Residents Want Arts and Public Realm

[Tim McHale]

Dear Friends in AB,

 

If we haven't met, please allow me to introduce myself to you.  I am Tim McHale, an Allston Brighton resident since 1974.  I've been active in all things development, community, and Harvard. I chair the Herter Riverstage, have sat on numerous IAGs, and am former chair and still active on the Harvard Allston Task Force.  My wife and I founded Music with Heart 35 years ago with the mission of performing healing music for the unhoused and seniors.  I've been a construction management consultant for 40 years.  We are vested in the community.  We love the arts and know a strong art scene is essential to our community. 

 

Fellow residents and I have convened and been identifying parcels and sites in the North Allston Brighton neighborhood with the vision of creating an impressive public realm and art district.  The rapid and unprecedented land development in the community has led to diminished services and public realm.  However, upon deeper inspection, the neighborhood is full of artistic potential.  We need to connect the dots and reserve the land that is vacant before new development spreads.  We have designed a "spine"  that curves through the neighborhood, back in the day of the NASPF, we called it an armature of public realm.  We added the arts because of the inherent richness of artists that reside here.  AB is known for its dense population of artists and musicians.  I believe we can capitalize on the University's and coat tail developments to leverage a robust public realm and arts district.

 

With this in mind, we began to draw, reflect, and revise.  You will see the attached drawing and narrative that adequately describes this area and proposed uses.  Our goal is to incorporate this thinking and planning into the Allston Brighton Community Planning process currently underway at the BPDA.  Including this area as "sacred" for public realm and arts uses guarantees an enhancement to the community that balances out the mega development and puts emphasis on the quality of life for those who live here.

 

We respectfully request that you transmit a letter of support for this vision to Grey Black, community planner for the BPDA, asking for inclusion on the Community Plan.  grey....@boston.gov Grey is intimate with the concept.  Please help this neighborhood reach a potential that will rival any world class community.

 

 

Allston Brighton Public Realm & Arts District

Vision Overview | Winter 2026

I. Purpose & Mission

• Goal: Establish a walkable, vibrant public realm that anchors a sustainable, affordable arts ecosystem in North Allston–Brighton.
• Objective: Leverage arts and culture as catalysts for community vitality, economic opportunity, and equitable development.

II. Vision

• Premier Cultural Destination: Position Allston Brighton as a leading arts and culture hub in Boston.
• Creative Economy: Build on the area’s existing arts scene to support:
• High-quality public spaces
• Affordable housing
• Long-term community stability
• Inclusive Growth: Pair thriving arts scenes with public realms that foster accessibility, affordability, and opportunity.

III. Core Framework: The Arts District Spine

• Cultural Corridor: A continuous north–south route connecting key public and private assets.
• Anchor & Path:
• Starts at the Charles River with Riverstage at Herter Park
• Extends south through Harvard, City, and private parcels
• Reaches I-90, Allston Yards, and Harvard Avenue
• Programmatic Mix:
• Retail, restaurants, galleries, and performance venues
• Cultural centers, rehearsal spaces, studios, and pop-up installations
• Affordable resident and artist housing and accessible open spaces

IV. Affordability as a Foundational Principle

• Commitment to Affordability:
• Discounted commercial and cultural leases
• Income-based residential and artist rents
• Low-cost/no-cost land transfers for cultural use

 

 

V. Partnerships & Collaboration

• Shared Stewardship:
• Collaboration with Harvard University, City of Boston, private landowners, artists, cultural organizations, and local residents.

VI. Planning & Policy Alignment

• Integration:
• Align with existing zoning and BPDA’s Allston-Brighton Master Plan.
• Embed arts, public space, and affordability in long-term development.

VII. Governance, Oversight & Longevity

• Community Oversight:
• City and neighborhood review of projects to ensure alignment with district goals.
• Permanent Affordability:
• Tools include deed restrictions, cooperative ownership models, and nonprofit ownership with enforceable affordability covenants.

VIII. Impact

• Cultural Backbone: Creates a dynamic district blending creativity, commerce, and community.
• Empowering Artists & Residents: Ensures that artists and residents are central to the district’s growth.
• Long-Term Resilience: Establishes an inclusive arts district that benefits Allston Brighton, and Boston for generations.

 

Please write a Letter of Support to:

Grey Black, Community Planner, BPDA

grey....@boston.gov

asking for inclusion in Allston Brighton Master Plan

 

Thank You!  For more information contact:

Tim McHale

bostonm...@aol.com

617 797 1129

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Tim McHale

Tim McHale

102 Litchfield St.

Brighton, MA 02135

cell 617-797-1129