CONDITIONS
CONTEXT

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Click here for data from census tract 1204. (From the U.S. Census 2000).

Click here for data from census tract for Chestnut, Green, Centre, and Spring Park. (From U.S. Census 2000).

CONDITIONS:
"Central JP" as this section of Jamaica Plain is known to some, is roughly defined as the neighborhood north of Sumner Hill between the Southwest Corridor Park/ Orange Line and Centre Street. Sandwiched between a vibrant commercial area to the west and greenspace and rapid transit to the east, Central Jamaica Plain has easy access to rich urban resources. Central JP is also called Glenvale, which is defined as the area roughly bordered by Green Street, Centre Street, Boylston Street, and La Martine Street. The neighborhood is on the outskirts of the Heart of the City and is therefore covered only superficially.

Streets: The streets in Central Jamaica Plain are an intricate and irregular grid of one and two-way streets. Travel through the neighborhood can be confusing to visitors and difficult for emergency vehicles to access. Green Street and Boylston Street are the only streets running east to west that connect Centre Street and Washington Street - the two major commercial roads in Jamaica Plain.

Residential density: The area is almost exclusively a residential area, with a range of one-, two-, and three-family homes, as well as a number of larger residential complexes. The area also houses people of a variety of incomes, including some transitional low-income families on Chestnut Avenue, but in general this is a higher income area than the section of Jamaica Plain east of the Orange Line. On Chestnut Avenue, Rockview Street, and Parley Vale, residential density is relatively low.

Open space: The neighborhood has excellent access to the recreational facilities, gardens, bike paths, and fields of the Southwest Corridor Park, which runs along the Orange Line route. Other than the Southwest Corridor Park and Johnson Playground, which is attached to Southwest Corridor Park, few smaller open spaces exist within the neighborhood. The Starr Lane Garden, which is owned by the Boston Natural Areas Fund, is a small new garden in the area. The Bowditch School offers limited planter space for residents of a nearby shelter.

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CONTEXT:
Demographics: The neighborhood has grown in human diversity in recent decades but remains mostly white. In 1970, the central area of Jamaica Plain was 92% white, with 2% African Americans and 6% Hispanic residents. In 2000, the area has 78.2% white residents, 8.8% black residents, 2.9% Asian residents, and 8.4% Hispanic residents (of any ethnicity). The median household income for this area was $55,625 in 1999, according to the 2000 U.S. census and 9.6% of residents were living below the poverty level. Only 13.1% of residents are under the age of 18. This is one of the smallest percentages of young people in any Heart of the City census tract. In this census tract, 41.6% of all housing units are owner occupied.

Transit access: The Central Jamaica Plain neighborhood has excellent access both to the Orange Line and to what may become the Centre and South Street Green Line. In 2003, the Centre Street corridor is one of the most popular and frequently served in terms of bus transit in the city. The neighborhood of Central Jamaica Plain bordering the Orange Line is less transit dependent than the neighborhood east of the Southwest Corridor towards Washington Street. According to the 2000 census, more than 34 percent of employed persons in this area rely on public transportation to get to work.

Other neighborhood resources: Residents of Central Jamaica Plain live in close proximity to shops and restaurants on Centre Street - the most vibrant commercial area in Jamaica Plain. A popular upscale grocery store on Boylston Street called "City Feed and Supply" provides a place for community members to congregate, post messages, and buy coffee, bread, and sandwiches, as well as a range of grocery items.

Spontaneous Celebrations, a neighborhood institution for 25 years, is located on Danforth Street and offers a place for residents of all ethnicities to come together for art, cooking, eating, dance, and music. Spontaneous Celebrations is responsible for planning community events such as the lantern festival at Jamaica Pond and Wake Up the Earth festival at Southwest Corridor Park.

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