Lower Roxbury is a great place to live. With a vibrant history of community activism and multi-generational families, the Lower Roxbury neighborhood truly represents the heart of Boston. For over 350 years, the area has been home to famililes of many cultures and backgrounds. We are proud of our heritage and inspired to work for a prosperous future.

Location
Lower Roxbury is generally bounded by Tremont St. on the North, Massachusetts Ave. on the East, Harrison Ave. on the South and Melnea Cass Blvd. on the West.

Map

History

Founded by English colonists in 1630, Roxbury began as an independent community, connected to Boston only by a narrow neck of land along Washington Street. Today, after massive landfill and annexation to Boston, Roxbury is at the city's geographical center. It contains buildings and landmarks that tell the story of three centuries. Even with dense urban development, Roxbury has much open, green space, a legacy of its days as a farming town and as an early suburb.

Even in colonial days, Lower Roxbury, located along Roxbury's border with the South End, had an industrial character with mills and tanneries. As the marshes were filled in, factories and warehouses took their place. Workers' housing was also constructed in Lower Roxbury, usually wooden tenements and rowhouses. The neighborhood also contains an example of model workers' housing at Frederick Douglass Square (Greenwich, Warwick, and Sussex streets), small brick rowhouses built in the 1880s.

(From Roxbury Crossing Historical Trust website)

Forty years ago, before urban renewal razed more than 2,000 units of housing to make way for the planned Inner Belt Highway, [Lower Roxbury] had parks and schools.

Now the view down Warwick Streets ends with a narrow strip of parkland before the hustle and din of Melnea Cass Boulevard.

Several dozen neighbors living in the six streets bounded by Windsor, Warwick, Westminster and Hammond streets are all that remains of the Lower Roxbury enclave.

Also remaining is the meeting house where many from the neighborhood [used to hold] their meetings, parties, weddings and political forums. Now [neighbors] are trying to bring that building back from the dead.

[Members] of United Neighbors of Lower Roxbury have drafted a request for proposals
seeking a developer for the building. The 2,240 square foot space would be perfect for a local, nonprofit service [provider].

(From "Lower Roxbury organization seeks developer for building", Bay State Banner, January 12, 2006)

Neighborhood Resources

Police:
Call 911 or 617-343-4250 for emergency access
Local Police Station: D-4 650 Harrison Avenue

Fire Department:
Call 911
Local Fire Station: Engine 22, 700 Tremont St.

Medical/Ambulatory Care:
Boston Medical Center: contact 911 or 617-638-8000, One Boston Medical Center Place

City Hall

Parks & Recreation Department:
Contact for permit requests, maintenance and historic information
Nearby Parks: Frederick Douglass Peace Park, Ramsey Park

Transportation Department:
Contact for parking violation payments, parking permits and general information

Public Works:
Contact for graffiti removal, street maintenance and snow operations
Trash Collection: See collection schedules for your address and holiday schedules
Recycling Information: See information on curbside recycling, yard waste collection and hazardous waste disposal

Library:
Dudley Branch Library
65 Warren Street, Roxbury, MA 02119
617-442-6186