: Holton Street Corridor Planning

1. Charlesview-NPC and PDA Change
   
2. CWP PowerPoint by Community Builders 6.29.09 Holton Street Corridor (Module I: Meeting #4)
   
3. CWP PowerPoint Presentation 6.29.09 Holton Street Corridor (Module I: Meeting #4)
   
4. CWP PowerPoint by Harvard 6.10.09 Holton St. Corridor (Module I: Meeting #3) also at www.allston.harvard.edu
   
5. CWP PowerPoint Presentation 5.27.09 Holton Street Corridor (Module I: Meeting #2)
   
6. CWP Break Out Session Notes 5.27.09 Holton Street Corridor (Module I: Meeting #2)
   
7. CWP PowerPoint Presentation 5.13.09 Holton Street Corridor (Module I: Meeting # 1)
   
8. CWP Break Out Session Notes 5.13.09 Holton Street Corridor (Module I: Meeting #1)
   
9. CWP Community Walking Tour Notes 5.7.09 Holton Street Corridor
   
10. CWP PowerPoint Presentation 4.27.09 Review of Framework/Armature (2009 kick-off meeting)
    
11. CWP PowerPoint Presentation 11.12.08 Urban Design and Development Scenarios
    
12. CWP PowerPoint Presentation 10.14.08 Economics & Convergent Strategies
    
13. CWP PowerPoint Presentation 10.7.08 Urban Design Framework & Opportunities (Large file, save first if unable to open directly)
    
14. CWP PowerPoint Presentation 10.7.08 Urban Design and Open Space Framework
    
15. CWP PowerPoint Presentation 9.24.08 Boston Transportation Department slides (2)
    
16. CWP PowerPoint Presentation 9.24.08 Transportation Framework