Welcome! ¡Bienvenido! Byenvini!
The Codman Square plan will determine a public investment and growth-focused vision for the area focused on the central commercial blocks and transit assets. It is part of Squares + Streets, a new planning and zoning initiative that will focus on housing, public space, arts and culture, small businesses, and transportation in neighborhood centers and along main streets.
About Squares + Streets
The BPDA, in partnership with several City of Boston departments, is launching a series of Squares + Streets plans. One of the initial four locations is Codman Square, a key commercial district in the Dorchester neighborhood. The people who live, work, shop, and visit this commercial area will have the opportunity to participate in the development of the Codman Square Plan.
Squares + Streets focuses on small geographic areas around the City of Boston, and creates plans that reflect community needs and provides implementable action steps that respond to those needs within a 5–10 year period.
The Squares + Streets process looks to develop a plan and implementable recommendations within 6-9 months, to ensure that critical needs identified by the community during the engagement process have a well-understood planning-to-implementation pipeline. This timeline also reflects the urgency of the larger housing crisis affecting many areas in Boston and a desire to reduce the barriers to participation inherent with long engagement processes.
To learn more about Squares + Streets please see the project homepage.
Codman Square Overview
Codman Square is a historic commercial area approximately five miles south of Downtown Boston, and in the southwest section of the Dorchester neighborhood. In addition to being a small business hub for a number of immigrant and minority-owned businesses, Codman Square is home to several religious institutions, non-profit organizations, and civic groups that support diverse populations, including: renters, homeowners, youth, families, and elders. These organizations and the active commercial corridor allow for a variety of different services, programs, and events to happen in Codman Square on a regular basis.
Codman Square Plan
The Codman Square plan will determine a public investment and growth-focused vision for the area focused on the central commercial blocks and transit assets, and will represent an important opportunity to identify near-term actions to support housing, public space, transportation, climate, small businesses, and arts and culture.
The Squares + Street planning process will look to:
- Update zoning to allow for a diverse range of housing and business opportunities
- Use policy, design, and funding resources to preserve, maintain, and produce affordable housing, retail, and cultural spaces
- Identify capital and program investments to provide residents with safe, accessible, and affordable transportation options
- Identify discrete design interventions to expand tree coverage, mitigate heat, prepare for an electric future, and otherwise advance climate resilience
- Preserve and promote places and institutions that are integral to community identity
Squares + Streets: Codman Square Study Area
Get Involved
Upcoming Events
Coffee & Conversation: Codman Square
[In-person: The Great Hall at Codman Square Health Center - 6 Norfolk Street, Dorchester, MA 02124]
Saturday, May 4, 2024 | 11:00 AM–2:00 PM
Grab a coffee and snack and join your neighbors to learn more about what Squares + Streets is, as well as how you can shape the planning process.
Squares + Streets Codman Square: Tabling at the Library
Interested in learning more about what Squares + Streets is? Leading up to the Open House & Kickoff event, the Codman Square planning team will be tabling at the Codman Square Library (690 Washington Street, Dorchester, MA 02124) these following dates and times:
POSTPONED: Squares + Streets: Codman Square Open House & Kick-off Event
[In-person: The Great Hall at Codman Square Health Center - 6 Norfolk Street, Dorchester, MA 02124]
Saturday, May 4, 2024 | 11:00 AM–2:00 PM
Please note: this event has been postponed and will be rescheduled at a later date.
Stay Informed
Over the course of the spring and summer, staff will be at several community events to engage with you about the Codman Square plan. Check out the "Stay Connected" section for engagement notifications and our calendar to check out upcoming Codman Squares + Streets engagement activities.
Language Access
Through Squares + Streets the BPDA and City of Boston are committed to making the planning process as inclusive and open a process as possible. The Codman Square planning process will offer Spanish interpretation and translation services for key public meetings and materials. If you need any of these materials or information in an additional language please email [email protected].