Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
In my opinion Nubian Square is the most important one in Boston when that’s done there’s a bunch of underutilized land around Melnea Cass Boulevard, Albany, Harrison, and Shawmut Ave. not to mention the underutilized light industry down that way and the remaining vacant lots pockmarking Roxbury. Also BHA owns several developments there some of which- like Whittier street- are already being redeveloped to add capacity and mixed income ranges.
Bringing in performance space, a couple new bars, a technical college, a 250 spot parking garage, and the preexisting developments (Barlett Square, New Hotel, Tropical Food Super Market and a potentially 25 story tower Rio Grande Building) will ultimately expand the heavily urbanized core of Boston southward. Already it’s has become home to BPS headquarters, a few sit down restaurants, a major bus station/Silver Line, the American cities coalition, and several other offices. Already when one visit it feels very vibrant and lively now- there are street vendors, truck vendors, unlicensed dispensaries, quick places to grab a bite, two gyms, a Roxbury Montessori School, clothing retailers like Ashley Stewart, Haley House Cafe (undergoing expansion) and a speakeasy/club in Nosa Boston.
Suffolk’s Downs -comparatively feels too far removed from Boston and much more inorganic in its future growth. Nubian Square feels like a naturally outgrowth and hopefully there’s uniform development than sprouts up from there. When development of P3 begins in earnest it’s really going to make Lower Roxbury-Nubian assure a dynamic neighborhood more akin to something you’d see in a trendy part of Brooklyn in terms of just the overall vibe and culture.
In my opinion Nubian Square is the most important one in Boston when that’s done there’s a bunch of underutilized land around Melnea Cass Boulevard, Albany, Harrison, and Shawmut Ave. not to mention the underutilized light industry down that way and the remaining vacant lots pockmarking Roxbury. Also BHA owns several developments there some of which- like Whittier street- are already being redeveloped to add capacity and mixed income ranges.
Bringing in performance space, a couple new bars, a technical college, a 250 spot parking garage, and the preexisting developments (Barlett Square, New Hotel, Tropical Food Super Market and a potentially 25 story tower Rio Grande Building) will ultimately expand the heavily urbanized core of Boston southward. Already it’s has become home to BPS headquarters, a few sit down restaurants, a major bus station/Silver Line, the American cities coalition, and several other offices. Already when one visit it feels very vibrant and lively now- there are street vendors, truck vendors, unlicensed dispensaries, quick places to grab a bite, two gyms, a Roxbury Montessori School, clothing retailers like Ashley Stewart, Haley House Cafe (undergoing expansion) and a speakeasy/club in Nosa Boston.
Suffolk’s Downs -comparatively feels too far removed from Boston and much more inorganic in its future growth. Nubian Square feels like a naturally outgrowth and hopefully there’s uniform development than sprouts up from there. When development of P3 begins in earnest it’s really going to make Lower Roxbury-Nubian assure a dynamic neighborhood more akin to something you’d see in a trendy part of Brooklyn in terms of just the overall vibe and culture.
While I agree Nubian Square is great for that part of Boston, it too is surrounded by high density neighborhoods already that people visit. Nubian Square isn’t a grass field or vacant lot without people. Suffolk Downs was selected because it will impact the surrounding area much more than infill development like a Seaport or Nubian Square.
While I agree Nubian Square is great for that part of Boston, it too is surrounded by high density neighborhoods already that people visit. Nubian Square isn’t a grass field or vacant lot without people. Suffolk Downs was selected because it will impact the surrounding area much more than infill development like a Seaport or Nubian Square.
It’s not surrounded by any neighborhoods people visit really. People go to Northeastern but most folks don’t make it south of Massachusetts Avenue in the South End. That part of the South End is not a tourism area.
There are significant boundaries in between places people visit in Nubian Square mostly because Nubian Square is bounded by six lane traffic to the north with Melnea Cass Boulevard, https://maps.app.goo.gl/hsA6zbfHVA6acWUA7?g_st=ic
It’s not surrounded by any neighborhoods people visit really. People go to Northeastern but most folks don’t make it south of Massachusetts Avenue in the South End. That part of the South End is not a tourism area.
There are significant boundaries in between places people visit in Nubian Square mostly because Nubian Square is bounded by six lane traffic to the north with Melnea Cass Boulevard, https://maps.app.goo.gl/hsA6zbfHVA6acWUA7?g_st=ic
But it’s still not a grass field or race track in this instance. It’s being redeveloped. I compare it more to Northeast Heights in DC’s Ward 7. Very significant for the surrounding community, but not an entire new neighborhood where one didn’t exist prior.
But it’s still not a grass field or race track in this instance. It’s being redeveloped. I compare it more to Northeast Heights in DC’s Ward 7. Very significant for the surrounding community, but not an entire new neighborhood where one didn’t exist prior.
The ratio of devices to resident at Suffolk’s downs will not be on par with Nubian square. Suffolk’s downs seems like it will be much more inward and self contained whereas Nubian Square is going to naturally and gradually expand the core urbanized areas of Boston for everyone around it. And the Jazz Urban Cafe will be a draw for suburbanites for sure. But that place NEEDS to open in the next year, finally. It might not open until there is a consensus the area is safe and has enough household with disposable income. I think its teetering on that line.
While Suffolk Downs will be a new neighborhood… it’s not in the MIDDLE of cathedral city and much less likely IMO to get travel through traffic. I’m not saying it’s a “ if a tree drops in the middle of the forest and no one’s around to hear it doesn’t make a sound” situation but it’s a lot closer to that than Nubian Square… is disadvantaged by roadblocks like the airport, the only in city toll, and poor traffic through flow through the very outdated Route 1A.
Just in my personal opinion- I've never been as impressed by entire from scratch developments as I am the concentration of several key projects to revitalize and infill neighborhokds. The latter seems much more difficult and has a bigger/wider impact on surrounding areas. People have wanted Nubian Square to revitalize since the 1980s, no one really cared about Suffolk Downs. Life went on just fine.
If you were able to see where NubianSquare was in 1997 you'd see how little was actually there. I remember that opening a post office logistic warehouse and social security administration office was considered a monuments and significant development.
Suffolk downs already has a stop on the blue line. As a new destination on the outer portion of boston/bostons inner urban suburbs it will make the city of Boston feel larger and more expansive.
The odds of me ever going to that part of East Boston are basically zero. The world ends at Logan. Anything beyond it is Revere.
The odds of me ever going to that part of East Boston are basically zero. The world ends at Logan. Anything beyond it is Revere.
Yeah there are definitely redevelopment projects that while a large scale, are fundamentally tied to uplifting local communities/neighborhoods, where as other (Seaport, Navy Yards, Baltimore Peninsula, etc..) are intended to be city wide tourist destinations and or economic engines.
The ratio of devices to resident at Suffolk’s downs will not be on par with Nubian square. Suffolk’s downs seems like it will be much more inward and self contained whereas Nubian Square is going to naturally and gradually expand the core urbanized areas of Boston for everyone around it. And the Jazz Urban Cafe will be a draw for suburbanites for sure. But that place NEEDS to open in the next year, finally. It might not open until there is a consensus the area is safe and has enough household with disposable income. I think its teetering on that line.
While Suffolk Downs will be a new neighborhood… it’s not in the MIDDLE of cathedral city and much less likely IMO to get travel through traffic. I’m not saying it’s a “ if a tree drops in the middle of the forest and no one’s around to hear it doesn’t make a sound” situation but it’s a lot closer to that than Nubian Square… is disadvantaged by roadblocks like the airport, the only in city toll, and poor traffic through flow through the very outdated Route 1A.
Just in my personal opinion- I've never been as impressed by entire from scratch developments as I am the concentration of several key projects to revitalize and infill neighborhokds. The latter seems much more difficult and has a bigger/wider impact on surrounding areas. People have wanted Nubian Square to revitalize since the 1980s, no one really cared about Suffolk Downs. Life went on just fine.
If you were able to see where NubianSquare was in 1997 you'd see how little was actually there. I remember that opening a post office logistic warehouse and social security administration office was considered a monuments and significant development.
I think everything happening in Nubian Square is significant, but it is significantly smaller in comparison to the other developments listed for each city. For example, I could have chose the St. Elizabeth East campus in DC's Ward 8 that is well underway and will total over 5 million sq. feet of mixed use development when done. Just to name a few things there:
I didn't choose the St. Elizabeth East campus because the significance of that development is huge for East of the River DC, but will not impact the city like a development in an area of the city that is very suburban like the fields of the AFRH site. The entire North Capitol Street corridor is being redesigned to fit the urban form of the surrounding neighborhoods.
Yeah there are definitely redevelopment projects that while a large scale, are fundamentally tied to uplifting local communities/neighborhoods, where as other (Seaport, Navy Yards, Baltimore Peninsula, etc..) are intended to be city wide tourist destinations and or economic engines.
Suffolk Downs might end up being 15,000 beds, some mixed use space, and a few office buildings unlikely to be occupied by A List corporations because it’s a lousy location. Boston needs the beds but it’s not going to impact the city one way or another.
Until the commercial office space issue settles out, it’s hard to predict how any of these cities will fare.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
