Boston – The Urban Land Institute (ULI) of Boston/New England announced the results of a Technical Assistance Panel (TAP) in the neighborhood of Jamaica Plain in Boston, for potential uses of the MBTA Arborway Yard, conducted in partnership with the MBTA and Emerald Necklace Conservancy.
The conservancy’s goal for the study was to understand best practices for developing a site that includes services adjacent to the Emerald Necklace Park system, while also incentivizing the MBTA to develop an electric bus facility that supports pedestrian and other street level activity.
Recognizing the time constraints of the MBTA, the TAP proposal did not significantly change the existing design of the facility, instead advising a sequential reconfiguration of the project that would allow the conservancy’s proposed uses for the land to better meet the goals of the MBTA and the greater Forest Hills community. The recommended approach would not require significant changes to the redesign of the core facility, though it would create more appealing development parcels on Washington Street. The TAP also recommended shifting the extensive parking space within the current design to a cost-effective parking garage that improves flexibility and access and allows for the potential addition of housing on the site (approximately 600-900 units).
The TAP findings were presented to the City of Boston and MBTA on July 24 and 31 with multiple comprehensive options for each zone of the redevelopment. Ultimately, the MBTA utilized the feedback from the TAP to inform a new bus facility concept, shared in a public meeting in October with the community.
“ULI’s commitment to responsibility in land use and development is central to our mission, and TAPs exemplify the execution of this commitment to our local communities,” stated Michelle Landers, executive director at ULI Boston/New England. “We understand the importance of finding a balance between preserving essential public transportation infrastructure and creating a thriving urban environment. Our panel of experts’ thoughtful approach to development, including community-centric design and increased housing opportunities, is evident in their recommendations.”
TAPs utilize the expertise of diverse ULI members, all of whom have significant planning and development experience. The panels provide actionable recommendations at the request of public officials and nonprofit organizations facing complex land use challenges. For more information on the TAP’s findings, view the full report.
