If you participated in one of the Imaging Boston 2030 visioning sessions, such as the one in the North End, you won’t be surprised to hear that residents have prioritized housing, transit and education as part of the city’s planning effort. Imagine Boston 2030 is the first citywide planning effort in 50 years. In its first report released Wednesday, planners have tabulated citizen responses to what Bostonians want in their life.
Topping the planning wish list were:
- Housing I can afford
- Better transportation options
- Quality education for all
“This input is an important first step in the planning process because it shapes the conversation about how Boston can leverage its unprecedented growth to create an even better city,” said Mayor Martin J. Walsh in a statement. “Our overarching goal is to make sure everyone who lives, works and plays in Boston benefits from this growth, while setting the course for future generations to grow inclusively and have access to opportunity.”
The City’s report, titled Guiding Growth: Towards an Inclusive City highlights recent population increases and job creation. This resident and business growth has strained housing and transit infrastructure.
Imagine Boston 2030 has established four goals for Boston’s future:
- Provide Quality of Life in Accessible Neighborhoods
- Drive Inclusive Economic Growth
- Promote a Healthy Environment Adapting to Climate Change
- Invest in Infrastructure, Open Space and Culture
The final plan, expected in Spring 2017, will identify the policies and investments necessary to support these goals. For example, Imagine Boston 2030 will identify areas where new housing can be constructed to reach the City’s 53,000 unit housing goal, that includes nearly 27,000 units of workforce housing.
In the Spring 2016, Imagine Boston 2030 will host community workshops and use online mapping to engage residents. For more information, see Imagine.Boston.gov.
The complete Imagine Boston 2030 report is shown below.
