The Future of Boston
I’ve lived in Massachusetts for most of my life, from growing up on the North Shore, to having my first apartment in Brookline, to living in my beloved three-decker in Dorchester.
I love all the history Massachusetts holds, especially the way it’s both quaintly tucked away and proudly displayed throughout Boston. Though, as someone who loves history and reflecting on the past, I don’t often set my sights on Boston’s future. What is Boston going to look like in the next 10 years? And what do we want the future of Boston to look like?
Last month, I attended #OurConvention — a conference hosted by City Awake for Boston’s next generation of leaders — which focused on how to make Boston more inclusive, affordable, and fun. It was a remarkable chance to learn about the various forces playing into the evolution of this city — and it gave me a chance to stop and think about what I can do to make an impact.
Is Boston in the midst of a housing crisis?
Boston faces the challenges of any big city, with housing and transportation being two of its most complex issues.
During the conference, panelists described the evolution of the Boston housing market and how home prices in Boston have outpaced New York City. Due to changing demographics (“millennials aren’t young anymore”), the pre-retirement and retirement population (but not flocking to Florida), Baby Boomers will open up jobs, but not necessarily housing. As a result, Boston will have open jobs, but no housing to offer incoming talent needed to fill them.
While part of the outlook seemed grim (and expensive), there is some impressive work going on that deserves recognition and support. It’s an insanely difficult puzzle to solve, but one that’s being tackled by dedicated and creative minds collaborating across federal, state, regional, and local levels. The conference panelists welcomed ideas from people of all ages and backgrounds, so visit your neighborhood association and attend open planning meetings around the city.
My key takeaway from this session was the importance of “place-making.” Instead of competing for Porter Square and Davis Square, why not build up new places and neighborhoods that people will want to live in or travel to? Make the bus system a way to connect areas that aren’t typically linked — and yes, make the T a preferred way to travel around Boston. Maybe that means expanding bike share programs or finally letting scooters come to Boston… we shall see!
Is Boston a Foodie City?
Another popular conversation at #OurConvention was the vast opportunity in the Boston restaurant scene, and whether it “deserved” more national recognition than it sometimes gets (or doesn’t).
Fees and permits are sky high in Boston, which creates major barriers to entry, but panelists said that once you get past that (easier said than done), the sense of community among people within the business (investors, chefs, staff) sets Boston apart, and translates to a better customer experience. Unlike New York or LA, “you can get a meeting with anyone you want within 30 days” in Boston.
I was impressed that all panelists felt it was their mission to offer full benefits, create career paths, minimize turnover, and build a family within their restaurants, and that’s the legacy they wanted to highlight — not debating awards they do or don’t deserve.
After attending various sessions, I kept on coming back to this idea that Boston’s biggest strengths were also its greatest weaknesses. There are so many diverse, exciting, and supportive communities within Boston. There are so many voices to be heard and stories to be shared that are different than the ones we bring to the table ourselves or hear in our micro-community. However, the real opportunity for Boston will be when those communities can blend together even further, and address these challenges our city is facing together for a brighter future for everyone.
No one expected to solve these issues in a half-day convention, but it doesn’t get better if there aren’t opportunities like this to start somewhere. Thanks, City Awake, for getting a couple hundred people in a room committed to helping drive Boston Forward for the 4th year in a row! Boston has made progress, but it takes a village, so be brave and try.
To see a full event recap, visit my personal blog.
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