Redlining.2C Decline and neighborhood activism Jamaica Plain

in late 1980s, forest hills station shown here replaced red brick structure built in 1800s



forest hills train bridge

in 1970s, city of boston planned extend i-95 canton north downtown boston. threatened bring i-95 straight through center of jamaica plain, dividing community in half if executed. many protests along support residents of jamaica plain, roxbury , hyde park, rallied stop construction of highway, including now-annual community festival, called wake earth , mustered residents surrounding neighborhoods in opposition highway. project had demolished many houses , commercial buildings in highway s path before then-governor francis w. sargent ordered stop interstate project. not until 1980s southwest corridor built, creating parkway, bike path, , site future wake earth festivals in lieu of highway, situated atop underground orange line.

by 1970, central jamaica plain considered in state of decline. intrusion of southwest corridor coupled , possibly contributing decision boston banks cut mortgage lending (redline) there began cycle of disinvestment led deterioration of housing stock, slumlording , abandonment particularly in central neighborhood along edges of corridor. in cases, homeowners not sell due lack of buyer financing walked away older homes along corridor s periphery. urban edge, founded non-profit real estate firm in 1974, found necessary recruit volunteer tenants physically take possession of empty properties prevent vandalism , arson. anecdotal evidence suggests average life span of abandoned building approximately 1 week. windows broken, copper plumbing stripped out, , buildings torched.

after conducting research project documented dramatic decrease in mortgage lending between 1968 , 1972, activists launched jamaica plain community investment plan. plan called upon local citizens pledge move savings accounts local institution guarantee invest money in mortgages within jamaica plain. plan generated 5 hundred thousand dollars in pledges. in 1975 contract signed jamaica plain cooperative bank implement community investment plan.

in 1974, community rallied , under aegis of alinsky-style organizing project funded ecumenical social action committee (esac) coalition of local churches contracted experienced rhode island-based community organizer, richard w. wise, built series of neighborhood groups , coalition of leaders jamaica plain banking , mortgage committee , working groups other boston neighborhoods, leveraged citywide boston anti-redlining coalition (barc), coalition, chaired long-time neighborhood activist edwina winky cloherty, crafted unique , successful campaign force boston banks reveal lending patterns , greenlining campaign both stimulate residential investment in neighborhood. publicize , stop redlining.

in october 1974, committee successful in securing pledge gubernatorial candidate michael dukakis require state chartered banks disclose lending patterns annually zip code. upon election, ignoring threats of litigation banks, dukakis kept word. on may 16, 1975, new banking commissioner carol s. greenwald issued first statewide mortgage disclosure regulation in u.s. subsequent studies based on data obtained banking commissioner demonstrated there indeed pattern of disinvestment in central neighborhoods of jamaica plain. later year, jamaica plain banking & mortgage committee citywide boston anti-redlining coalition (barc) part of coalition, under leadership of chicago-based national people s action, instrumental in passage of federal home mortgage disclosure act of 1975. according former commissioner greenwald: massachusetts success in getting banks reveal lending policies followed similar actions in new york, california , illinois.

in following years, real estate prices stabilized, mortgage money became available , southwest corridor coalition task force of local citizens broken down neighborhoods , aided state officials, put comprehensive master plan redevelop corridor. decided remove elevated rapid transit train line on washington street , replace below-grade line alongside train tracks. new transit lines in place following old train embankment, southwest corridor park built forest hills north through old stony brook valley.

changes transit service through jamaica plain followed change streetcar route well. arborway line, had been in service since 1903, had long been considered replacement bus service transportation authority. in 1977, trolley service on arborway line downtown boston stopped @ heath street, buses continuing forest hills. service resumed, cut again in 1980s, , has not been resumed since. decision has been challenged citizen groups in jamaica plain in courts, , still in dispute.