Our analysis of the Blue Line showed remarkably similar equitable development scores so our decision was made primarily by examining physical capacity variables. The Maverick Station area stood out has having the most vacant property (after we excluded Suffolk Downs due to proposed development that did not register in our data analysis) so we constructed our scheme on that neighborhood.

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Based on the data we collected, we identified the following needs:

• Gentrification Mitigation

  • Affordable Housing

  • Neighborhood Preservation

  • Displacement Mitigation

• Underutilization of Density and Mixed-Use Opportunities

• Zoning Reconsiderations

  • Utilization of Vacant Industrial Parcels

  • Resiliency Requirements for New Development

  • Incentives for Resiliency-Related Retrofits​

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Housing Goals

Maverick Station in East Boston is home to a disproportionate number of low-income and housing cost burdened residents in comparison to the Boston area. Our housing scheme recommendations, as described below, are based on the above demonstrated need to increase equity and access for existing Maverick residents in addition to providing middle and low income housing for new residents. We created the following goals for our housing scheme:

• Increase the number of permanently affordable units, especially for family sized units and single young adults.

• Work in conjunction with existing community partners like the Neighborhood of Affordable Housing to create coop housing owned by residents.

• Increase the number of mixed use, multi-family developments for sale for middle income residents.

 

Using our opportunity FAR and assuming a five-story structure, we were able to calculate the total number of available units we would be able to construct in Maverick without changing current zoning. Maverick has the immediate capacity for 819 more units—with equal weight across studio, one, two and three bedroom units—that could hold 2,292 people.

 

Policy Recommendations

 

Homeownership and Cooperative Housing

Over 70% of Maverick Station neighborhood residents are renters. Renters have very little control over rising costs of housing in comparison to homeowners who can accumulate wealth through home equity and create a safety net for displacement. Homeownership can also benefit the community by increasing neighborhood stability and civic involvement.

 

We recommend an aggressive educational campaign on City of Boston and State of Massachusetts programs for affordable, particularly first-time, homebuyers in addition to an increase in development of affordable units. We particularly advocate for cooperative housing to maintain and preserve the existing community of East Boston Residents. 

 

Community Engagement and Community Partners

Existing community partners are essential allies in creating permanent affordability, especially with cooperative housing. NOAH, the Neighborhood of Affordable Housing, is an East Boston-based community development corporation structured to collaborate with and support residents and communities in their pursuit of affordable housing strategies, environmental justice, community planning, leadership development, and economic development opportunities. We propose that any and all new affordable units and cooperative housing are created in conjunction with NOAH and available first to existing residents before being open to the market.

 

Zoning Recommendations – Rezoning Industrial Parcels for Residential Use

In the last year, more than four developments in East Boston were given zoning variances to build residential units on industrial land. Given East Boston’s declining use as a port and center of production, we advocate for the redevelopment of vacant and underutilized industrial parcels for residential use, particularly as a means to fill in existing gaps in developing neighborhoods.

 

Our housing scheme recommendations are neighborhood wide but we have identified specific parcels below to illustrate our proposed plan.

 

40 New Street

This vacant industrial site is adjacent to three new residential developments. This parcel is over 188,000 square feet and is within a seven minute walk to Maverick Station. We recommend a mixed-use development of at least five stories (five residential and one commercial). 40 New Street is uniquely positioned in an emerging neighborhood that contains over an acre of public recreation space and access to the East Boston Harborwalk. With the exclusively luxury complexes developed around it, we recommend that this parcel be considered for cooperative housing.   

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