About the Initiative

In 2024, the City of Boston launched Squares + Streets, “a planning and zoning initiative focused on adding, supporting, and improving housing, public space, small businesses, and arts and culture in transit-accessible neighborhood centers and along main streets.” The City picked Codman Square as one of the first neighborhoods for Squares + Streets. In response, Residents and local organizations feared that rezoning could result in widespread displacement of residents and businesses, and they came together to form Codman Square United. They urged the City not to move forward without a robust plan to prevent displacement. The Planning Department decided to pause Squares + Streets in Codman Square, with a promise to resume in 2026. 

In 2025, the City launched an Anti-Displacement Action Plan and Toolkit. The action plan includes over 40 strategies to address and prevent displacement of residents and businesses. Codman Square United, in partnership with the Planning Department, hosted an initial workshop with residents to explore the toolkit in June 2025. That workshop only scratched the surface of us understanding how this Action Plan will benefit our community. 

We need more investigation and engagement to identify the strengths and gaps in the City’s Action Plan, so that we can advocate for programs that can ensure stability and thriving for Codman Square residents and businesses amidst rezoning and development. In September 2025, Codman Square United raised funds and launched a community-led anti-displacement planning process to do just that. Our Anti-Displacement Ambassadors Program is the first step in our collective strategy to more deeply and effectively engage with the Codman Square community about this critical issue.