This photo shows an aerial view of the parcels the MBTA would like to see transformed into a mix of retail, housing and commercial space connected by a bicycle path.
As any Forest Hills resident knows, buying a gallon of milk requires a drive to the store.
But that could change if a handful of parcels in Boston’s Jamaica Plain neighborhood near the Forest Hills MBTA station are transformed into a mix of retail, housing and commercial space connected by a bicycle path.
As the cash-strapped MBTA seeks money to fill a $5 billion deficit, the transit agency has identified three sites near the T stop that it plans to sell or lease to developers later this year. The lots stem from the Southwest Corridor project, when the elevated Orange Line was moved underground from South Cove to Forest Hills in 1987.
“We need the money,” said Mark Boyle, the T’s real estate director. “After a systematic review, the parcels have been declared surplus and available for disposition.”
In addition to the T lots, the neighborhood has identified several other underused locations that could be included in an overall makeover of the area. There are a pair of parking lots and a parcel that is expected to be transferred to the city from the T in exchange for a Department of Public Works maintenance yard. The land comprises 14 acres within walking distance of the Forest Hills station.
“Residents would like to see something interesting happen on these sites,” said John Dalzell, senior architect at the Boston Redevelopment Authority, the city’s planning and development agency. “This is a smart-growth, transit-oriented development kind of opportunity.”
Transit-oriented development, or TOD, is compact, mixed-use, walkable development that is centered around transit stations. The concept, championed by the Romney administration, includes a variety of uses such as housing, retail, employment and recreational facilities. TOD is designed with transit and pedestrians as high priorities, making it possible for visitors and residents to move around without complete dependence on a car.
With TOD, parking lots and underutilized land near public transportation can be turned into vibrant mixed-use districts, diverse housing and lively public places. The concept is one of several smart-growth initiatives such as concentrating development, providing transportation choices, expanding housing opportunities and redeveloping existing sites before building on new ones.
Among the ideas for Forest Hills that have been discussed in a handful of public forums are the possibility of a small food store like Trader Joe’s, a movie theater, pharmacy and bike path, as well as apartments, condominiums and community gardens.
Katherine Kottaridis, a longtime Jamaica Plain resident and member of the Forest Hills Working Group, a panel that advises the BRA on development, said while the parcels have been vacant for years, not much attention was paid to them until recently. “The timing is right to think about how Forest Hills functions and what it could be,” she said.
Bruce Wallin, a Jamaica Plain resident and co-founder of the West Roxbury Courthouse Neighborhood Association, said one of the things he envisions is a Forest Hills visitor center. “There’s no gateway, no place to stop get information and have a cup of coffee,” he said. “I’d love to see a kiosk for all the people who visit the Arnold Arboretum, Franklin Park, Forest Hills Cemetery and Jamaica Pond.”
‘Bridging the Divide’
But state Rep. Elizabeth Mailia, a Jamaica Plain Democrat, is not convinced that Forest Hills can handle more traffic. She said she worries that any development on what has been open space could exacerbate an already congested section of the city.
“One of my key interests is making sure that we don’t make the traffic problems any worse than they are already,” she said. “If we’re going to put retail and housing by the T, then we need to figure out what the impact will be. The last thing we need is more bottlenecks at Forest Hills. I don’t want to see housing and stores built only to have the planners disappear.”
Wallin agreed that traffic cannot be downplayed because it has been a huge unresolved issue for years. He said the BRA’s recent decision to hire a transportation consultant could result in a number of potential solutions. The BRA has issued a Request for Proposals for an expert to assist officials in improving traffic flow and pedestrian crossings in Forest Hills.
“If shops are built, I expect fewer cars on the roads because many residents including me would walk to the stores,” said Wallin. “If I want to buy groceries, I have to get in my car. We don’t want to attract any new cars.”
Boston City Councilor John Tobin, whose district includes Jamaica Plain, said while he prefers a mix of uses for Forest Hills, he is pleased that conversations are taking place about the future of the area. “I am just excited that people are talking because it’s bridging the divide between community activists in different areas of the neighborhood,” said Tobin. “They had a meeting on a Saturday and it was packed. I think people would show up to talk about the future of Forest Hills on Super Bowl Sunday.”
The BRA’s Dalzell said six more community meeting are planned through the next six months to provide more opportunities for residents to help determine a vision for the Forest Hills. The T could sell its parcels as early as late fall. The BRA plans to craft use-and-design guidelines that would be issued to prospective buyers.
“In many cases, there has not been agreement on what should happen to those parcels,” said Dalzell. “In fact, the T has gone out selecting potential development entities that have run afoul of the community and ended up with no sale.”
Forest Hills refers to the area surrounding the train station, plus the residential areas on the east side of Hyde Park Avenue extending as far as Cummings Highway or as far as Walk Hill Street. Typically, Forest Hills includes the triangular area lying between Hyde Park Avenue, American Legion Highway and Morton Street, except for those areas separated from the rest by the cemeteries.
“Residents want a better Forest Hills and they see a better Forest Hills through growth,” said Dalzell.
