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The Cleary Square plan will determine a public investment and growth-focused vision for the area focused on the central commercial blocks and transit assets. It is one of the first plans being developed as part of Squares + Streets, a new planning and zoning initiative that will focus on housing, public space, arts and culture, small businesses, and transportation in neighborhood centers and along main streets.

About Squares + Streets

The City of Boston has launched a series of Squares + Streets plans. One of the first locations is Cleary Square, a key commercial district in the Hyde Park neighborhood. The people who live, work, shop, and visit this commercial area will have the opportunity to participate in the development of the Cleary Square Plan.

To learn more about Squares + Streets, as well as the other locations, please see the project homepage.

Engagement Storymap

Over the past few months, we have been gathering community feedback on what’s important in Cleary Square through various channels. These include workshop events, walking tours, interviews, and surveys for both the public and the business community.

An overview of all these sessions and the main points of feedback is now available on the Cleary Square Engagement Storymap, which highlights the various sessions, feedback and the high-level emerging themes.

Cleary Square Overview

Cleary Square is a historic commercial district approximately seven miles to the south of Boston in the northeast corner of the Hyde Park neighborhood. This area, which also includes Logan Square, retains a number of historic buildings and has a diverse retail mix of restaurants and shops. Surrounded by an abundance of historic, environmental, and cultural amenities, this includes facilities such as the Hyde Park Library. This area is serviced by the Hyde Park and Fairmont stations as part of the MBTA Commuter Rail, as well as several MBTA bus routes.

Cleary Square has witnessed significant social and demographic shifts in recent decades and remains an important cultural and commercial center for the neighborhood, as well as having considerable opportunity for commercial and residential enhancement. For more information, see the:

Cleary Square Plan

The Cleary Square planning process will determine a public investment and growth-focused vision for the area focused on the central commercial blocks and transit assets. The planning process will:

  • Focus on housing, small businesses, public space, cultural amenities, transit assets etc. that reflect the unique needs of this area.
  • Develop Squares + Streets plans in 6–9 month timeframes.

Cleary Square Draft Plan Recommendations 

Over the past year, we have worked with the Cleary Square community to develop draft recommendations for the Squares + Streets Plan. Please review the recommendations packet and boards linked below, which outline and illustrate ideas for Art + Culture, Small Business Development, Housing, Land Use, Transportation, and Open Space & Resiliency. As we refine these ideas, we want to hear from you. Please share your thoughts by filling out the Draft Recommendations Survey linked in the "Get involved" section below.

Draft Recommendation Boards  

English | Haitian Creole | Spanish

Draft Reception Packets

English | Haitian Creole | Spanish

 

Get Involved

Draft Recommendations Survey

Please take our survey regarding the draft recommendations for Cleary Square! All draft recommendations were derived from feedback received at various engagement events, and seeks to achieve the programmatic goals of Squares + Streets in the context of Cleary Square. The feedback provided at this stage will help the City Planning Department and our co-City departments refine recommendations presented in this document.

Survey | Encuesta | Sondaj


Engagement Storymap

Over the past few months, we have been gathering community feedback on what’s important in Cleary Square through various channels. These include workshop events, walking tours, interviews, and surveys for both the public and the business community.

An overview of all these sessions and the main points of feedback is now available on the Cleary Square Engagement Storymap, which highlights the various sessions, feedback and the high-level emerging themes.

Upcoming Events

Cleary Square - Squares + Streets - Ideas Reception (Continued)

Saturday, November 16, 2024

If you missed Scares + Treats, this is another opportunity to come engage and discuss the draft recommendations with City Staff. This will be a drop-in style event for Cleary Square: Squares + Streets! We will provide an opportunity for the community to share their reactions and continue dialogue to draft recommendations produced from what we have heard from previous community engagements. City staff will be present with our draft recommendations for feedback and discussion at 1179 River Street. The following are the topic areas we will be organized by: Art + Culture, Small Business Development, Housing, Land Use Framework, Transportation, and Open Space & Resiliency. Please come through and drop in any time between 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM to come talk to us!

Previous Events

Click on the event date to view details and materials.

Cleary Square - Scares + Treats - Ideas Reception

Wednesday, October 30, 2024


Youth Visioning Workshop

Wednesday, August 28, 2024


Small Business Focus Group

August 8, 2024


Cleary Square - Zoning Districts Deep Dive

August 1, 2024


Cleary Square Visioning Workshop (All themes)

June 5, 2024


Visioning Workshop at Little Haiti

May 30, 2024


Cleary Square Visioning Workshop (All themes)

May 29, 2024


Haitian Creole Office Hours at Fan Fan Bakery

May 21, 2024


Spanish Speaking Visioning Workshop

May 23, 2024


Office Hours at Rincon Caribeno

May 15, 2024


Cleary Square - What We’ve Heard So Far

April 8, 2024


Cleary Square Educational Workshop - Housing

March 25, 2024


Community Walking Tour - Cleary Square Main Streets

March 24, 2024


Cleary Square Educational Workshop - Zoning

March 18, 2024


Pop-ups


Friday Office Hours


Cleary Square Open House

February 25, 2024


What makes Cleary Square a great place to live, work, play, shop, or visit?

Map of the Cleary Square plan area in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Boston.

Over the course of the spring and summer, staff will be available at several community events to engage with you about the Cleary Square Plan. Check out the "Stay Connected" section for engagement notifications and our calendar to check out upcoming Cleary Square Squares + Streets engagement activities.

Language Access

The City of Boston is committed to making Squares + Streets as inclusive and open a process as possible. As part of this effort, we intend to offer interpretation and translation services at our key public meetings and engagements and ensure that key materials and updates are provided in Spanish and Haitian Creole. If you need any of these materials or information in an additional language, please email [email protected].

Documents All Documents »

Share Your Thoughts

We want to hear from you! All questions, comments and ideas are welcome. Comments are received and reviewed by members of the Cleary Square - Squares + Streets team.

To submit a comment in a language besides English, please email [email protected].
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