User:Kbache01/sandbox

Final Draft - Dorchester
Dorchester is a historic neighborhood of over six square miles in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. The town was founded by Puritans who emigrated in 1630 from Dorchester, England. It is named after the town of Dorchester in the English county of Dorset, from which Puritans emigrated on the ship, "Mary and John", among others.[4] The town of Dorchester is commonly nicknamed "Dot" by its residents.[5] Dorchester, now covering a geographic area approximately equivalent to the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts, was founded in 1630 just a few months before the founding of the city of Boston.[6]

Dorchester borders Mattapan, Roxbury, South Boston, Milton and Quincy. It was still a primarily rural town and had a population of 12,000 when it was annexed to Boston in 1870. Railroad and streetcar lines brought rapid growth, increasing the population to 150,000 by 1920. In the 2010 Census the population was 92,115. Dorchester as a separate municipality would rank among the top five Massachusetts cities. It has a very diverse mix of Eastern Europeans, African Americans, European Americans, Irish Americans, Caribbean Americans, Hispanics, Pacific Islanders and East and Southeast Asian Americans.

In regards to composition and utilities, Dorchester is well-equipped. For transportation, there are five widely used MBTA stations spread around Dorchester. Also highways exist that cut through Dorchester for people commuting in and out of the central city and other areas. For local transportation, buses and taxis are abundant. Surrounding the busy Dorchester Avenue is littered with several small businesses and big company chain stores that bring life to the area. Also in the more centralized area have multiple business buildings, apartments and other urban related institutions. Alongside the eastern border of Dorchester is the coastline of Dorchester Bay which is where University of Massachusetts: Boston resides. Venturing more inward from the coastline, Dorchester is packed with small zones of suburban housing.

The economy of Dorchester has been through some tough times but has always and continues to hold strong. Between the 1960's and 1970's Dorchester's economy suffered and experienced a high unemployment rate and white flight. This flamed the crime that was already existent centrally towards the public housing sector on Columbia Point Peninsula. However the economy took a turn for the better during the late 1980's when public housing was bought out and renovated by private developers. Also major businesses and institutions were established which has boosted the economy of Dorchester significantly such as the Boston Globe headquarters and University of Massachusetts: Boston. This is a common modern day social process called gentrification. In order to bring more resources into the neighborhood economy, the public policies of Dorchester adjust zoning laws to encourage individuals from different social classes and businesses to move into the neighborhood. Recently, there has been a sharp increase of young professionals, homosexuals, and working artists to the neighborhood, adding to its economic and cultural diversity.[7][8][9][10]

DEMOGRAPHICS
Up until the 1950s, the Blue Hill Avenue part of Dorchester from Roxbury to Mattapan was primarily composed of Jewish Americans who had lived there for generations.[1] The Neponset neighborhood was primarily Irish-American. During the 1950s–1960s, many African-Americans moved from the South to the North during the Great Migration and settled on Blue Hill Avenue and nearby sections. While some Jewish-Americans were moving "up and out" to the suburbs, certain Boston banks and real estate companies developed a blockbusting plan for the area. The Blue Hill Avenue area was "redlined" so that only the newly arriving African-Americans would receive mortgages for housing in that section.[2] "White flight" was prevalent. Later, Dorchester had another wave of immigrants, this time from Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Vietnam, Cape Verde, as well as other Latin American, Asian, and African nations. While there was still a large number of new immigrants from traditional countries of origin, such as Ireland and Poland. This made Dorchester more diverse than at any point in its long history, and home to more people from more countries than ever before. These immigrants helped revive economically many areas of the neighborhood by opening ethnic stores and restaurants.[3]

The sections of Dorchester have distinct ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic compositions. The eastern areas of Dorchester (especially between Adams Street and Dorchester Bay) are primarily ethnic European and Asian, with a large population of Irish Americans and Vietnamese Americans, while the residents of the western, central and parts of the southern sections of the neighborhood are predominantly African Americans. In Neponset, the southeast corner of the neighborhood, as well as parts of Savin Hill in the north and Cedar Grove in the south, Irish Americans maintain the most visible identity.[4] In the northern section of Dorchester and southwestern section of South Boston is the Polish Triangle, where recent Polish immigrants are residents. Savin Hill, as well as Fields Corner, have large Vietnamese American populations. Uphams Corner contains a Cape Verdean American community, the largest concentration of people of Cape Verdean origin within Boston city limits. Western, central and parts of southern Dorchester have a large Caribbean population (especially people from Haiti, Jamaica, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago). They are most heavily represented in the Codman Square, Franklin Field and the Ashmont area, although there are also significant numbers in Four Corners and Fields Corner. Significant numbers of African Americans live in the Harbor Point, Uphams Corner, Fields Corner, Four Corners and Franklin Field areas. Despite the wide variety of racial and ethnic backgrounds, approximately 70% of residents speak only English at home. Looking closer to the family unit, about half of the residents are married and the other half are either single or cohabiting.[5] In recent years Dorchester has also seen an influx of young residents, gay men and women, and working artists (in areas like Lower Mills, Ashmont Hill/Peabody Square, and Savin Hill). It should also be noted that the most common age is estimated to be from 20-24 years old. This could be caused by the existence of a university which draws many young adults within that age group. [6][7][8][9][10][1]

As of 2010 the population of Dorchester was 113,975 and the ethnic makeup was 37% African American or Black, 28% White non-Hispanic, 14% Hispanic or Latino, 12% Asian or Pacific Islander, 0% Native American, 5% some other race, 4% two or more races.[11]. Overall the city of Dorchester is a well diversified community of race and income.[2]

URBAN POLICY
Poverty and crime was abundant in Dorchester spiking from the 1950's to 1980's. In order to bring more money into the economy, the town completed a major housing project in 1953 on the Columbia Point peninsula of Dorchester. This would also give severely impoverished people a roof over their heads. In 1984 the city gave control of the housing project to a private developer called, "Corcoran-Mullins-Jennison". In turn, they refurnished the entire facility and renamed it, "Harbor Point Apartments. These apartments supported mixed income and racial families which won several awards from the Urban Land Institute.[3]

During the housing crisis of 2008 in the United States, Dorchester's Hendry Street became the epicenter in the media[58] In reaction, the city of Boston negotiated to buy several of the houses for as little as $30,000. It is moving to seize other foreclosed properties on which the owners have not paid taxes. The houses were renovated and added to the inventory of subsidized rental housing.[59]

In 2008, plans and proposals were unveiled and presented to public community hearings by the Corcoran-Jennison Company to redevelop the 30-acre (120,000 m2) Bayside Exposition Center site on the Columbia Point peninsula into a mixed use village of storefronts and residences, called "Bayside on the Point".[60][61][62][63] However, in 2009, the Bayside Expo Center property was lost in a foreclosure on Corcoran-Jennison to a Florida-based real estate firm, LNR/CMAT, who bought it. Soon after, the University of Massachusetts Boston bought the property from them to build future campus facilities.[64][65]

The corporate headquarters of the Boston Globe is also located in Dorchester. Again, having large scale companies such as the Boston Globe boosts the economy and gives better opportunities to network with similar institutions. In 2009, the New York Times, current owner, put the paper up for bid, leading to concern from local community members, who had seen other major employers close their doors.[66] After negotiations with their union and cost reduction measures, the New York Times abandoned its plan to sell the Boston Globe in October 2009.[67]

Also, many of the labor unions in Boston relocated their headquarters to Dorchester. This includes the Boston Teachers Union, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 103, New England Regional Council of Carpenters, International Association of Fire Fighters Local 718, among others.

Many urban renewal projects are in the process of seeking board approval or have gotten board approval and are not yet constructed. A more recent finished project was the renovations of the Boston College High School in 2012. Major faculties within the school were renovated such as the gymnasium, cafeteria, new equipment and the outdoor grounds.[4]

COMMUNITY RESOURCES
University of Massachusetts: Boston is a major “tenant” in Dorchester. The main campus was built in 1968 on Columbia Point alongside the coast. Ever since their establishment the school has been growing across the board. Growing student population and diversity, campus utilities and neighborhood relations. The Umass: Boston baseball team has been continuously helping maintain the Franklin Park area. Not only do they attract tourists through their games, but they also help maintain the grounds and spruce up the park through the Franklin Park Organization. In fact the school's student body have always been involved in this organization whether it be part of a school requirement or just having the experience of giving back to the local community. Going hand in hand, there are several library branches that operate in Dorchester. Six of them all together and are spread out spatially to encompass all of the Dorchester area. Having a variety of libraries throughout the area helps encourage kids become more educated because they provide a safe and suitbale environment to study and get work done.[5]

Despite all of the renovations and establishments of academic facilities, the educational attainment of the Dorchester residents are not promising. Approximately only 60% of students graduate high school and only about 12% have associates degrees while 44% have bachelors. It seems like having a well-known, accredited university within close proximity is not boosting the educational attainment rates very much at all.[2]

Several business districts are abundant in Dorchester which encourage small businesses to thrive. Adams Village Business Association, Lower Mills Merchants Association, Bowdoin-Geneva Main Streets, Fields Corner Main Street, Four Corners Main Streets, Greater Grove Hall Main Streets, St. Mark's Area Main Street, and Upham's Corner Main Street.[2]

Neighborhood pride is strong among residents of Dorchester. “OFD” memorabilia such as shirts signify “Originally From Dorchester”. This symbolic acronym is a resource that is used to help bring people together. Often time in the summers, a "OFD" can be spotted along the harbor and alongside the coast where people generally come together and socialize.[2]

However not all urban projects have been so successful. The Bayside Expo Center that opened in the 1960's, closed and was sold to Umass: Boston. The school board intends to evenutally tear down the entire place and use the space for further expansion of the college.

Colleges and universities

 * The University of Massachusetts Boston is an accredited urban public research university and the second largest campus in the University of Massachusetts system. It is located on Columbia Point in Dorchester. The school offers associates, bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees. In regards to race and gender, the school has a diverse student population of about 13 thousand students at a time. Excluding financial aid, the average cost of tuition is 12 thousand in-state and 28 thousand out of state. The cost reflects good value seeing that there is about a 15:1 student faculty ratio with a variety of majors to study. Approximately 20% are Business/marketing, 18% Health Professional, 12% Psychology, 12% Social Sciences, 7% Biology, 7% Securit y and Protection Services, 6% Parks and Recreation. The economy of the school has been consistently productive since its establishment. Within the past twenty years the school campuses have been improving and expanding. The college has been educating and social developing its residents seeing that 95% of students are instate going full-time. Furthermore, having a thriving university within the area increases social stratification by fostering a variety of income levels. This income distribution was not so prevalent during Dorchester's darker days in the mid 20th century when most of the population was low wage laborers and factory workers.


 * Labouré College is a Roman Catholic co-educational college offering associate degrees in nursing and the health sciences. It is located on the Carney Hospital campus near the Lower Mills section of Dorchester.

DSNI
The Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative (DSNI) HYPERLINK began in Roxbury in 1984 but soon spread into northern Dorchester. DSNI enforces urban policies in order to create a functioning, well kept neighborhood. The town controls the land and enforces housing regulations but at the same time allows residents to live in the neighborhood at a low cost. This was a response to the widespread poverty and barren landscape that Dudley Street was originally known for. Due to the fact that this neighborhood has experienced some urban renewal, the residents have all the basic needs that housing provides which allows them to better socially develop. Furthermore, the residents have become increasingly more active in the community in order to maintain their community and improve their own lives.

Crime
Dorchester is part of the C-11 Police District. One of the larger districts relative to the Boston area, the district often deals with drug related and property crimes. In reaction to the high crime rate, the district has been enforcing Community Service Officers to frequently attend community meetings with residents and business managers to share information and provide discussion of preventing crimes from occurring. These community service meetings that is consistently held in Dorchester help bring the neighborhood into a gemeinschaft model that fosters close ties and stronger relationships.

Dorchester, with a population of approximately 130,000, is home to nearly one quarter of all Boston residents. In early 1990's Dorchester, along with Roxbury and Mattapan neighborhoods had the highest percentage of victims with violence-related injuries. Since early 2000's crime rates across Boston declined. Compared with the same time period in 2012, in the first three months of 2013 crime rates in Boston reportedly dropped 15 percent. According to Dorchester Reporter crime maps, the more dangerous areas in Dorchester are located to the west of Columbia Road with criminal activity centered around Blue Hill Avenue area. Safer parts of the neighborhood include Savin Hill, Columbia Point, which is populated by mostly UMass students, Ashmont Hill, Cedar Grove/Lower Mills area, around the Neponset, Gallivan and Morrissey Boulevard areas, and the Jones Hill neighborhood, with the third largest percentage of same-sex households in Boston after the South End and Jamaica Plain

http://www.umb.edu/editor_uploads/images/ideasboston/umassbostonphoto.jpg Umass: Boston campus