By Abby Oliveira, Senior Land Use and Sustainability Planner, The Longwood Collective
The Longwood Collective, the chief planner and principal steward of the Longwood Medical and Academic Area (LMA), is pleased to share with you our Open Space and Resilience Framework—the culmination of meticulous data collection, diligent research, and collaboration amongst Longwood institutions. The Plan provides a vision for a greener, more resilient Longwood. This document is the first of its kind in the district, guiding climate resiliency and open space enhancements in the City of Boston’s Anchor District.
As stewards of Longwood, working with our members, we took on this project to outline a plan to manage climate risks in Longwood, including extreme heat and flooding, while also strengthening the district’s livability, connectivity, and open spaces. It builds on our existing programs such as tree planting, advancement of sustainable development, and placemaking and supports the goals of Climate Ready Boston. We’re already putting this Framework into action with the construction of a bioswale on Avenue Louis Pasteur, funded in part by the City of Boston’s Browne Fund, to filter stormwater into the Muddy River and create better growing conditions for trees.
The Framework demonstrates what is possible when our community institutions and public partners come together to address shared challenges, and it is our hope that this document can be a source of inspiration and action in the coming years. We’re committed to leading and convening efforts that will make this district more resilient, sustainable, and welcoming for all, and we look forward to the conversations to follow on how we can work together to achieve these outcomes.
Read the Framework in full.
Image from the Framework: Stormwater Flooding The potential economic losses from business interruptions in Longwood are higher as it is harder for anchor institutions suc h as hospitals, colleges, and cultural institutions to rapidly shift to remote operations or relocate operations in the event of a storm and could be catastrophic for the region.
