Though brownfields are available, they have often been among the most challenging development projects, primarily due to the complexity of achieving sustainable development (Caparros-Midwood et al., 2019). Due to changes in the landscape used by the railway corporations where operations have ceased or relocated to other areas, it is easier to map brownfields for development. However, most developers need to pay more attention to the sufficient application of principles of sustainable development, raising issues of accountability, pollution, assessment, and development regulations, among other issues. This report looks into practical ways to develop the Allston railway, also known as Beacon park yard, a CSX Transportation rail yard currently owned by Cambridge’s Harvard University, while adhering to sustainability principles.
The Allston rail yard, which closed in 2013, encompasses a considerable expanse of land across the Charles River and a residential neighborhood occupied mainly by college students near the crossroads of Cambridge, Brookline, and Boston (Anon). This site is available for development as the stakeholders face various obstacles in creating an elaborate development plan. There are no construction or developments on his property.
Figure 1.0: Map showing the location of Beacon Park Rail Yard. (Source: https://mapcarta.com/W813986370)
Areas Surrounding Beacon Park Yard
Various properties and amenities have developed around Beacon Park yard, including schools, residential, recreational facilities, neighborhood, and Charles River. The park is surrounded by Harvard business school on the north, Nickerson Field, an outdoor athletic field on the southeast, Agganis Arena on the southeast, the Allston suburb, and several neighborhoods and residential areas primarily occupied by college students and teachers (Lǎozǐ, 2020).
Figure 2.0: Nickerson Field. (Source; https://mapcarta.com/W663514809)
Figure 3.0: Allston Suburb. (Source: https://mapcarta.com/22203546)
Proposed Plan for Development and Reasons behind the Site Plan
The reclamation and utilization of brownfield lands is a critical component of the United States Sustainable Development Strategy, which incorporates various environmental, economic, and social goals (Caparros-Midwood et al., 2019). Brownfield development eliminates harmful pollutants within the environment and eyesores and catalyzes community regeneration, especially when stakeholders are included in the site selection and restoration consultation process (Moffat, 2015). Brownfield sites, when managed well as a sustainable redevelopment program, provide homes at reasonable prices, job opportunities, wildlife protection, and a shared space for fun and recreation (Hollander, Kirkwood, and Gold, 2010). A site development plan displays a site’s overall form and arrangement, including building footprints, building elevations, street layout and parking, conceptual lighting and landscaping, and location cross-section drawings (Reicher et al., 2022). After thoroughly checking Beacon Yard Park, the best development plan is to build affordable residential houses since the population is increasing imminently because of the various educational centers in the area.
The area is approximately 56 hectares which can provide adequate housing planning. Besides, the Charles River faces significant environmental pollution challenges, and making this site habitable can save it. The residential house can be one or two bedrooms which can be affordable to students and even those with families. Since the area has a well-connected means of road transportation, it is crucial that these roads be maintained, and that can be achieved if people stay in this area. Since this is a local project, it will involve the local authorities, including Development Services Department for Site Development Plan, Planning Commission, and Town Council. The plan will contain storm drainage technical elements, utility, infrastructure, and the final landscape design, which will be presented eventually with the construction documents as part of an administrative approval process. As a component of the Site Development Plan, clearance of a Use by Special Review (UBSR) will be required. A UBSR is an operation that is permitted only after an open forum to ensure that any negative consequences are effectively mitigated and that the use does not negatively affect the surrounding properties (Anon, 2015).
Six Principles of Sustainable Development
Sustainable development entails deriving economic benefits that increase the living standards of the current generation without jeopardizing the needs of future generations (Caparros-Midwood et al., 2019). It involves preserving resources while maintaining their amount and quality. The primary goal of sustainable development is to achieve balance among the population, diverse resources, environmental concerns, and development (Moffat, 2015). The development of Beacon Park Yard to reach sustainability will strictly follow six principles, including; conservation of the ecosystem, sustainable development of society, increase in peoples’ participation, social equity, land use efficiency, and economic viability.
Conservation of the Ecosystem
This principle focuses on protecting the ecosystem within Beacon Yard Park. Its purpose is to make the ecological system more resilient. The conservation of land and aquatic ecosystems is required for this aim. The initiative will prioritize repairing and cleaning polluted land to reduce threats to human health and the environment. This includes determining the extent of environmental damage at the site, eliminating or disposing of hazardous chemicals, and returning the land to a safe and useable condition (Cox and Roadway-Dyer, 2022). The area in focus is a former railway line and station, and therefore, there are several materials, like rusting iron on land, which can affect its productivity. This principle will ensure that these materials are well-spent and that all resources are optimized. This principle will focus on the general well-being of the ecosystem, including water bodies like Charles River; this means that the construction of affordable housing units must adhere to policies and legislation that protect nature (Cox and Rodway-Dyer, 2022). This principle will include the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act, which will substantially enhance the quality of Allston’s air and water, lower the people’s exposure to dangerous chemicals, give the general population a more significant stake in government decisions, and safeguard aquatic life and additional natural resources (Anon, 2017).
The principle can be accomplished by habitat restoration, green space construction, and adopting sustainable landscaping practices (Caparros-Midwood et al., 2019). This might include the cleanup of polluted soils, reintroducing natural vegetation, and building natural corridors to increase biodiversity. Besides, this achievement can be measured by ensuring a thorough ecological assessment, ecosystem services evaluation, and monitoring of biodiversity indicators using accreditation systems, including BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) (uHoo, 2023). BREEAM may be utilized to demonstrate adherence to specific environmental regulations like air quality.
Sustainable Development of Society
Sustainable development focuses on improving the quality of life (Caparros-Midwood et al., 2019). Housing is a critical subject to address while creating healthy and appealing communities. In some property sectors, a shortage of supply and resulting affordability issues have produced chronic social and economic pressure (Moffat, 2015). Housing should be conveniently accessible, of good quality, economical, ecological, attractively built, and pleasant to meet better individuals’ requirements (Anon, 2021). Furthermore, housing must be cheap concerning local and national conditions. This principle recognizes that housing developments should fulfill current demands without threatening future generations’ ability to meet their own. It is critical to emphasize that society’s sustainable development is critical because it guarantees that the creation of affordable residences at Beacon park yard contributes to the community’s well-being and social equality. It focuses on making the neighborhood more livable, enhancing access to facilities and services, and building social cohesiveness.
Society’s sustainable development is a primary national and international concern corresponding to many laws, guidelines, and aims connected to social sustainability (Moffat, 2015). This may include municipal planning rules, affordable housing regulations, and accessibility requirements as addressed by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (Anon, 2021). Mixed-income housing, community amenities, open areas, pedestrian-friendly architecture, and accessibility to public transit may all contribute to society’s long-term growth. It entails interacting with the local population, learning about their requirements, and ensuring that the development improves social well-being.
This guiding principle’s performance may be assessed using metrics such as the availability of affordable housing provision, accessibility to healthcare, transportation alternatives, and community experience surveys. Besides, Living Building Challenge is accredited to measure the achievement (Anon, 2023). After a successful affordable housing development at Beacon park yard, the buildings should be regenerative, linking residents to food, air, light, environment, and community; self-sufficient and operate within the resource constraints of their site; and have a beneficial influence on the human and ecological systems interacting with them.
Increase in People’s Participation
Public involvement leads to better judgments because decision-makers have full knowledge – in the form of new values, facts, and viewpoints received through public engagement – to bring to light the decision-making process (Moffat, 2015). The concept of increased involvement seeks to include communities nearby, stakeholders, and residents in decision-making processes linked to the development of Beacon Park Yard. It recognizes the significance of participatory techniques in ensuring that development matches the demands and desires of people who may be impacted. This guiding principle is critical because it encourages openness, diversity, and responsibility in the housing development process (Rabinowitz, 2022). Incorporating the community enables considering local knowledge, concerns, and goals, resulting in more informed choices and a sense of personal responsibility for the development outcomes (Rabinowitz, 2022). The locals can give inputs on the kind of houses and infrastructures they require.
The increased engagement is consistent with many pieces of law, advice, and objectives supporting participatory planning and decision-making processes. Local planning rules, community participation standards, and international frameworks emphasizing participatory democracy and governance are examples of these. Local planning prerequisites, for example, frequently compel developers to interact with the local community and solicit their opinion during the planning and development stages. These rules may stipulate the means and amount of community interaction, providing a straightforward and all-encompassing development process. Also, international laws and commitments, such as the Aarhus Convention and the New Urban Agenda, emphasize the necessity of active democracy and governance for residents in Beacon Yard Park. These frameworks encourage individuals’ and communities’ rights to engage in decision-making processes concerning environmental and urban development challenges (AlWaer and Cooper, 2020). They urge governments and organizations to use participatory ways to provide access to development information.
Increased participation may be achieved through public consultations, workshops, community-led design charrettes, and involving local stakeholders in the project planning and execution stages (AlWaer and Cooper, 2020). It necessitates good communication, readily available information, and chances for meaningful interaction. The number of public meetings, the range of stakeholders involved, and the inclusion of community comments in the development plan all indicate how well this underlying principle has been implemented. Although accreditation methods do not directly assess people’s participation, incentives, and acknowledgment programs that prioritize community engagement can provide recognition.
Social Equity
Equity is an attribute of being unbiased and equitable. Social equity implies impartiality, fairness, and justice for all individuals in social policy. Social equity considers structural inequities to guarantee that everyone in a neighborhood has an equal opportunity to enjoy the same benefits and possibilities (Candles and Ronquillo, 2019). This governing principle is critical because it tries to minimize or alleviate the negative social repercussions of Bacon Yard Park development, such as displacement, gentrification, and unequal benefit distribution. Besides, the principle guarantees equitable treatment, fairness, and similar access to assets, possibilities, and benefits of creating affordable housing in Beacon Yard Park. It targets social inequities and aims to decrease gaps between various social groups, including marginalized populations in this region. Social equity will ensure that houses are affordable and available to everyone regardless of socioeconomic status, race, or other factors.
Social equity meets various key legislations that promote individuals’ well-being and equality. According to United Nations’ the tenth SDG goal of the policy is to reduce inequalities, which is also a significant principle in guiding the construction of affordable housing in Beacon Yard Park (UNDP). In achieving this principle, it would be adequate to have an affordable house that every individual, regardless of race or financial background, can afford since social equity concentrate on addressing the marginalized population. The accomplishment of this guiding concept may be assessed by measures such as affordable housing, social services provision, the decrease of socioeconomic gaps, and the encouragement of inclusion and diversity in society. Limitations to this principle might be the systemic prejudice that is ingrained in the current society. The project is set to offer affordable housing units for everyone regardless of any underlying condition; however, with the racism system, some marginalized individuals might be sidelined in acquiring the same.
Land Use Efficiency
Land use efficiency upgrades and assessments are critical cornerstones for reaching sustainable development. The demand for land resources continuously grows as the population and urbanization continue to grow. In Beacon’s Yard Park housing development, the land use efficiency concept focuses on maximizing land usage and limiting consumption. It strives to prevent urban sprawl, protect green spaces, and encourage compact, well-connected communities by addressing the restricted land supply. Since land is scarce, this principle will ensure that the available spaces are well developed and valuable natural habitats and open spaces are preserved. Land use efficiency corresponds with various laws, guidelines, and policies at various levels of government. Local planning restrictions, regional or federal spatial development plans, greenbelt preservation measures, and sustainability goals specified in international frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are examples (Ma et al., 2023). Besides, land use efficiency meets significant laws and regulations, including National Flood Insurance Programme, the Clean Water Act, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, and the Clean Water Act. These regulations will ensure that natural resources like the Charles River are protected and there is no pollution on land during construction and actual settling on the land.
Various techniques and design ideas that promote compact and mixed-use development patterns can be used to achieve land use efficiency. Among the most important approaches are compact development, green spaces and parks, mixed-use development, transit-oriented design, and infill development (Haaland and van den Bosch, 2015). Compact development entails creating settlements with increased population densities, emphasizing vertical expansion rather than horizontal development. Compact development requires less area for homes, facilities, and infrastructure, allowing for more effective land use (Haaland and van den Bosch, 2015), and incorporating green spaces, parks, and recreational places into the development aids in preserving natural components, enhancing biodiversity, and providing possibilities for relaxing and having fun.
Besides, mixed-use integration of a mix of residential, commercial, and recreational places inside a development promotes a variety of uses in close vicinity. This will allow inhabitants to walk or cycle to facilities and services, decreasing the necessity for traveling long distances. The transit-oriented design will aid in the creation of neighborhoods around transport nodes, including railway stations or bus terminals (Haaland and van den Bosch, 2015). It supports sustainable transportation and reduces reliance on private automobiles by focusing the building process near transportation options. It is crucial to note that there are already railway lines in Beacon Yard Park; this will make the transit-oriented plan easy to achieve. Lastly, the infill development under the land efficiency use principle will ensure that whatever available infrastructure will be preserved and used while revitalizing unused spaces.
Measurement and accreditation of land use is critical to ensure effective land use. Population density is one of the parameters that will be used to measure land use efficiency. Higher population density suggests more effective land use since it allows more people to be contained in a particular region (Jolly and Torrey, 1995). On the other hand, this policy might increase population growth and development intensity. It may exert additional demand on preexisting facilities such as public transportation, water supply, and waste disposal systems. Having appropriate infrastructural capacity becomes critical.
Economic Viability
This principle is a crucial cornerstone that will ensure that Beacon Yard Park’s housing development is financially possible and economically sustainable in the long run. It considers development’s social and environmental elements while addressing the need for viable business strategies, creating employment, and economic growth. These aspects will create a community that can support itself. As stated earlier, this fundamental principle is critical since it recognizes the necessity for economic growth, income generation, and job creation. It assures that the development project can financially support itself in the future, attract outside investment, and favorably benefit the local economy.
Several policies and guidelines like measures for economic growth, subsidies for taxes, job creation targets, and objectives defined in regional or national economic agendas guide this principle. Besides, the principle can be achieved via feasibility studies, market analysis, cost-effective designs and construction, and commercial areas within the development (Gale and Samwick, 2017). It entails discovering feasible revenue streams, encouraging entrepreneurship, and collaborating with the private sector. The accomplishment of this guiding concept will be monitored using measures such as job creation attributed to the constructional development, tax income generated, private investment solicited, and local economic diversification. Although accreditation processes do not explicitly analyze economic viability, financial outcomes and economic metrics can be used to indicate project success.
Conclusion
In the ever-developing world faced with population growth, brownfield sites come in handy to help accommodate the population through the construction of housing units and other significant amenities. Harvard’s Beacon Yard Park is one of the major brownfield sites in Massachusetts, and its development will ensure enough housing units for the public, especially students and tutors from the many colleges around. The construction of the housing unit on the over 56 ha of land, formerly a railyard, will strictly follow six principles to ensure its success. These principles will include the conservation of the ecosystem, sustainable development of society, increase in peoples’ participation, social equity, land use efficiency, and economic viability. The principles are in strict regulation of various laws, regulations, and policies in the United States and internationally. The guiding regulations for this project will include the sustainable development goals drafted by the United Nations and national laws like Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act. It is crucial to note that this project should be sustainable, conserve the environment and ensure robust public participation.
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