Magical Neighborhood, Historical City
Downtown Boston is one of Boston’s most dynamic, historical, and fastest-growing neighborhoods. From world-class theaters and renowned restaurants and cafes to the Freedom Trail and Boston Common, the neighborhood is home to some of Boston’s most iconic, enduring treasures.
The Downtown Boston Residents’ Association is an independent organization, run exclusively by volunteer residents of the Downtown Boston neighborhood. Formed in 2014 and with over 500 members, the Association is committed to engaging, informing, and empowering Downtown Boston residents by creating a forum for discussion and debate on a wide range of topics related to quality of life and the ongoing development of the neighborhood.
Our guiding principles are as follows:
Every Resident, including our youngest citizens, is entitled to have a say in the future of his or her neighborhood
Quality of life improvements are to always be an active pursuit and primary focus
A modernized master plan for Downtown Boston (last major update in 1989) should replace spot zoning and exception-driven development, which in turn will lead to greater predictability, efficiency, transparency, accountability, and coherence
Conflicts of interest should be disclosed and managed appropriately
neigh·bor·hood
/ˈnābərˌho͝od/ noun. a district, especially one forming a community within a town or city.
Where History Meets Future
One of Boston’s 23 neighborhoods, Downtown Boston is rapidly growing and steeped in history.
From Our Residents...
Our Committees
The Residents' Association is led by volunteer residents from the Downtown Boston neighborhood. The Leadership Team and Committees provide leadership and direction and are responsible for advancing the Association's key objectives.
The Leadership Team provides strategic direction and leadership on behalf of the Residents’ Association and works closely with elected officials and other stakeholders on a range of matters that impact the quality of life of Downtown Boston residents.
Three of the original founding members, Deva Hirsch, George Coorssen, and Rishi Shukla, serve as co-heads of the Residents’ Association. Collectively, they have over 50 years of experience in Downtown and over 70 years as full-time residents of Boston.
The Parks & Open Spaces Committee partners with stakeholders to address opportunities and challenges related to parks and open spaces in and surrounding Downtown Boston, including the Boston Common (the nation’s oldest public park), that are frequented by residents, visitors, and tourists year-round.
The Zoning & Licensing Committee interfaces with proponents, stakeholders, and various zoning and licensing boards to promote smart and responsible residential, business, and economic development in Downtown Boston.
In addition to meeting with proponents and their advisors to review projects and provide feedback, committee members serve on Impact Advisory Groups for various neighborhood projects and developments.
The Parents & Children Committee looks out for the unique needs of our youngest residents and works to ensure that Downtown Boston continues to develop into a family-friendly neighborhood.
Priorities include:
- Coordinating with the Parks and Open Spaces Committee, Public Safety Committee, Leadership Team, and stakeholders to ensure that the health and well-being of Downtown children are protected and enhanced
- Ensure that Downtown children have access to open spaces, play spaces, and age appropriate playgrounds. Currently, there are no dedicated Downtown playgrounds, libraries, or public schools. The Tadpole playground on the Boston Common is wonderful in many ways; however, it is not appropriate for mixed ages (e.g., 2 y/o vs. 5 y/o)
- Attracting additional childcare, enrichment facilities and businesses to Downtown
- Creating opportunities for parents and children to connect
The Public Safety Committee partners with law enforcement, elected officials, residential buildings, and other stakeholders to promote public safety and address underlying challenges in and around Downtown Boston, including the Boston Common and subway system.
While the neighborhood has made significant progress over the past several years, crime and drug use continue to impact the quality of life in Downtown Boston.
The Social Committee is responsible for planning a wide-range of social activities, ranging from socials and holiday sing-alongs to local restaurant spotlights and walking groups. The Committee also partners with area stakeholders, including neighborhood theaters and universities, to curate and promote special events such as candidate forums and lecture series.
Connect with Us
City of Boston Resources
- BOS:311
- Boston Police Department (A-1, Capt. Kenneth Fong)
- Neighborhood Services (Danchen Xu, Downtown Liaison)
- Boston Parks & Recreation (Chris Cook, Commissioner)
- Boston Planning & Development Agency (Brian Golden, Director)