Once blighted with boarding houses and abandoned buildings, Boston's already gentrified South End is still an ongoing project in hip urban transformation.
"When the building at the corner of Berkeley and Appleton streets was converted to condominiums in 1982, the South End was a long way from being the hot city neighborhood for young professionals and empty nesters it is today.
A condo conversion was still considered a risky real estate move at the time, and adventurous suburbanites crossed Columbus Avenue for the tabbouleh at the old Red Fez and soul food at Bob the Chef's rather than for gourmet dishes at four-star restaurants with valet parking.
A quarter of a century later, 9 Appleton St. sits in the shadow of high-end developments that have helped redefine the South End as a neighborhood of swank living. That has prompted the owners of the one-time Unitarian meeting house to embark on renovations that, when complete, will give new life to a building that has mirrored the various transformations of the South End for 150 years."
FULL STORY: A window on the neighborhood
Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?
Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?
Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.
Poorest NYC Neighborhoods Pay Price for Delivery Boom
The rise of ‘last-mile’ e-commerce warehouses — and their attendant truck traffic and air pollution — is disproportionately impacting the most historically disadvantaged parts of the city.
Greening Oakland’s School Grounds
With help from community partners like the Trust for Public Land, Oakland Unified School District is turning barren, asphalt-covered schoolyards into vibrant, green spaces that support outdoor learning, play, and student well-being.
California Governor Suspends CEQA Reviews for Utilities in Fire Areas
Utility restoration efforts in areas affected by the January wildfires in Los Angeles will be exempt from environmental regulations to speed up the rebuilding of essential infrastructure.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
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Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
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