FOREST HILLS IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVE
Boston, Massachusetts

The Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) undertook a community planning initiative to look at the Forest Hills district of Boston as a whole and to study five parcels of land located near the Forest Hills transit station, a major hub for subway, commuter rail, and buses located at the end of the Orange Line. Four of the parcels were owned by the MBTA, which had decided to sell or lease the parcels for development.

Working together with the BRA, we produced urban design plans and 3D sketches of potential build-out scenarios for the parcels. These drawings were used in community presentations and working sessions and were published in the Jamaica Plain Gazette, the local newspaper. Aspects of them have been incorporated into a final report published by the BRA and in the design of the first two buildings.

Our plans emphasize creating a walkable neighborhood that increases the density of the area around the transit station by providing housing, shopping, office space, and community services.

Public open space is located to tie in to the entries of existing local parks and open spaces, including the Arnold Arboretum, Franklin Park, the Southwest Corridor Park, and Forest Hills Cemetery.

The building language is inspired by the historic red-brick brewery buildings located in Jamaica Plain, elemental in form, which have large areas of glazing and a strong presence on the street. Building masses are scaled to relate to the lower-density neighborhoods adjacent to the main streets. The development proposals are to serve as guidelines for potential developers.