The Revitalist

Boston Metro area targeted for smart growth by MetroFuture.

The Globe reports on the planning recommendations released by the Metro Future initiative. The recommendations are the result of a series of public meetings and strategy sessions organized by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council. The conclusion is that if we proceed along our current development path, there won't be much green space left in the Metro area and our water resources will be severely stressed; and, therefore, we need to think about alternative strategies to encourage more responsible development. MAPC would like to see housing growth focused in existing cities and town centers. The detractors counter that many people, especially the young families that the state is desperate to retain, don't want to live in an urban environment. But lots of people do raise families in the city. They just need a certain level of urban amenities to make it comfortable, which municipalities could provide if they are willing to do some work. One of the key steps that MAPC identifies is editing the zoning codes to allow for greater density in and around the downtown cores. (They also have a blog to discuss the hows and whys of their recommendations.)

We attended one of the Metro Future sessions, and I was struck by one thing – the lack of discussion of adaptive reuse. I understand that they are now talking about mill rehabs as one way to gain housing in the urban cores, but they don't really seem to have made the connection between the need and the supply. Adaptive reuse can do more than just make lofts out of old mills. Revitalizing the downtown commercial streets and rehabbing those former office buildings is going to be key to providing the urban amenities that will draw young families to the downtown. I would like to see more discussion of rehab projects as a smart growth solution to the economic and environmental problems created by suburban sprawl.