Density

Density

Generally “Density” is first understood as its impact on traffic and parking. Many streets in this neighborhood predate the invention of the automobile and often houses have no space for a driveway. While the area is served by a T stop, it is a fact that many workers must commute to locations that are not accessible by public transportation, and a lack of parking can make living in this area difficult. Residents of TOD projects should be able to rely on public transportation for daily life; at this juncture, it isn’t practical to carry groceries for a family on the T or to walk to Fields Corner to take a bus to walk to South Bay and then reverse the trip with home or garden supplies.

The area has a low crime rate. The largest risk to public safety is automotive and the Boston Transportation Department has done several assessments to improve traffic flow and improve pedestrian safety. Another significant danger is fire. Over the past decade, there have been large fires in multi-family properties on Allston Street., Mather Street, and Moultrie Street, completely destroying the buildings and making many people temporarily homeless. Two of those fires occurred after snowstorms on very cold nights, and the firefighters had difficulty getting their equipment to the area due to large snowbanks and choked access on the narrow streets. Thankfully, there were no fatalities in any of these fires, but the neighborhood is aware of the constraints these roadways place on us.

More information about the area is available in the presentations.