Historical Decline of Black Homeownership in Boston
- The goal for future generations is to ensure they can continue to reside in Black Boston, specifically in neighborhoods like Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan 0s.
- Black homeownership in Boston has declined from 34% in 2020 to 28% by the end of 2025 35s.
- The decline of Roxbury as a thriving economic center began in the early 1970s when the federal government planned to construct the I-95 highway through the neighborhood 1m5s.
- Although residents and allies successfully stopped the highway project, the neighborhood had already suffered the destruction of 3,000 homes and 500 commercial properties owned by Black residents 1m15s.
Impact of Displacement on Black Families
- Families such as the Abdaholics, Tituses, Singletons, and Joneses were among those who lost their homes during this period 1m35s.
- In October 1968, the city of Boston accidentally demolished the home of the Jones family while attempting to bulldoze a neighboring property, leaving the family unable to retrieve any of their belongings 1m45s.
- The loss of these 3,000 homes and 500 commercial properties represents an estimated $4 billion in lost generational wealth for the Black community 3m5s.
Current Housing Market Challenges in Roxbury
- While over 5,000 people in Boston have completed home-buying courses, the median income for Roxbury residents is between $45,000 and $50,000, making it difficult to afford current market prices 3m25s.
- In 2025, there were no move-in-ready, two-family, habitable houses for sale in Roxbury listed on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) 4m5s.
Strategies for Preserving Black Wealth and Neighborhoods
- Speculators are actively contacting Black seniors in Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan with offers exceeding $1 million to purchase their homes. 0s
- There are over 12,000 Black seniors in these areas who own two- and three-family homes, representing the largest concentration of wealth within the Black community. 15s
- A proposed plan aims to halt gentrification and facilitate the creation of generational wealth by drawing on strategies currently used by young Black individuals across the United States. 33s
- Examples of these strategies include two single mothers in New Jersey pooling resources to purchase a home for their families, and two fraternity brothers in Columbia, South Carolina, buying entire blocks of homes to preserve the neighborhood's demographic character. 53s
- Strategic efforts could potentially increase Black homeownership in Boston by up to 10,000 new homeowners within five to seven years. 1m15s
Proposed Senior Village and Housing Conversion Model
- The proposal includes the construction of a luxury senior village in Roxbury, featuring amenities such as a gym, a swimming pool, a community center, a bank, a 24-hour pharmacy, and a restaurant. 1m25s
- The village would also include a facility dedicated to housing and providing services for Black veterans. 1m55s
- Under this model, Black seniors would sell their multi-family homes, which would be converted into condominiums and sold to two different families for $400,000 each, allowing the senior to receive $1 million. 2m15s
- After purchasing a unit in the luxury senior village for $400,000, the senior would retain $500,000 in savings. 2m30s
Economic Revitalization and Community Development
- This initiative is projected to create over 400 living-wage jobs in sectors such as healthcare, property management, construction, landscaping, and plumbing, while fostering the growth of Black-owned businesses. 2m42s
- The plan envisions a "block takeover" strategy, specifically targeting areas like Hutchins and Howland streets to establish 50 to 100 new Black families in the neighborhood. 3m0s
- By settling new families in these homes, the community aims to increase civic engagement, improve demand for city services, and revitalize the neighborhood's historical status as a thriving Black community. 3m20s
