OVERVIEW:

Building on years of planning and community engagement in Upham’s Corner, DSNI and the City of Boston are leading the implementation process for the Upham’s Corner Arts & Innovation District (UCAID). Since 2018, DSNI and partners have engaged hundreds of residents and stakeholders in a planning and visioning process for the UCAID. These meetings included community leaders, residents, artists, local business owners and more.

The goals for the UCAID is to create a district centered around:

  • Development without Displacement

  • Maintaining diversity and existing community fabric

  • Affordable housing and commercial space

  • Support local artists and creators


The planning is centered on the (re)development of 3 major sites:

  • Site 1: Former Bank of America building & the Strand Theatre

  • Site 2: Municipal Lot (behind CVS Pharmacy & Brothers Market)

  • Site 3: Former Citizens Bank building (currently owned by DNI Community Land Trust)

Together, these sites will achieve the community’s vision for UCAID. DNI released a Request for Proposals (RFP) in December 2020 for the Former Citizens Bank building and the City of Boston will release an RFP for the remaining sites. Each RFP reflects input from community members and are aligned with the goals.

sites that are to be redeveloped in the ucaid process.

sites that are to be redeveloped in the ucaid process.

DUDLEY NEIGHBORS INC. COMMUNITY BUILDING (DNICB)

In 2018, marking the first private acquisition for the community land trust, DNI purchased the former Citizens Bank building, also known as the DNICB. Since then, DSNI and DNI have engaged residents and community members in visioning the future uses for the building. Residents and community members emphasized the need for more affordable housing and commercial units, artist work and live space, and community space. In December 2020, DNI released a RFP for the site and convened a steering committee of residents to review RFP responses and make a recommendation on a developer, to the resident-majority DSNI and DNI boards . The steering committee met between March-May to review proposals. In April, DSNI hosted a public Sustainable Development Committee meeting, where the two teams who responded to the RFP presented their proposals to the community and could answer questions. The selection was based on criteria developed by the community in planning process.

DNI will soon announce the developer! The building is currently home to 8 tenants, including community partners and local businesses, Boston24Fit, Design Studio for Social Intervention, Dorchester Bay EDC, Fairmount Innovation Lab, New Era Security and Winn Properties.

As part of the CLT, the DNICB will always be community controlled!

cOMMUNITY MEETING HOSTED AT THE DNICB

cOMMUNITY MEETING HOSTED AT THE DNICB

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TIMELINE

During the UCAID planning process, DSNI hosted many community meetings to engage residents in developing a vision for Upham’s Corner.

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WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW?

  • DSNI’s community land trust, Dudley Neighbors Inc. (DNI), has released and reviewed responses to a request for proposal for the development of the former Citizens Bank building, also known as DNICB. DNI convened a steering committee of residents and other community members to lead the selection process. An announcement on the selected developer is pending.

  • The Working Advisory Group (WAG), a city appointed advisory group, convened by the City of Boston and comprised of residents, community members and partners continues to lead the process and meet regularly. Meetings are open to the public and held every Monday from 6:15-7:45pm. To log into the virtual meetings visit click here and scroll down to Working Advisory Group section of the page.

  • The City of Boston continues to host community meetings to discuss the upcoming releases of request for proposals (RFP) for the former Bank of America building (site 1) and the Municipal Lot (site 2). The RFP for the city-owned parcels seeks a developer that can deliver an operator for the historic Strand Theatre, affordable housing, affordable commercial space, and a branch public library. The branch public library will be located at the former Bank of America building site and the adjacent lot. Stay tuned for upcoming meetings and events.

PARTNERS:

DSNI has collaborated with a number of partners in this process, including:

FOR MORE INFORMATION: