Rebuilding Neighborhoods Initiative

Rebuilding Neighborhoods began in 2020 as a cross-stakeholder conversation between local organizations and corporations in the technology and innovation sector to address housing and gentrification in the greater Boston area. Asian Community Development Corporation (ACDC), was the co-convener alongside the Alliance for Business Leadership (ABL), and FMRA was recruited to design and facilitate the sessions.

What makes this strategic initiative unique is that it brought together community organizers, small business owners, and corporations in the technology and innovation sector to develop community-centered, implementable solutions to address gentrification and the lack of affordable housing in three greater Boston neighborhoods: Chinatown, Fenway, and Union Square in Somerville.

“To ensure that Greater Boston remains economically healthy and accessible for all, we must work together to make sure that this region continues to accommodate diverse populations.”
— Rebuilding Neighborhoods Summary

the PROBLEM

While the tech and innovation sector has helped create jobs and drive the economic boom in Greater Boston, it has also contributed to rising housing costs, creating some tensions between community groups and tech companies (see Seattle and San Francisco as examples). These issues also impacted tech companies and local businesses alike who found it difficult to attract and retain a workforce able to live in the area.

As the COVID-19 public health crisis exacerbated economic disparities – and especially among vulnerable populations (low-income, immigrant, elderly) – it became obvious the pandemic would have lasting effects. As such, the Rebuilding Neighborhoods was reframed as an opportunity for sectors to imagine our way out of the pandemic and address the growing economic and housing gaps.

“Ratio of jobs and housing units is off in Union Square. The building I live in is already attracting higher income people. Lower income people can’t afford another rent increase... We need to figure out our housing needs and move quickly. ”
— Union Squre resident quote from Beya Jimenez's Community Snapshot series

the GOALS

  1. Articulate a shared vision for an equitable system of housing across the Greater Boston area with a particular focus on addressing the needs of the Chinatown, Fenway, and Union Square communities.

  2. Develop a set of recommendations that drive equitable development for the Greater Boston area with a focus on Chinatown, Fenway, and Union Square in Somerville.

  3. Develop and commit to a set of outcomes and metrics to measure the progress towards the goal of equitable development and towards the execution of our recommendations.

the members

Each team comprised five to six individuals, including a mix of community leaders, residents, small business owners, and businesses leaders in the tech and innovation sector to represent each neighborhood from different perspectives.

the Process

In 2020, consultant, Beya Jimenez, first completed a Community Snapshot series with residents from each neighborhood. Her research identified that across all three neighborhoods resident concerns were around: affordable housing development, neighborhood identity and support for workers and small businesses. The findings informed ACDC, ABL, and FMRA on how to design the Advisory Group. 

Between January and June 2021, ACDC and ABL convened six monthly meetings which consisted of presentations by notable speakers on various topics related to affordable housing, followed by facilitated conversation. Drawing from the group’s collective learnings, each neighborhood cohort developed their own plan to advance affordable housing in their respective communities.

Rebuilding Neighborhoods Advisory Group was made possible through funding from Toast and The Boston Foundation.