Plans for the Dorchester Bay City project have always been designed to not only enhance the local community, but to protect it against the effects of climate change. Throughout our project, public open space and other design elements serve dual purposes and enhance the resiliency of the site and the surrounding community.
Our new site plan aims to maximize resiliency:
Planning for rising seas: By raising the Project Site to an elevation of 21.5-feet± BCB and creating a raised ridge at 22.7- feet BCB extending from the southern boundary of the site northward to Day Boulevard and Moakley Park, these resiliency improvements both assure that the Project can withstand future sea level rise and protect the surrounding neighborhood from potential flooding events.
Reducing heat island effects: The historic impervious asphalt parking lots that dominate the site today will be converted into roughly 9 acres of publicly accessible green and permeable open spaces, cooling the area and increasing stormwater capture.
Investing in off-site resiliency: With $5,000,000 in funding for a flood protection on DCR Land adjacent to the Harbor Point Apartments as specified in the Climate Ready Dorchester Plan (provided during Phase One to DCR), the Project also carefully considers the needs of our neighbors and the community beyond our site boundaries. This includes completing an evaluation of the connection between the Project, DCR's Dorchester Shores Reservation behind Carson Beach, and the future Moakley Park flood protection systems. In total, approximately $18.5 will be invested in off-site resiliency efforts.
DBC employs sustainable design principles to reduce the project’s carbon footprint and contribute to the state and city’s 2050 carbon-free goals by converting 36 acres of asphalt park lots into urban mix-use developments near transit with various open and green spaces. These new open spaces with new stormwater management system with approximately 1,000 new trees will prevent the urban heat island effect while contributing to the city’s Urban Forest Plan and Heat Resilience Solutions for Boston Plan initiatives.
DBC’s site-level and building-level sustainability design principles will reduce energy demand generated by buildings and GHG emissions. At a site level, the developers committed to SITES Certification and LEED ND Gold Certification design standards. Building level commitments include all residential buildings to be designed at a minimum of LEED Gold and 25% of Commercial buildings to be designed at LEED Platinum, and 75% of Commercial buildings to be designed at minimum LEED Gold design standards. Furthermore the developers commit to building all Phase 1 residential buildings based on the Passive House design standards.
Additionally, the project will include approximately 3,700 indoor bicycle parking spaces for buildings and 476 outdoor public bicycle parking spaces to further encourage people to use sustainable transportation modes. The developers will also build three BlueBike stations within the project sites.
Our work with the Department of Conservation & Recreation, the City of Boston, and other agencies has been so critical during this process - not to mention the profound support from our community partners.
“Dorchester Bay City has a lot of potential to connect more people even more closely with our spectacular urban natural resources,” said Chris Mancini, Executive Director at Save the Harbor/Save the Bay. “We’re excited that this project is putting so much focus on inclusivity and equity when it comes to public access.”
For almost 40 years, Save the Harbor has maintained the same mission: restore and protect Boston Harbor, Massachusetts Bay, and the marine environment and share them with the public for everyone to enjoy. The organization was key in making Carson Beach among the clearest in the country. The beach can be found just minutes away from the parcel where Dorchester Bay City aims to be developed.
Mancini says DBC’s efforts align well with Save the Harbor’s – to create an inclusive, equitable, diverse, and accessible place for everyone and anyone.
“South Boston's beaches are already popular, and Dorchester Bay City can help create more space and make the area even more welcoming for people of color, people with disabilities and people who don't speak English,” said Mancini. “Maybe you don't have the time or resources to get to Cape Cod or Cape Ann - you can take the T to one of the country's cleanest urban beaches.”
For Jill Lacey Griffin, our Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, she says that the partnership was a “no-brainer.”
“We want everyone to know that Dorchester Bay City can act as an oasis for the neighborhood and knit together nearby communities separated by what is now just a site dedicated to parking,” said Griffin.
Save the Harbor is currently planning their 2023 Better Beaches Program - hundreds of free events and programs on public beaches from Nahant to Nantasket, including in South Boston and Dorchester. Through a four-step Participatory Budgeting process, the community decides which events to fund. Save the Harbor has so far collected ideas for beach events from the community and turned those into an online ballot. Voting is now open to decide which of the most popular ideas will happen on the beaches in the coming year. Get involved and vote today!