History of DNI
Dudley Neighbors, Incorporated (DNI) is a Community Land Trust created by the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative (DSNI) to implement and develop DSNI’s comprehensive master plan that was drafted by residents to guide the revitalization of the neighborhood.
In the late 1980's, through a comprehensive organizing and planning initiative, Dudley residents were able to establish community control over a critical mass of the 1,300 parcels of abandoned land that had come to characterize the neighborhood. As part of this effort, the City of Boston adopted the community’s comprehensive development plan and granted the power of eminent domain over much of the privately-owned vacant land in the 62 acre area known as the "Dudley Triangle." The DNI Community Land Trust was created to take ownership of that land and realize a vision of development without displacement.
Twenty five years later, more than 30 acres of formerly vacant, blighted land in the Dudley Triangle are now under neighborhood control through Dudley Neighbors Inc. This land has been transformed into 225 new affordable homes, a 10,000 square foot community greenhouse, urban farm, a playground, gardens, and other amenities of a thriving urban village. Dudley Neighbors Inc. is recognized as one of the nation's most successful urban community land trusts and serves as a model for other communities organizing to promote development without displacement and long-term control of the land.
Eminent Domain Overview
In the fall of 1988, the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) approved Dudley Neighbor’s Inc’s request to become a Massachusetts 121A Corporation. That status allowed DNI to accept the power of eminent domain to acquire privately-owned vacant land in the area designated as the Dudley Triangle. DNI combines vacant lots acquired via eminent domain with City-owned parcels and leases these to private and nonprofit developers for the purpose of building affordable housing consistent with the community’s master plan.
DNI is structured as a Community Land Trust (CLT), and as such plays a crucial role in preserving affordable housing and providing residents with a way to control the development process in the neighborhood. DNI leases land initially to developers during construction, and subsequently to individual homeowners, cooperative housing corporations and other forms of limited partnerships.
History of DNI
Dudley Neighbors, Incorporated (DNI) is a Community Land Trust created by the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative (DSNI) to implement and develop DSNI’s comprehensive master plan that was drafted by residents to guide the revitalization of the neighborhood.
In the late 1980's, through a comprehensive organizing and planning initiative, Dudley residents were able to establish community control over a critical mass of the 1,300 parcels of abandoned land that had come to characterize the neighborhood. As part of this effort, the City of Boston adopted the community’s comprehensive development plan and granted the power of eminent domain over much of the privately-owned vacant land in the 62 acre area known as the "Dudley Triangle." The DNI Community Land Trust was created to take ownership of that land and realize a vision of development without displacement.
Twenty five years later, more than 30 acres of formerly vacant, blighted land in the Dudley Triangle are now under neighborhood control through Dudley Neighbors Inc. This land has been transformed into 225 new affordable homes, a 10,000 square foot community greenhouse, urban farm, a playground, gardens, and other amenities of a thriving urban village. Dudley Neighbors Inc. is recognized as one of the nation's most successful urban community land trusts and serves as a model for other communities organizing to promote development without displacement and long-term control of the land.
Eminent Domain Overview
In the fall of 1988, the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) approved Dudley Neighbor’s Inc’s request to become a Massachusetts 121A Corporation. That status allowed DNI to accept the power of eminent domain to acquire privately-owned vacant land in the area designated as the Dudley Triangle. DNI combines vacant lots acquired via eminent domain with City-owned parcels and leases these to private and nonprofit developers for the purpose of building affordable housing consistent with the community’s master plan.
DNI is structured as a Community Land Trust (CLT), and as such plays a crucial role in preserving affordable housing and providing residents with a way to control the development process in the neighborhood. DNI leases land initially to developers during construction, and subsequently to individual homeowners, cooperative housing corporations and other forms of limited partnerships.