COMMUNITY SETTING

Section 3

ing snow and carry flows through a system of pipes Community Setting that discharge to either a pond or stream, or to an adjacent community’s storm drain system, flowing A. Regional Context eventually out to the Charles River.

Brookline, with a population of 58,732 (U.S. The Muddy River is the most significant surface Census Bureau, 2010 Census), is an urban town of waterbody in Brookline and serves as part of the 6.8 square miles (4,355 acres) surrounded by municipal boundary of Boston and Brookline. Over Boston on three sides and Newton on the southwest the past century, the water quality, flood carrying side. Cambridge is readily accessible on the other capacity and habitat conditions of the Muddy River side of the Charles River. Brookline is part of Norfolk have been impaired due to increased urbanization. County, although it is physically detached from the Most of Brookline’s land area drains to the Muddy main portion of the county. River, and five of the Town’s subwatershed areas discharge directly into the Muddy River, including Brookline is an active member of the Inner Core the Village Brook drain system, the Tannery Brook subregion of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council drain system and the Longwood Avenue drain sys- (MAPC). The Inner Core Committee consists of 21 tem. cities and town within the metropolitan Boston area, and fosters interlocal collaboration and discussion Resources Shared with Other Communities amongst the involved municipalities. Brookline shares a number of significant open MAPC's 30-year master plan "MetroFuture" is a spaces and waterbodies with adjacent communities planning tool which emphasizes the importance of and other government jurisdictions. Most prominent open space protection in relation to achieving public of these are the Olmsted and Riverway Parks and health, social equity, and environmental quality the Muddy River, which are part of the Emerald goals. The plan includes 65 goals and objectives, in Necklace. These parks are some of Brookline’s addition to 13 implementation strategies with hun- most valuable open space resources. Their size, dreds of action recommendations. Brookline is connections to larger water and open space resourc- actively seeking to advance the objectives of es, and ease of access allow them to function as MetroFuture through the goals, objectives and rec- one of the region’s major passive and active open ommended actions outlined in this Open Space and space networks, as a critical habitat corridor and as Recreation Plan. a significant water resource.

Watershed Address The Emerald Necklace Park system, created by Frederick Law Olmsted, includes pathways on both Brookline is located entirely within the Charles banks of the Muddy River starting from the conflu- River watershed; all rain and snow that falls within ence with the Charles River to its headwaters at Town boundaries eventually drains to the Charles Jamaica Pond. Currently, Boston and Brookline River. Surface water drainage is influenced by share in the primary responsibility of managing and topography, street and utility infrastructure and land maintaining the parks and pathways, with a small use patterns. The Charles River itself does not flow portion of the Park system under the jurisdiction of through the Town. Brookline is divided into twelve the Massachusetts Department of Conservation major subwatersheds that contribute flow to the and Recreation (DCR). The DCR is responsible for Charles River either directly or through one of sev- the parkways within the park system. eral tributary streams. Four of these discharge directly into the Charles River, five into the Muddy The Muddy River has flooded several times River, two into Saw Mill Brook and one into Stony since the fall of 1996 and caused damage to nearby Brook. residents' homes, businesses and institutions. In response to these events, numerous parties, includ- Brookline’s subwatersheds are defined largely ing federal and state environmental agencies, and by the Town’s extensive underground storm drain local government bodies of Boston and Brookline, system. Brookline’s storm drains consist primarily of have come together to address the flooding and concrete pipes that collect runoff from rain and melt- environmental issues. The resulting Muddy River

7 COMMUNITY SETTING

Flood Control, Water Quality and Habitat all businesses are located in first floor storefronts in Enhancement, and Historic Preservation Project is the Town’s commercial areas. In 2017, the assessed intended to address this issue. The goal of the res- value of commercial and industrial property was toration project is to improve flood control in the 9.1% of the total Brookline assessment, and the river, improve water quality, enhance aquatic/ripari- percentage of taxes paid by the non-residential sec- an habitat, rehabilitate the landscape and historic tor was over 17%. Hotel room excise tax brought in resources and implement stormwater best manage- $1.7 million and local option meals tax was another ment practices. The project is underway and is $1.1 million. Less than 5% of the property is zoned scheduled for completion within three to five years. commercial. Recent commercial development includes the Homewood Suites hotel at 111 Boylston The southwestern portion of Brookline also con- Street in 2015. Other commercial developments tains shared natural resources of regional impor- under active construction include a portion of the AC tance. Here, one of the Town's few remaining sur- hotel at Cleveland Circle and 250,000 square feet of face waterbodies, Lost Pond, is located on the medical office at 1 and 2-4 Brookline Place. state's Lost Pond Reservation, managed by DCR. (Employment and Wages Report, Executive Office This property is adjacent to significant open space of Labor and Workforce Development, and Brookline parcels owned by Brookline and Newton, including Assessors Department). Brookline's Lost Pond Conservation Area and the former Newton Street landfill property, as well as Commercial business establishments are pri- Kennard Park and Conservation Area, which marily service businesses located in the small com- belongs to the City of Newton. The Brookline Lost mercial centers along major streets and intersec- Pond Conservation Area was once part of the tions. These areas, such as Coolidge Corner, Town's landfill and incinerator site, which ceased Brookline Village, Washington Square and operations in 1975. In 2006, the front portion of the Putterham Circle, have had a substantial effect on landfill was formally closed, as part of the landfill community development, as residential develop- closure and reuse project. The project involved ments have formed around these commercial areas, clearing debris, regrading, drainage and access creating small communities within each village or improvements, environmental remediation, land- square. scaping, and the creation of a new multi-use park on the capped landfill. The beautiful 15-acre com- Overlying this very local development pattern munity park, Skyline Park, opened in 2008, and are regional development effects linked directly to contains state of the art playing fields, equipment for the Town's proximity to Boston. Chief among these toddlers (in addition to older children), a picnic area, are high real estate prices, constant development walking paths, and seating, as well as connections pressures, and a regional transportation system to the adjacent Lost Pond Conservation Area. Over that experiences more pressure as the population the past several years, the debris located in the around Boston increases. Brookline is part of the back portion of the landfill has been excavated and east-west commuter corridor for Boston. Boylston pulled back from the Lost Pond Sanctuary. Street/Route 9 and Beacon Street, in particular, feel the daily stress from development further west. Also in the southern part of Brookline, D. Regional planning to manage the impacts of this Blakely Hoar Sanctuary, owned by Brookline, lies growth is essential. near natural areas located in Boston and Newton. Leatherbee Woods, managed by the Boston Natural Brookline is a desirable residential community Areas Fund, is directly adjacent to the Hoar because of its rich historical development, location, Sanctuary and efforts to strengthen a partnership physical characteristics, natural resources, level of are underway. municipal services, land use and the diversity of its population. Relevant to the pressures on open Socio-Economic Context space, Brookline’s population diversity cannot be viewed out of context of the history of racially seg- Brookline is predominantly a residential com- regative local, state, and federal policies and prac- munity with a diverse mix of housing types and a tices. 3% of Brookline's population is African relatively small commercial tax base. However, American and approximately 5% identifies as Brookline has approximately 1,907 businesses, Hispanic (Brookline Housing Production Plan). The many of which are based in homes and sole propri- need for policies to facilitate making Brookline’s etorships, and some in small offices. About a third of housing stock accommodate previously excluded

8 COMMUNITY SETTING families is an added pressure on open space. (SHI), an increase of 192 units from 2005 (Brookline Housing Production Plan).

Table 1 The desirability of Brookline as a residential Median Assessed Housing Values community has affected the cost of land, which con- Year Single Family Condo tinues to impact the Town’s ability to obtain new FY2007 $1,023,550 $424,800 open space. FY2008 $986,900 $411,450 FY2009 $1,017,000 $423,500 Figure 1 FY2010 $1,022,400 $423,000 Property Values and Open Space FY2011 $1,027,300 $423,900 A 2007 report from The Trust for Public Land, FY2012 $1,059,400 $421,900 summarizes data on the economic benefits of FY2013 $1,071,750 $425,200 parks and open space, and finds the following: FY2014 $1,114,000 $447,000 * Proximity to parks and open space has a FY2015 $1,193,600 $496,150 positive impact on property values. Several FY2016 $1,298,000 $547,800 studies show a 20% average price premium FY2017 $1,412,200 $607,150 for properties abutting or fronting a park, with substantial positive impacts up to 500-600 feet Source: Brookline Assessors Department away, or further depending on the park.

Overall, Brookline residents have higher Source: The Economic Benefits of Land Conservation, incomes than most people in the country and the The Trust for Public Land, 2007 state. The median household income in Brookline is $93,640 (Brookline Housing Production Plan), com- pared with $55,322 for the U.S. (2012-2016 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates). B. HISTORY OF THE COMMUNITY However, 67% of householders under the age of 25 Once part of Boston and originally named and 72% of householders 65 years and older have “Muddy River”, Brookline was settled in 1630 and household incomes of less than $39,999 a year incorporated as a separate town in 1705. Between (ACS 2010-2014 Five-Year Estimates, BI9215, 1630 and 1705, the area was used primarily to “Median Nonfamily Income by Age and Sex of graze livestock, as the extensive marshes and wet Householder by Living Alone” as cited by Brookline meadows bordering the Charles and the Muddy Housing Production Plan). Approximately 3.5% of River provided rich pasturage. Most owners, how- Brookline’s families live below the federal poverty ever, continued to reside in Boston. line, compared with 4.3% and 15.1% for Norfolk County and the U.S., respectively (ACS 2010-2014 At this time, the Charles River was tidal for nine Five-Year Estimates S1702, “Poverty Status in the miles upstream to Watertown, where a dam was Past 12 Months of Families” as cited in Brookline subsequently built. There were mud flats in the Housing Production Plan; U.S. Census Bureau, Back Bay of Boston and between the Charles and 2012-2016 American Community Survey 5-Year Muddy Rivers. Extensive wetlands, ponds, and Estimates). Brookline's poverty rate is higher among streams in Brookline were filled, drained or chan- families with children (5.7%), and significantly high- neled through culverts during the course of agricul- er among female householders (15.7%), and female tural work and subsequent development. Filling householders with children (24%) (Brookline wetlands and draining "problem water" into the Housing Production Plan). Historically, the income storm drain system continued into the 20th century. diversity in Town has been supported by the diverse South Brookline was developed around extensive housing mix which ranges from large estates to wetlands; wetland resources are still present across small rental apartments. One important municipal the area and challenge the residential and commer- objective has been to develop more affordable cial development of the Town. housing to meet the needs of a diverse group of residents as real estate pressures persist. As of Between 1636 and 1641, more than 100 land 2016, there were 2,254 low- and moderate-income grants were given in the Muddy River hamlet of housing units on the Subsidized Housing Inventory

9 Town of Brookline, Massachusetts Regional Context

SAUGUS

STONEHAM MELROSE WOBURN

REVERE MALDEN

WINCHESTER MEDFORD ´ EVERETT CHELSEA

ARLINGTON SOMERVILLE

CAMBRIDGE BELMONT

WATERTOWN WALTHAM

BROOKLINE BOSTON

NEWTON

QUINCY

WELLESLEY MILTON BRAINTREE NEEDHAM

DEDHAM

RANDOLPH WESTWOOD CANTON DOVER

Map updated by Brookline GIS on 4/10/2019 0 5 10 Miles

COMMUNITY SETTING

Boston. Smaller tracts were granted in the northern Commission had been created to administer land and eastern portions of the Town; a few larger set aside for recreation for the burgeoning commu- grants were located in the central and southern por- nity. The last section of the Town to be extensively tions of the Town. Most of the Town's acreage was developed was an area in South Brookline, as a given to prominent Bostonians whose names denote result of post-WWII housing demand. streets and neighborhoods today, such as Heath, Winchester, Clark, Aspinwall and Devotion. In 1640, Acquisition of Parks and Sanctuaries a British officer, Captain Joseph Weld, received a 2000-acre land grant which included Goddard In 1871, Brookline created the first public play- Avenue, the Greek Orthodox Church grounds, Park ing fields in the country, Cypress Field and Boylston School, Arnold Arboretum and Allandale Farm. This Street Playground, followed by the first public pool working farm, still owned by descendants of Captain in 1885. Many of the existing public parks and rec- Weld, is a significant element of the Brookline land- reation areas were acquired by 1930, some by out- scape which has flourished for over three hundred right purchase and some by donation. Brookline has years. Neighboring the farm and former home of also received numerous state grants to help fund many generations of Welds is Larz Anderson Park, and protect the expansive network of open space given to the Town in 1948. Long prized for its views owned by the Town. A more recent acquisition of of Boston, as well as the sledding potential of its recreation land was an augmentation of Billy Ward great Hill, the park overlooks, as it did during the Playground in 1972. In 2008, the Town officially American Revolution, the still-extant farmhouse of opened Skyline Park on the site of the former John Goddard, George Washington's Wagon- Newton Street landfill, though this land was already Master. owned by the Town. At the beginning of 2011, the Town purchased the formerly state-owned Fisher When Brookline was incorporated in 1705, Hill Reservoir for the development and preservation there were about fifty families residing here, most of parkland and conservation land. At present, engaged in farming. While light industry (ie. tanner- approximately 15% of Brookline's 6.8 acres of land ies, a saw mill, grist mill, and forge) developed as a is devoted to Town-owned parks, open space and result of widespread farming, heavy industry never recreational facilities. became a significant economic force in the Town. The Sherburne Road, laid out in 1658 by the Although there had been earlier proposals to Massachusetts Bay Colony was, at first, the only establish bird sanctuaries and/or conservation lands land route that led west from Boston. The Town at Putterham Meadows, Hall's Pond, Lost Pond and Green was located along this road, where Walnut the D. Blakely Hoar property, it was not until the and Warren Streets intersect. 1960’s that the Town's first conservation land was established. The D. Blakely Hoar Sanctuary was As transportation routes were developed, resi- acquired in 1961 by the Town on land from a dential and commercial areas became established. bequest by a former resident. Hall's Pond Sanctuary The population grew rapidly. The Town's civic and was established in 1975 and the adjacent Amory commercial center moved from the Town Green Woods in 1977. Lost Pond Conservation Area was area to Brookline Village after a new Town Hall was formed in 1982 by a transfer of land which was for- built there in 1844, and the Boston-Worcester merly part of the Town's Newton Street landfill. Railroad began operating in the Village in 1847.

Beacon Street was built in 1821 as a continua- History of Planning and Zoning tion of the Mill Dam Road leading west from Boston. It was intended to open the northern part of In 1914, the Town's first Planning Board was Brookline for development and to be more conve- established with Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr., co- nient for Boston businessmen who wished to live in author of the nation’s first planning enabling legisla- Brookline. The widening of Beacon Street in 1887 tion and son of the designer of the Emerald and the introduction of the electric streetcar in 1889 Necklace park system, serving as Chairman. One of accelerated the development of the northern sec- the Board’s first decisions was to establish a set- tion of Brookline. By 1900, the Town's population back policy regarding building lines for specific had reached 19,925. Water and sewer systems had streets, particularly those witnessing the construc- been completed, a public education system with tion of apartment buildings, residential hotels, and fifteen schools was established and a Parks stores.

12 Town of Brookline, Massachusetts M-2.0 G-2.0

M-1.5 Zoning Map 10-CC .0 M-1.0 S-7 -1 G-2.0(CA) L M-1.5 M .0 -2. Amendment to Zoning Map 10-BB M-1 0 S-7 M-2.0 T-5 M-2.0 Adopted by Town Meeting on 11/16/2016 M-1.0 M-1.5 T-5 SC-7 .5 -1 .0 M 1 F M-1.0 - - .0 M-1.5 L 1 -2 Legend . M M-2.0 M-1.5 0 S-10 M-2.0 0 M-1.5 . M-2.0 -2

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T-6 - M-1.5 G-1.75(LSH) 1 . T-5 T-5 L-1.0 5 M-1.0 M-1.0 Zoning Overlay M-2.0 1.5 M-1.5 M- M-2.0 S-7 M-2.5 5 . 5 COOLIDGE CORNER DESIGN OVERLAY -1 . 1 M L-1.0 - 0 F-1.0 . M -2 SC-7 T-5 M M-1.5 M-2.0 FISHER HILL TOWN RESERVOIR OVERLAY .5 M-1.0 2 0 M- 1.0 . - 2 M - I-(EISD) M-1.5 F-1.0 R T-6 M-2.0 T-5 M-1.0 G-2.0 M CLEVELAND CIRCLE HOTEL OVERLAY DISTRICT T-6 L-0.5 G M-1.0 T-5 SC-7 G-1.0 M-1.0 ) M-2.0 RENEWABLE ENERGY OVERLAY DISTRICT (SOL) S 0 (W M-1.0 . 5 -1 .7 T-5 G M T-5 S-7 -1 - S-7 G 1 G-(DP) .0 . TRANSIT PARKING OVERLAY DISTRICT (TPOD) 5 2 - ) M M S-7 A SC-7 (C 0 .0 M-2.5 M-1.5 1. -1 T I- M -6 T-6 .0 M-1.0 T- -2 S-10 S-0.75P 5 M SC-10 G-2.0 M-1.5 L M-1.0 T-6 -0 .5 . -1 5 M S-7 M-1.0 T-5 .0 Disclaimer -2 T-5 M S-7 T-5 The information shown on this map S-10 S-7 M-1.0 L-1.0 is from the Brookline Geographic T-6 ) L (C T-6 .5 S-25 Information System(GIS) Database. -0 L S-25

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products furnished by the Town, including T-5 S-7 the implied validity of any uses of such data. T-6 L-0.5

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The Planning Board wrote in 1915, “Almost ment allowed. Recent Zoning By-Law amendments every year now sees more numerous and more include the creation of a new three-family zoning costly buildings erected close to the side lines of district that replace several multi-family zones, and streets which are liable to prove too narrow for the an overlay district in Coolidge Corner designed to traffic of the future; and every season sees new protect existing buildings. In addition, the past few inroads upon the established character of many years have seen the creation of several new Local residential streets through disregard of the custom- Historic Districts, where new development requires ary setback which has hitherto maintained a margin the approval of the Preservation Commission. of cheerful green between the buildings and the sidewalk.” C. POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS

Brookline's 1922 Zoning By-Law was one of the According to American Community Survey 2016 first in Massachusetts. By 1949, separate districts census data, the population of Brookline is 59,180 for single-family, two-family and multi-family hous- with a median age of 33.6. This is an increase of ing had been introduced and parking requirements 3.6% since 2000, when Brookline's population was had been established. Controlled growth, both in 57,107. density and building size, were goals of the first Comprehensive Plan in 1960. Figure 2. Population Breakdown by Age Group Nonetheless, as growth increased in the most for Town of Brookline populous parts of Town through the 1960s, many people became concerned about the quality of life in Town. In the early 1970s, the public's negative 0-9 years 65+ years (10.4%) reaction to a number of large developments and (15.3%) high-rise buildings sparked a substantial down- 10-19 years zoning. As a result, very little development took (9.8%) place in Brookline's commercial areas for the follow- 55-64 years ing 20 years. (10.0%) 20-24 years (11.3%) Proposition 2 ½, a statewide property tax limita- tion measure, was passed in 1980. This legislation 45-54 years capped municipal property tax revenue at its 1980 (10.5) level, plus 2 ½ % per year. Exceptions were granted for new buildings and local overrides. In 1989, faced 35-44 years 25-34 years with Proposition 2 ½ and the Town’s need for new (12.0%) (20.8%) revenue sources, the Select Board appointed a Development Committee to work with neighborhood groups on zoning amendments that would foster Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012-2016 American appropriate development. Community Survey 5-Year Estimates In the late 1990’s, a strong economy and accompanying development raised concerns about Brookline's demographic profile has changed loss of open space, loss of off-street parking and substantially over the last generation. Some of traffic congestion. In addition, with the end of rent these long-term changes reflect national demo- control in the 1980s and rise in housing prices, graphic trends, such as smaller household size, Brookline was faced with a shortage of affordable more single-person households, fewer family housing. Continuing pressure from Proposition 2 ½ households, a reduction in the school-age popula- led to the need to examine revenue and services tion and an increase in the pre-school population. too. To address these needs and demands, the As of 2016, young adults comprised the largest por- Town instituted a planning process which culminat- tion of the Town’s population with approximately ed in the Brookline Comprehensive Plan 2005- 20.8% of the total population in the age range of 2015. 25-34 years. Adults from 35-44 years of age com- prised another 12.0% of the population, and the In the past 40 years, the overall trend in Town other age groups (0-9, 10-19, 20-24, 45-54, 55-64, zoning has been to reduce the amount of develop- 65+) each averaged approximately 10.5% of the population.

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The Town of Brookline makes no claims, T A S V T N E no representations, and no warranties, O S T N S express or implied, concerning the validity O L C Y A O C (express or implied), the reliability or the E B Y B T PR S ES accuracy of the GIS data and GIS data N S S O T T products furnished by the Town, including S L Y the implied validity of any uses of such data. O B C HE S T N U T H IL L A VE ´ LEE ST

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Figure 3. Population Age Group Comparison for Estimates, the top three industries of the working Town of Brookline, Commonwealth of population in Brookline consist of: 1. educational Massachusetts, and the United States of America services, and health care and social assistance, 2. professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services, 25 and 3. finance and insurance, and real estate and 20 rental and leasing.

15 Brookline The average household size in Brookline is 2.27 10 people per household, a 4% increase from 2000 Massachusetts (2.18 people per household), yet still smaller than 5 Percent of Population Percent that of the Commonwealth, which has an average of United States of 0 America 2.48 people per household. The median household income of Brookline is $93,640- amongst the high- est in Boston's inner-core region. Brookline's medi- an family income is even higher at $144,904. The Age Group (Years) median income for married couples with dependent children is higher still, at $197,589. Brookline's non- Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012-2016 American family households, however, do not have the same Community Survey 5-Year Estimates economic position as their family counterparts, with a median income of $52,150. The median income This breakdown by age differs from that of for elderly women living alone is particularly low, at Massachusetts and the country in general (U. S. $32,519. Census Bureau, 2016 American Community Survey 1-year estimates). Brookline has a large proportion Approximately 25.2% of all residents of of young adults. In the age range of 25 to 34 years, Brookline are foreign-born. Immigrants hail from all Brookline’s population is approximately 7% larger over the world, although mainly from China, Japan, than both the state and national averages. What's India, Israel, and Ukraine, and to a lesser extent more, in the age range 20-24, Brookline's popula- from Canada, France, and Germany. As such, tion is approximately 4% greater than that of the Chinese, Russian, Japanese, Hebrew, and French state and country. Brookline also has slightly fewer are common household languages in Brookline, teenagers, with the number of individuals in the age and multiple neighborhoods are comprised of range of 10 to 19 years being approximately 2% English isolation populations. lower than the state and national average. In the age range of 55 to 64 years, Brookline’s population According to the U.S. Census Bureau, is 3.1% lower than the state average and 0.9% Environmental Justice (EJ) census block groups are lower than the national average. All other age located throughout Brookline. Blocks with minority groups vary by less than 2.7% from state and populations are largely present throughout southern national averages. The senior citizen population, (semi-urban) Brookline, and scattered across north- which rose proportionally from 1960 to 1990, ern (urban) Brookline. Brookline’s racial and ethnic declined in a proportional sense between 1990 and composition is largely Caucasian (making up 72% 2010. The differences in Brookline’s population and of the total population). However, 16% of Brookline's the state and national averages are generally less population is Asian, 5.5% is Latino, and 3% is significant than they were in 2005. African American. One area in northern Brookline, located close to Boston University, meets multiple Brookline's labor force includes approximately EJ criteria (low income and minority populations). 67.6% of the population 16 years and older. The unemployment rate is 5.6%, which is lower than the This area is served by multiple open spaces, statewide rate of 8.4%, and the Norfolk County rate including Knyvet Square, Winthrop Square and of 7.6%. This comparatively low unemployment rate Amory Playground, in addition to Amory Woods can be attributed in part to the higher levels of edu- Sanctuary and Hall's Pond Sanctuary. A neighbor- cational attainment of Brookline's population. More hood in northeastern Brookline meets additional EJ than 80% of the population 25 years and over has a criteria (low income, minority, and English isolation college or higher level degree. According to the populations). This area is adjacent to the recently 2017 American Community Survey 1-Year renovated Brookline Avenue Playground, which was

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Environmental Justice 2010 Populations R N T

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Table 2 Brookline Citizens' Priorities for New Facilities Relative Importance Ranked on Scale of 1 (not important) to 4 (very important)

Facility % Respondents Rating Mean Score for all "4" (Very Important) Respondents Open Space Acquisition, Preservation 48.1% 3.27 Parks - General 33.3 3.05 More Trails/Bike Paths 31.4 3.06 Fitness Center 29.7 2.89 More Sanctuaries/Nature Center 26.8 2.78 Outdoor Pool 26.1 2.70 Share with School Department 25.6 2.85 Performing Arts/Cultural Center 24.2 2.76 Parks - Organized Sports 21.3 2.63 Community Center 19.6 2.66 Indoor Leisure Play Pool 18.1 2.48 Picnic Areas/Pavilions 17.9 2.62 Indoor Ice Rink 17.1 2.44 Indoor Warm Therapy Pool 14.7 2.35 Amphitheater 11.8 2.32 More Gymnasiums 8.9 2.14 Skateboarding/In-Line Skating 7.2 1.83 BMX BIcycle Course 5.1 1.79 In-Line Hockey Court 1.9 1.54

Source: Brookline Parks, Open Space and Recreation Strategic Master Plan, June 2006 (Table 2.6)

18 COMMUNITY SETTING

Boston population expanded and wealthy mer- returning soldiers and their families, its small, chants began to purchase large areas of farmland attached two-story brick buildings are set in and for elaborate homes. Fortunately, these first devel- around low puddingstone hillocks surrounded by opers had the wisdom and resources to create broad green lawns well-suited to the games of chil- neighborhoods that can still be used as templates dren and neighborly interaction. for successfully combining the natural and the built environment. Both David Sears, at Cottage Farm in Today, with property values remaining high in the 1830's, and Amos A. Lawrence, at Longwood in Brookline, there continues to be a gradual but the 1850's, ensured that buildings were always suf- notable trend toward replacing smaller single family ficiently balanced by the presence of trees, parks, homes with larger homes. and playgrounds. Cottage Farm and Longwood Mall are listed in the State and National Register of Infrastructure Historic Places. Traffic and Transportation Respect for the local natural environment was Major transportation routes from Boston pass not an isolated trend. Brookline continued to benefit through Brookline toward the western suburbs, from the actions of other enlightened developers Cambridge, and the southern parts of the City of and designers, such as Alexander Wadsworth, who Boston. The earliest route from Boston to the west built the park-like residential areas of Linden Square was the old Sherbourne Road, which passed and St. Marks Square, and Thomas Aspinwall through Brookline via Walnut and Heath Streets, Davis, a developer who put set-back requirements and was replaced by Boylston Street (Route 9), and use restrictions into the master deeds of his which remains a major route between Boston and homes. the communities along the Route 128 corridor. Beacon Street was built as a second major roadway During the second half of the 19th Century, to and from Boston. Harvard and Washington Brookline became the residence of many renowned Streets in Brookline provided north-south through- architects and landscape architects, whose vision routes from southern portions of Boston to Allston, and talent left a lasting imprint on the local, as well Brighton and Cambridge. These early roadways as national, cultural landscape. continue to shape Brookline's development.

Among the most prominent landscape archi- Three of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation tects was Frederick Law Olmsted, who made both Authority (MBTA) green lines serve Brookline: the B his home and office in Brookline. His designs for the line along Commonwealth Avenue, the C line to Emerald Necklace and Beacon Street translated the Cleveland Circle, and the D line to Riverside in concept of European pleasure gardens and grand Newton. The bus routes are: Allston-Ruggles via boulevards into the American vernacular and they Harvard St., Chestnut Hill from Kenmore via Route remain today an inspiration for community planners. 9, Cleveland Circle from Forest Hill via Putterham, Olmsted and his successors in the firm continued to Central Square to Cleveland Circle, and Brighton. influence the development of the Brookline land- scape well into the 20th Century. Access points to other major routes are avail- able through Brookline's streets. The Massachusetts The early 20th Century saw a continuation of Turnpike, Storrow Drive and Memorial Drive carry the former residential trends. Major development east-west traffic; Route 1, Riverway and Fenway along Beacon Street and Commonwealth Avenue carry traffic to southern sections of Boston, Newton continued, the grand houses and apartment struc- and southwest suburbs. Many residential streets tures creating an impressive boulevard. Smaller, are used extensively to access these routes and are multi-family dwellings were built as homes for those particularly impacted by rush hour traffic. who worked at the large estates, and additional apartment buildings in North and Central Brookline Development on Route 9 regionally includes became residences for the early commuters to sections of small businesses and residential areas Boston. South Brookline maintained a largely rural interspersed with large suburban-style businesses, quality until the end of WWII, when small, suburban complete with large parking lots. In Brookline, Route development came to several areas. A particularly 9 currently is under careful scrutiny and comprehen- striking mid 20th Century cultural landscape is sive planning for its potential for economic develop- Hancock Village. Developed as a community for ment. Along the Newton portion of Route 9 there

19 S TPKE MBTA Bus Routes and T Lines MASSACHUSETT

ST T

ON S T

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X E S T STaint Mary St.

ST E

S T M R S S

Town of Brookline, Massachusetts ME Y A

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T!! E E S

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A A A T

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R T B T!Corner S E Q COOLIDGE CENTRE ST T! S V T NT P MBTA Green Line PLAYGROUND TER S KE A WEBS R WINCHES K TER ST W L A Street Center Lines N P Y ON TER TO MAS AL I R AVE ASP NWALL AVE D MIT T Summit Ave Brookline Town Boundary UM T ! BILLY WARD N RD S S DA PLAYGROUND BROOKLINE AV JOR N JOHN E. MURPHY O C PLAYGROUND PLYGRD A T Open Space E S

R RN D B BU

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Data Sources: P RD R D

O O L

AVE N S T R ARLE H P D H SE

! T O

N T IN E ! D P All the data layers on this map R D T A T Washington Sq. W ON RD T EMERSON I

S R NT R A H V Y T S W JUNIPER ST N S GARDEN are from Brookline GIS. E R

R O S PLAYGROUND

D

U C T

E BOYLSTON ST S

B A T

E LOTTA BRADBURN N S N

S E PLAYGROUND The Open Space shown on this map I B S

RD A

SCHICK PARK A R L R R T D

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D N S S E R L P

includes Community Parks,Neighborhood L

G R A

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D E A LINCOLN SCHOOL

IN T E CYPRESS ST E D

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Parks, Golf Course,Cemeteries, RAW ON W PLAYGROUND

N T S E S

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T R AP !! T G ! A Agricultural /Recreation Land and E PAN S T

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School Playgrounds. WALDSTEIN O T H T N

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Beaconsfield RD N O MARGARET E TT! B A ! M W ROBINSON PLYGRD Englewood Ave HARRY DOWNES RUNKLE SCHOOL U CY FIELD S CLARK PRESS PLAYGROUND LINCOLN SCHOOL ST ER RD LAYGROUND C D BU CKMINST PLAYGROUND (NEW) H Cleveland Circle R ES Map Disclaimer T W TN ! N R D A THE OLD BURYING UT ST T! A OP D R R E L D R GROUND S AN T E The information shown on this map is T! D Y LL N T!DReservoir H O S ST R H R C A

from the Brookline Geographic N C E T H T L D

O E F I

D S I S N R

T T S R

Information System (GIS) database. R H E N H N D

I U E C D R I C L D

T E T R A L S L

C R H V EY E L E T

A IL D L T W N L S U The Town of Brookline makes no claims, L D E I B A A N G D.J. WARREN V X O S A R W E T T no representations,and no warranties, FIELD E S R L Y R O express or implied, concerning the D B LEE ST HE validity (express or implied), the reliability D ELIOT ST AT COT R H TA TS HIL G or theaccuracy of the GIS data and GIS F HEATH SCHOOL L E A S R PLAYGROUND EN S T T C IR RD R data products furnishedby the Town, ESERVO AR LN TR W E S RG including the implied validity of any D D ON T EO D LN R R T S T G S R R Y L E S Y uses of such data. R A O L E X T E B E Y D W T U R E D N D L R S E R N

I C S T

R N A L O

E A M S

Y O L Y D L O S F T

N E S U T

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HOLYHOOD N D CEMETERY ASSOC. N T A S L D

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N T R T Y E D R K P D P E W F D V

N

I

0 0.25 0.5 Mile Map updated by Brookline GIS on 6/28/2019 COMMUNITY SETTING have been several major new development plans pumping stations on the MWRA's southern Extra and proposals that include parcels close to Chestnut High Service System. Primary supply is made Hill Village and would substantially increase traffic. through a connection to the discharge piping of the One option that has been raised is to depress Route MWRA's Reservoir Road Pumping Station. In peri- 9 in this area to create better north-south pedestrian ods of high demand or other system emergencies, travel in Chestnut Hill and allow for more green a secondary supply from the Newton Street Pumping space, as well as create a village center for the Station can be placed on line. The purpose of both Chestnut Hill area. stations is to elevate the supply pressure to service the higher elevations of Brookline. Distribution sys- Transportation by bicycle is increasing in tem storage is provided at the highest land elevation Brookline, and has been improved with the creation in Town, Single Tree Hill, and consists of a 1.7 mil- of designated bicycle lanes on several streets. The lion gallon steel spheroidal elevated tank. Olmsted and Riverway Park system does include popular bicycle and pedestrian paths, but the diffi- Sewer Service culty of crossing at Washington Street, which The Town of Brookline's sewer system is com- divides the park parcels, has long been under dis- prised of about 100 miles of local sanitary sewers cussion. The Town addressed this issue with the which discharge to MWRA interceptors tributary to design and construction of a large bicycle and either the Nut Island or Deer Island wasterwater pedestrian connection at the intersection of treatment facilities. About 16 miles of Brookline's Washington Street and Pond Avenue. system are tributary to the Southern High Level Sewer, and about 45 miles are tributary to the Walkways include an extensive network of side- Brighton Branch High Level Sewer; each of which walks within the more urban sections of Brookline, transports waste water to the Nut Island Treatment however some southern and western sections of Plant. Finally, about 33 miles of Brookline's sewers Town lack sidewalks. Brookline does have several are tributary to the Charles River Valley Low Level well-planned walking paths, including those along Sewer which transports waste to the Deer Island the Muddy River, in the Town's parks and sanctuar- Treatment Plant. ies, and across the hills of North and Central Brookline. The entire wastewater collection system in Brookline flows by gravity (no public pump stations) Water Supply Systems and consists of sewer mains which are maintained Brookline is a member of the Massachusetts by the Water and Sewer Division. Most of Brookline's Water Resources Authority. Because elevations in sewers are 40 to 70 years old and are constructed the Town range from 7 feet to 340 feet above sea of vitrified clay and, to a lesser extent, brick or rein- level, two separate distribution systems are required forced concrete. All manholes are constructed of to provide water service to the entire Town. Without brick, block or precast concrete. this arrangement, pressures would be extremely high in the low elevations and inadequately low in Storm Drain Systems the high elevations of the Town. Static pressures in The Town of Brookline has approximately 117 both systems are maintained between 20 and 120 miles of storm drains that carry runoff from rain and pounds per square inch. snow melt. The drainage network generally follows Town streets, and has been built to carry stormwa- The Low Service System is supplied from two ter runoff entirely by gravity to nearby water bodies. direct connections to the MWRA's Southern High In general, stormwater flows into Brookline’s streets, Service System at Fisher Avenue. Water flow into collects in gutters, and flows through a street level the system is measured through two venturi meters grate or curb inlet into a catch basin. Brookline has owned and maintained by the MWRA. The MWRA approximately 2,344 catch basins, most of which is able to maintain pressure within the system are designed with a sump to collect sediment, litter through these direct connections. Low service distri- and other debris, and approximately 1,675 drain bution mains supply water to most sections of Town manholes. Water flows out of the catch basin into a east of Washington Street and north of Boylston central storm drain under the street. These drains Street, representing 62 percent of the total water merge into large collector drains, and ultimately into consumption. very large conduits that carry stormwater runoff into the Muddy River, Sawmill Brook, Stony Brook or The High Service System is supplied from two directly into the Charles River (Brookline Engineering

21 COMMUNITY SETTING

Division). one-third the number created in 1960-1980. Since 2000, the rate has been similar, and this steady Brookline’s drains are mostly made of rein- growth pace may continue into the future, if other forced concrete pipe, and vary in diameter from as factors do not intercede. Higher growth could occur small as 12 inches to larger than 100 inches. The if large properties currently in institutional use or Village Brook drain, which drains most of Brookline’s currently developed at low densities were to be land area and discharges to Leverett Pond, is large redeveloped. Growth will also depend on market enough in certain areas to drive a car through. conditions, which were favorable for residential Many of Brookline’s largest storm drains discharge development in the late 1980s and late 1990s, and to the Muddy River, and their outfalls can be sub- less so in the early 1990s and early 2000s due to merged when the river begins to rise during heavy economic recessions. storms. This can contribute to flooding problems as flows in the drains have no way to drain out to the While the overall trend in the creation of hous- river. The Muddy River Restoration Project, cur- ing units shows stability over the last generation, the rently being executed by the U.S. Army Corps of composition of the housing stock has altered some- Engineers, should help alleviate some of these what. According to the Brookline Comprehensive flooding problems. Plan 2005-2015, a comparison of 1990 and 2000 census data showed that the proportion of housing Stormwater runoff from Brookline is regulated units that are single-family or in multi-family build- by the United States Environmental Protection ings of different sizes had not changed significantly. Agency (EPA) under the Clean Water Act. Brookline’s More recent reports from the Brookline Assessors stormwater system is managed in accordance with Department show that 48% of Brookline's housing its Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) units are in buildings containing nine or more units, Permit, a component of which requires good house- while only 17% are single-family, indicating a move- keeping practices such as regular street sweeping ment towards a greater proportion of units in larger and inspection and cleaning out of catch basins, buildings. ensuring that sanitary sewage is not getting into storm drains, and pubic outreach and education Population densities in the Town vary greatly. efforts. Brookline received a new MS4 permit aimed Densities are much higher in the northern parts of at reducing the volume of stormwater flowing direct- Brookline, ranging to more than 28,000 per mile for ly into rivers and reducing the levels of pollution in some neighborhoods and averaging at least 7,500 stormwater runoff. In association with the goals per square mile through North Brookline. In the outlined in this permit, a total of 51 cross-connec- south, the densities are consistently less than 7,500 tions with an estimated 14,410 gallons per day throughout. (GPD) of waterwater flows have been removed from the drainage system from April 2005 to March 2017. The Town has used density information, among Pollutants of critical concern include sediments, other factors, to calculate target Level of Service which accumulate in storm drains and water bodies, standards for Brookline. These targets include the and nutrients, especially phosphorus, which contrib- acquisition of 36-58 additional acres of land (includ- ute to excessive weed and algae growth in rivers, ing open space/conservation, active outdoor and lakes and ponds. facility siting uses). The Brookline Comprehensive Plan 2005-2015 identifies three key planning and Long-Term Development Patterns development goals, all of which have implications for open space in Brookline. The first goal is plan- Brookline has approximately 26,448 total hous- ning for better districts and neighborhoods. The ing units, with almost 95% of these units occupied protection of neighborhood character, attractive- (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census). According to ness, safety and functionality while accommodating the Brookline Comprehensive Plan 2005-2015, the desirable changes includes planning and zoning average increase in housing units has been rela- strategies to preserve and enhance open space. tively stable for the last thirty years. After a growth One recommended strategy is the creation of spurt during the 1960s, when Brookline added an Neighborhood and District Plans with development average of 358 new housing units annually, the and design standards that accommodate open number of housing units has continued to increase space goals. each year, but at a slower pace. The number of new housing units created in 1980-2000 was less than Another long-term development goal is to

22 increase affordable housing in Brookline. The from a regional perspective with a focus on increas- Brookline Comprehensive Plan 2005-2015 sets a ing the attractiveness and livability of the corridor. goal of creating, through conversion and new con- The Plan envisions the creation of an attractive struction, an average of 25 affordable units per year "Gateway East" to the Town at Brookline Village. for the next 25 years. This would more than double This would include strengthening the connection the current production and produce 625 units, allow- between the Emerald Necklace Parks which are ing Brookline to meet the 10% affordable housing divided by Route 9 at that point. The planning pro- unit standard set by the state in Chapter 40B. As cess is currently underway for the “Gateway East” mentioned earlier, currently approximately 8% of project. the housing units are affordable units. The Plan stresses conversion of existing market-rate housing A new "Gateway West" at the Chestnut Hill into affordable units which would not impact open commercial area would include planned changes to space. Another strategy contributing to the creation improve pedestrian connections and enhance open of such additional housing might be the adoption of space. At other points on the corridor, the Plan envi- as-of-right greenway/open-space cluster (GOSR) sions the creation of a pedestrian-oriented mixed- zoning for large parcels of land. This form of cluster use development. Route 9 has been viewed as an zoning emphasizes the preservation of valuable important opportunity for commercial development open space and natural resource features during that would expand the community's tax base. development of the parcel. From the perspective of current zoning, The Route 9 corridor is cited by the Brookline Brookline is near build-out. Most of the potentially Comprehensive Plan 2005-2015 as one of the most subdividable parcels that remain are located in the persistent and challenging planning issues facing southern part of Town. Future development patterns the Town. The third key recommendation is to and planning may have significant implications for develop a Route 9 Plan that looks at the corridor open space.

23 Town of Brookline, Massachusetts Existing Land Use

Legend ALL OTHER VALUES RESIDENTIAL - SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL - MULTI-FAMILY COMMERCIAL/MIXED USE INSTITUTIONAL OPEN SPACE CONDO-PARKING RESIDENTIAL VACANT ´ TOWN BOUNDARY EDGE OF PAVEMENT

Data Sources: Town boundary, streets, land use, parcels, waterbodies, and open space layers are from the Brookline GIS database.

0 0.35 0.7 Miles

Map updated by Brookline GIS on 3/18/2019

Louise Kent’s Story

"When your mother was a little girl, there was still an old road in Brookline that had never been improved. It was called the Two Mile Road and it ran from Heath Street in Chestnut Hill through a piece of woodland that had belonged to my grandfather and then across Newton Street in the direction of Roxbury. I rode over it on a horse many times when I was a girl, and when your mother and uncle were little . . . If you wanted to go back into the seventeenth century and see what Brookline was like, you could just go and look for Lost Pond.

On all sides of it there was a swamp - a colonial swamp for all you could tell. Marshy plants grew out of the wonderful black dirt. There was only one path to the pond. If you missed it you would soon be up to your knees in mud. Trees and bushes were so thick along the path and around the pond that you couldn’t see even a gleam of water until you got close to the edge. . .

In wintertime when the ground was hard and the trees were bare, the pond was easier to find than at other seasons. I remember once coming on it sooner than I expected and seeing a pair of wonderful skaters waltzing there. The pond seemed like a secret ballroom with a silver floor and the walls hung with dark tapestries. The ballroom had a lamp because the full moon was just coming up over the trees. I never put my skates on but just stood there, watching the skat- ers whirling, dipping, and gliding until my feet almost froze. Then I went away through the dark woods. For a while I could hear the music of the skates ringing on the ice, but as I came out on the Two Mile Road again, I thought I must have dreamed that the waltzers were there."

Louise Kent, The Brookline Trunk, 1955

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