South End Infill and Small Developments

All these pictures are great, and it is really interesting to see a neighborhood like the South End, which is so dense, finding the final spots that need to be upgraded. If I may say so, though, many of these projects are technically in Roxbury. For instance anything on the west side of Mass Ave. While I do believe that they belong in this thread, it is interesting to note that the South End is expanding. Not to say that Roxbury is contracting, as Dudley is experiencing lots of growth, but it is (to my mind) starting to look like the "South End" might include anything east of Melnea Cass. Wow I am good at passive voice.
 
Cortes said:
All these pictures are great, and it is really interesting to see a neighborhood like the South End, which is so dense, finding the final spots that need to be upgraded. If I may say so, though, many of these projects are technically in Roxbury. For instance anything on the west side of Mass Ave. While I do believe that they belong in this thread, it is interesting to note that the South End is expanding. Not to say that Roxbury is contracting, as Dudley is experiencing lots of growth, but it is (to my mind) starting to look like the "South End" might include anything east of Melnea Cass. Wow I am good at passive voice.
Click to expand...

I live in this area.

By the definition that matters to me, parking, it's South End, and the parking-permit border is a few blocks west at Davenport St.

Here's a good website that discusses the issue:
http://goodoldboston.blogspot.com/2011/01/that-controversial-roxbury-south-end.html

I think I read some analysis somewhere that said by 3 out of 5 measures, this area was considered South End, but by 2 others it's called Roxbury.
 
Roxbury has been shrinking for decades. Boston neighborhoods aren't defined by official borders like the boroughs of NYC — anyone can drag up their ward map, or police map, or garbage collection map, but none of these are "official". In the 1970s what was called the South End was a much smaller area. Real estate agents market border zones with the name of whatever nearby affluent or less notorious district is called, then the people who move in say, "Oh, I live in the South End"... Young people who don't know any better seem to think Melnea Cass is the border of South End and Roxbury, which is utterly ridiculous.

The other process that happens is a sub-neigborhood takes on an independent identity as distinct from the main neighborhood — like Mission Hill (Roxbury — although a good chunk of Mission Hill (the back side, where seediness persisted longer) has been marketed for a while as JP, as well), Roxbury Crossing, Fort Hill...
 
FK4 said:
Roxbury has been shrinking for decades. Boston neighborhoods aren't defined by official borders like the boroughs of NYC — anyone can drag up their ward map, or police map, or garbage collection map, but none of these are "official". In the 1970s what was called the South End was a much smaller area. Real estate agents market border zones with the name of whatever nearby affluent or less notorious district is called, then the people who move in say, "Oh, I live in the South End"... Young people who don't know any better seem to think Melnea Cass is the border of South End and Roxbury, which is utterly ridiculous.

The other process that happens is a sub-neigborhood takes on an independent identity as distinct from the main neighborhood — like Mission Hill (Roxbury — although a good chunk of Mission Hill (the back side, where seediness persisted longer) has been marketed for a while as JP, as well), Roxbury Crossing, Fort Hill...
Click to expand...

FK -- that might be true as far as marketing real estate is concerned

However, just as in the case of Brooklyn which used to be an independent city -- Boston did annex several independent areas [ironically failing to convince Brookline of the benefits of a consolidated city] including [from wikipedia article]:
  • 1705 – Hamlet of Muddy River split off to incorporate as Brookline -- a de-annexation -- the process culminated in an attempt to re-incorporate Brookline in 1873 – Brookline said NO!
  • 1804 – First part of Dorchester by act of the state legislature
  • 1851 – West Roxbury (including Jamaica Plain and Roslindale) is split off from Roxbury as an independent municipality.
  • 1855 – Washington Village, part of South Boston, by act of the state legislature
  • 1868 – Roxbury
  • 1870 – Last part of Dorchester
  • 1874 – West Roxbury, including Jamaica Plain and Roslindale
  • 1874 – Town of Brighton (including Allston) (approved by voters in 1873)[70]
  • 1874 – Charlestown (approved by voters in 1873)[70]
  • 1912 – Hyde Park[71]

All of these had formal boundaries at the time of annexation
Boston_annexation_landfill.gif

Note the above is a constant scale map of the amazing growth of Boston from Colonial times until the annexation of Hyde Park

Note However, that a lot of filling of the harbor greatly expanded them into what are now the modern neighborhoods with the same names -- most dramatically in the case of Eastie and Southy
 
 
FK4 said:
Roxbury has been shrinking for decades. Boston neighborhoods aren't defined by official borders like the boroughs of NYC — anyone can drag up their ward map, or police map, or garbage collection map, but none of these are "official". In the 1970s what was called the South End was a much smaller area. Real estate agents market border zones with the name of whatever nearby affluent or less notorious district is called, then the people who move in say, "Oh, I live in the South End"... Young people who don't know any better seem to think Melnea Cass is the border of South End and Roxbury, which is utterly ridiculous.

The other process that happens is a sub-neigborhood takes on an independent identity as distinct from the main neighborhood — like Mission Hill (Roxbury — although a good chunk of Mission Hill (the back side, where seediness persisted longer) has been marketed for a while as JP, as well), Roxbury Crossing, Fort Hill...
Click to expand...

Thanks.
 
7 E Springfield is very nice, it looks crafted. Good density too.

988 Tremont is tolerable but there could have at least been some detailing added to the side wall to break up all the brick. The porch on the mess next door is a crime.
 
^^^^ That last picture looks like a real life version of the over-pedestrianized sidewalks in every building render.
 
The Davis Co's is planning on adding 7 floors to an existing 6 story building at 112 Shawmut Ave (https://www.google.com/maps/@42.3470926,-71.0658691,3a,60y,156.03h,97.69t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sa_8QRpZBVodJPHjKo5giGQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1)

The building was bought 2 years ago for $26.2 million. Tentative plans are for a 155-unit housing complex - unsure if it will be apartment or condos at this point. In addition to housing, the building will contain a cafe space and 128 parking spaces.

BBJ Article: http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/2017/05/23/davis-cos-proposes-13-story-housing-complex-in.html
 
This is great. I especially like that they're keeping the 6 story building there. With some renovations, that will be a really handsome building.
 
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