Environmentally Sensitive Urban Development CRWA work in Harvard/North Allston CRWA work in Zakim North CRWA work in Longwood Medical Area ESUD Presentations at River Rally 2006 Re-establishing Streams Groundwater Building a Blue Allston CRWA's Green Street Concept and Case Study ESUD Project home

"Blue Cities" Initiative Overview

CRWA has long led efforts to improve the urban environment. Our work focuses on water resources including rivers, ponds and streams; water infrastructure, including water, sewer and stormwater systems; and parks and open spaces, where most urban residents come into contact with the natural environment, and the river in particular. The urban environment, with its buried streams, impervious surfaces, filled land and engineered infrastructure, is a challenging place to improve. Yet the potential for change is enormous, and the impacts far-reaching.

Viewing things at the watershed scale, our science and policy work tend to focus on connections and interdependence. We see the relationships between healthy rivers, vibrant parks, strong communities and sustainable development. Well aware of the damaging effects of suburban sprawl, we support urban design and development that enhances the community and the environment.

Our experience with development projects, however, is that too often the processes of site review, design and impact analysis do not maximize the potential benefits of the development. Local, regional and state planning, permitting and review processes are fragmented; community groups feel they have little genuine opportunity to participate; developers feel they lack clear guidance and requirements; opportunities to link development to larger infrastructure improvements so as to leverage additional resources are not pursued.

CRWA proposes to use our scientific, advocacy and coalition building experience to create a reproducable process for environmentally sensitive urban development. The aim of the project is “to create a replicable, standardized way to assess environmental needs and support development that will enhance the local environment.”  The three-year project, which began in January 2005, has focused on three distinct urban redevelopment areas: 

• Harvard’s North Allston campus
• Zakim North area of Cambridge and Somerville
• Longwood Medical and Academic Area.

The Environmentally Sensitive Urban Development project is made possible by grants from the Boston Foundation and the Cabot Family Charitable Trust.