The Dudley Street area of Roxbury and North Dorchester in Boston was once a prime example of urban blight. In the 1980s, years of urban decay and the loss of large numbers of primarily Caucasian families to the suburbs had left 21 percent of the Dudley Street neighborhood vacant—amounting to 1,300 abandoned parcels. Almost 30 percent of neighborhood residents had an income below the federal poverty level, making the neighborhood one of the poorest in Boston. Fires were a particular problem; in some cases, arsonists attempted to gain insurance money on homes that could not be sold. The residents felt that they were being ignored by City Hall. Some suggested that this was because 96 percent of the neighborhood’s residents were members of ethnic minority groups.

In 1984, residents banded together to turn their neighborhood around. They formed the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative (DSNI), designed to allow the residents to move toward a common vision for a sustainable neighborhood. Participants chose a large board of directors—34 members—so they would hear a diversity of perspectives and, in coming to consensus, ensure that decisions had broad support. The DSNI also obtained something no other neighborhood organization had: the power of eminent domain. Eminent domain allows a government to acquire property at fair market value even if the owner does not wish to sell it. It is frequently used to acquire land for highway projects, but also has been used recently, and controversially, in urban redevelopment.

By 1987, DSNI had worked with community members to develop a comprehensive revitalization plan, which has been periodically updated since then. The main goals of the DSNI plan are

DSNI has had many successes. Its first major action was to force the city to remove trash, appliances, and abandoned cars that littered the streets and vacant lots. The city also cleaned up two illegal dumps in the area. Residents planted community gardens to grow produce and flowers. DSNI successfully reduced drug dealing in the neighborhood park, although keeping the drug dealers out remains a constant struggle. And, perhaps most significantly, its work led to the construction of 300 new homes on formerly vacant lots. New residents help to add vitality to the neighborhood, reversing the cycle of depopulation and business closure.

It is evident that the individuals involved in DSNI have taken many of the principles of smart growth to heart. The community mixes residential with retail development, and residents live within walking distance of a grocery store, ethnic markets, and other amenities. Moreover, since the founding of DSNI, two small manufacturing businesses—a furniture maker and an electronics company—have moved into the neighborhood, providing additional jobs within walking distance for residents.

The Dudley Street neighborhood still has relatively low per capita income, and its development choices have not been without controversy. However, it serves as one example of hundreds of neighborhoods that have begun to turn the positive feedback loop of urban decay into one of urban renewal and hope.

Critical Thinking Questions

References

Bernfield, F. K., J. Terris, and N. Vorsanger. 2003. Solving Sprawl: Models of Smart Growth in Communities Across America. Island Press.

Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative. http://www.dsni.org/