June 23, 2017

By: Chloe Gaydos | Unite Boston Intern

I’m convinced that being aware of the changing demographics in the Boston area better positions Christians to be able to more effectively share how the gospel is good news to a particular place and a particular people.

I recently moved into Boston, and I’ve learned that this can be more difficult than it appears. I’ve started to work in new offices, drum for new worship bands, live in a new neighborhood, and introduce myself at events as a new member to the Boston Christian Community. This experience is both exhilarating and draining at the same time, as the people, places, schedule, and even food are all slightly unfamiliar to me. However, I am learning to embrace a new mindset: the excitement inherent in experiencing the new. I don’t want to be comfortable anymore; I want variety, and meaningful variety which I have most recently discovered also means ministry. Understanding how to navigate an environment which is unfamiliar, unique, and changing fuels my adventure in Boston because the simplicity of awareness has enabled me to have a more fulfilled experience.

I would like to encourage you to do the same whether you have lived in Boston your entire life or are new to the city. Be aware of your surroundings, the people and place around you, and bless it by means of taking your ministry potential to the next level. Adventure, hidden value, and meaningful connections are at your disposal in exchange for your application of humble and wise vulnerability.

Take a look at these eight neighborhoods of current or imminent growth, based on public and private development plans. Given the general population trends, these are priority areas for outreach and new churches.

The data and text below was originally published by the Emmanuel Gospel Center about where to plant churches in Boston, written by Rudy Mitchell and Steve Daman. 

 

Eight Actively Growing Residential Development Areas Across Boston:

1. Seaport District by the Waterfront. 

While there are many new high-rise housing and office buildings being built here, there are very few churches in the area.

2. South End.

The northeastern and eastern parts of the South End from the Ink Block to the Boston Medical Center between Albany and Washington Streets will soon have hundreds of new apartments and condos which are being planned and built. Will the South End Christian Community be ready?

3. South Boston from Andrew Square to the Broadway MBTA stations.

Although still in the future, “Plan: South Boston Dorchester Avenue” calls for 6,000 to 8,000 new housing units. DJ Properties is also building Washington Square, a mixed use development near Andrew Station with 656 residential units. The nearby Widett Circle and New Market/South Bay areas are also potential major development sites proposed by the City of Boston. Currently there are already many new housing units and new residents around Broadway and in South Boston generally. Nine-building Washington Square Development with 656 residential units approved and to be completed in the next four years. The neighborhood’s limited number of churches poses the opportunity for Christians to gather to serve the area in the name of sharing God’s love.

4. Charlestown – Sullivan Square.

The Sullivan Square area is one of the six main areas the City of Boston has proposed for major housing expansion. Meanwhile, the 1,100 units of the Bunker Hill Housing Development will be totally redeveloped into 3,200 units of mixed housing. Charlestown has very few churches.

5. Allston Brighton – Beacon Yards.

This is one of the six major areas proposed by the City for development into new expanded neighborhoods. The Boston Landing Campus of New Balance is an area with new residential units and Stop & Shop will be building 1,000 new housing units. Other major housing developments are in the works as well.

6. Roxbury – from Dudley Square area to Ruggles MBTA station.

Coming up in the next several years is the recently approved $500M Tremont Crossing development with over 700 apartments. The nearby Whittier St. Housing Project received funding for a full redevelopment into an expanded mixed income development. Other significant residential developments are also in the works, and Northeastern University is expanding in the area with high-rise dorms.

 

7. Jamaica Plain – Forest Hills Station.

This area is booming with several large new housing developments in various stages of planning and completion. Also, the nearby Washington Street corridor recently completed a new (and controversial) plan which includes potential new residential development in addition to what is already being built in the area. Although there are some thriving churches in this area, because there will be so many new residents there is room for more churches not only here, but throughout Jamaica Plain.

8. Suffolk Downs.

In the future, this former racetrack will likely become a whole new community. This massive 161-acre site is one of the six major areas proposed by the city for expansion and was recently purchased by a developer, HYM Investments. This could become one of the largest developments in the whole region.

The Emmanuel Gospel Center describes that “Neighborhood change is ongoing. Boston’s new neighborhood development will not happen all at once. Some areas have residential developments in process or already completed, like the Seaport District, the South End, Jamaica Plain, and to some extent Allston-Brighton. Other areas, like South Boston and Charlestown, already have many new young professionals and some new housing, but much more will be built in the next five years. Other areas, specifically Suffolk Downs and the Beacon Yards part of Allston, will most likely take more than five more years to develop.”

There’s a line that should be drawn between being practical and actively engaged early in the game, but the first step is of course to be aware of your environment to better understand how to more effectively interact with your surroundings.

Being new to Boston, I can most definitely testify that Boston does have everything that it needs to be a city after God’s heart. It comes down to the people and how much they are willing to place themselves in the position to be aware and act in boldness, service, fellowship, and faith.