Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative Joins UGBA

Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative (DSNI) was formed by Dudley residents seeking to reclaim a neighborhood that had experienced disinvestment. DSNI organized neighbors to create a comprehensive plan and a shared vision for a new, vibrant urban village. To secure development without displacement, DSNI gained eminent domain authority, purchased vacant land, and protected affordability. DSNI continues its mission to empower Dudley residents to organize, plan for, create, and control a vibrant, diverse, and high-quality neighborhood in collaboration with community partners.

Joining the Alliance is a rigorous process that involves compliance with our 36 Good Business Standards. We see DSNI do exceptionally well in the areas of:

• Product or Service: DSNI's land trust is nationally recognized in leadership in development without displacement, mitigating against the trends of gentrification and staving off foreclosures. At the height of the foreclosure crisis, there were 494 foreclosures within a 2.5-mile radius of the Dudley triangle, 22 foreclosures within the triangle, and only 4 foreclosures of DSNI properties (the same number of foreclosures in the whole history of DSNI).

• Community Power: All of DSNI's committees and board are resident led. DSNI's board is made up of 30-35 community members. These residents help lead the effort to include all the stakeholders in community process.

• Housing Developers: All of DSNI's processes are rooted in community process; through their Sustainable Development Committee they review and evaluate neighborhood development projects to ensure community development projects are aligned with community priorities. DSNI Development Standards include:

  • 1/3 market rate, 1/3 middle income, 1/3 low income

  • resident-controlled housing whenever possible (e.g. community land trusts and housing co-operatives)

  • development that impacts community should include community benefits (particularly institutional development like universities, hospitals, etc)

  • local, BIPOC hiring for construction of developments and for any permanent jobs that are created: ideally 51% local, 51% BIPOC and 15% women

  • 30% of the total value of the subcontract going to BIPOC owned businesses and 10% to women owned businesses

  • developer collaborates with neighborhood associations near development and Sustainable Development Committee

Join us in welcoming DSNI to the UGBA!