scorecardresearch Skip to main content

The changing face of Greater Boston neighborhoods.

FRAMINGHAM

Framingham reinvents itself. Again.

Framingham's Brazilian community has deep history with the city the've helped uplift

Framingham’s public schools offer a pipeline for inclusion

The public schools already play an outsized role in integrating newcomers to Framingham, but there are now efforts underway to make all the of the city’s 14 K-12 schools more inclusive and multilingual.

MORE 'ON THE STREET'

.

Watertown has been a city for decades. Now, it’s acting like one.

Things are changing fast these days in Watertown, a tight-knit community where families put down roots, small businesses become institutions, and ethnic enclaves have carved their own niches.
Not far from Kendall Square, Watertown emerges as a biotech hubWatertown transformed Arsenal Yards. What about its downtown?

.
In a work-from-anywhere world, how will Kendall Square adapt for the future?
Many of the 66,000 people who went to work there every day prepandemic still operate mostly from home. But the things that once brought people to the neighborhood are alive and well.

A scene is born: Kendall Square evolves into a dining destinationNow, a push to bring more culture — and connection — to Kendall Square

.
In Malden, a diverse city strives to be ‘a place for everyone’
Nearly half of residents in the blue-collar town of 60,000 are foreign-born. But for years, these groups have been largely locked out of city politics — and even city services.

The Gaming District put its downtown in playTake a look at the Malden waterway you may have never heard of

.
New Bedford is a shining sea of possibilities
The city’s future hinges on the coexistence of its historic fishing industry and the new technologies of wind energy.

How New Bedford became the scallop capital of the worldIn New Bedford, one local built a dining destination

.
Lowell is making a comeback
For generations, Lowell has been a place with potential. But past revivals, introduced with great fanfare, invariably stalled out. This time, some say, things will be different.

Downtown Lowell draws a melting pot of entrepreneurs

.
North of Boston, an old industrial city gets a second look
In Lynn, old brick factories are gradually being converted to lofts, new buildings are starting to rise, and there’s an arts community and budding food scene. That’s bringing life to downtown, but it’s also putting pressure on current residents who worry they’ll be priced out.

Charting a course for renewal along the coastlinePhotos: Murals overlook the streets of Lynn

.
Known for its diversity, Fields Corner now must make room for development
Residents have come to know Dorchester’s Fields Corner as a place where newcomers can find a home. From Vietnamese to Haitian Creole to Spanish to Portuguese, signs in the store windows and chatter on the street reflect a neighborhood like few others in Boston.

Creating small-scale solutions to a big housing crunchA Vietnamese enclave faces growing pressure

.
In tackling the pandemic, Chelsea finds new strength
As a second wave of the pandemic rises, many people in Chelsea are starting to think about how to steer the city through the recovery that will someday come, and ensure that any rebound benefits those who most need support.

Infections and evictions are intertwined in Chelsea

.
Brockton offers a gateway to a new generation
The city’s resurgence has been a long time coming. As it arrives, many say it must make sure to include those who live in Brockton now.

In Brockton, birthing a restaurant scene in a Dunks and Bud Light town

.
This time, Quincy Center’s revival looks legit
After years of false starts and one epic fail, the South Shore city’s downtown is in the midst of a development boom.

With new openings, Quincy Center looks to become a dining destinationA surging Asian American population is shaping Quincy’s future

.
Revere was going through a revival before COVID-19. Can it stay on track?
The seaside city was having a moment before COVID-19 hit. Revere’s revival was well underway until the pandemic wreaked health and economic havoc in a city that’s home to many immigrants and service industry workers. When and how it emerges will provide a measure of the “new” Revere’s resiliency.

A beachside boomtown, but for whom?On Shirley Avenue, preserving the spine of a neighborhood amid growthPhotos: A look back at Revere, America’s first public beach

.
Davis Square’s character is being challenged. Can it survive?
As a major development plan is debated for the Somerville neighborhood, residents and businesses worry about what might be lost.

Davis Square: A place where startups grow, but don’t always stayDavis Square is wonderfully weird — but will it last?

.
$1.1b Hub on Causeway project is remaking a neighborhood
The $1.1 billion Hub on Causeway complex is going to transform the North Station area. Will it all be for the better?

Newest food hall will focus on familiar local fare — just don’t call it a food courtNew venues at the Hub on Causeway want sports fans to come early, and leave late