District Management for Downtown Vitality

Ingredients and Recipes for Success

Ben Forman, Andre Leroux and Elise Rapoza
Commercial districts need a high volume of foot traffic to support thriving small businesses. Supplemental district management services can dramatically increase this pedestrian activity. In recent years, there has been widespread interest in forming district management organizations (DMOs) to provide these services in all types of communities throughout the commonwealth. By unpacking the toolset Massachusetts read more
Topic(s): Economic Development, Gateway Cities, Transformative Transit-Oriented Development

Community Capital for Small Businesses

A Study of the CDFI and CDC Ecosystem in Massachusetts

Matt Brewster, Meaghan Phillips and Elise Rapoza
Prepared in partnership with P2 Advisors, this new study explores small business lending services provided by federally certified Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs) and state certified Community Development Corporations (CDCs). Through a survey of 22 CDFIs and CDCs, we find these organizations doubled capital deployment to Massachusetts’ underserved small business with federal recovery funds. However, read more
Topic(s): Economic Development, Gateway Cities, Transformative Transit-Oriented Development

Social Infrastructure: Towards More Walkable, Resilient, and Inclusive Gateway Cities

Andre Leroux, Sidney Kuesters and Ben Forman
This report looks at how the built environment supports social interaction and the formation of social capital. We measure the “social infrastructure” provided by active streetscapes, ground-floor establishments, civic spaces and institutions, and public transportation in five Gateway City downtowns. Our analysis draws on information collected from walk audits, which were conducted in partnership with read more
Topic(s): Gateway Cities, Transformative Transit-Oriented Development

From Transactional to Transformative: The Case for Equity in Gateway City Transit-Oriented Development

Tracy A. Corley, PhD, Ben Forman, Elizabeth Haney and Catherine Tumber
Transformative Transit-Oriented Development recognizes that equity is the key to transforming cities and towns in Massachusetts, and the country. In Massachusetts, a decades long economic boom has not always reached Gateway Cities, yielding uneven growth and investment that have deepened inequities across places, races, classes and cultures. The coronavirus pandemic has amplified these disparities. To read more
Topic(s): Strong Communities, Economic Development, Transportation, Gateway Cities, Transformative Transit-Oriented Development

Using 40R and 43D to Stimulate Transformative Transit-Oriented Development in Gateway Cities

Elizabeth Haney
This policy brief is the third in a series exploring state and local level approaches to generating transformative transit-oriented development (TTOD) in Gateway Cities. This brief examines two additional state incentive programs—43D Expedited Permitting and 40R Smart Growth Zoning—as tools to spur Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) in Gateway Cities read more
Topic(s): Economic Development, Transportation, Gateway Cities, Transformative Transit-Oriented Development

Prioritizing Equitable Growth Through Fare Policy

Elizabeth Haney, Tracy A. Corley, PhD and Ben Forman
This policy brief explores the concept of fare equity and demonstrates why the current commuter rail fare structure makes train travel uneconomical for many Gateway City residents, especially those living in the immediate station areas. The brief also provides a deeper understanding of why affordable fares are a critical precursor for transformative transit-oriented development and read more
Topic(s): Transportation, Research, Transformative Transit-Oriented Development

Combining HDIP and OZ for Transformative Transit-Oriented Development in Gateway Cities

Tracy A. Corley, PhD and Andrés Paxton-Martin
This policy brief is the second in a series exploring state and local level approaches to generating transformative transit-oriented development (TTOD) in Gateway Cities. Here, our thinking is that the state’s commuter rail system would receive much more use—and spur greater, more transformative Gateway City investment—if rail station areas were primed for compact TOD. The read more
Topic(s): Economic Development, Transportation, Gateway Cities, Research, Transformative Transit-Oriented Development

Opportunity Zones and Transformative Transit-Oriented Development in Gateway Cities

Catherine Tumber and Andrés Paxton-Martin
This policy brief is the first in a series exploring state and local level approaches to generating transformative transit-oriented development (TTOD) in Gateway Cities. Here, we examine strategies to maximize the benefits of the new federal Opportunity Zone Program. The analysis centers on Massachusetts’ census tracts designated as Opportunity Zones. Our findings show that the read more
Topic(s): Economic Development, Transportation, Gateway Cities, Transformative Transit-Oriented Development

The Promise and Potential of Transformative Transit-Oriented Development in Gateway Cities

Dan Hodge and Ben Forman
Gateway Cities can accommodate thousands of new housing units and thousands of new jobs on the vacant and underutilized land surrounding their commuter rail stations. This walkable, mixed-use urban land offers an ideal setting for transit-oriented development (TOD) to take hold. Currently, Gateway City commuter rail stations get minimal ridership from downtown neighborhoods and few read more
Topic(s): Jobs and Economic Security, Economic Development, Transportation, Gateway Cities, Research, Transformative Transit-Oriented Development

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