Our monthly Longwood Happenings newsletter is the perfect way to get important, streamlined information about the LMA sent straight to your inbox. From travel advisories to upcoming Outside// events and everything in between, our newsletter has you covered! We'll keep you up-to-date on all you need to know about the Longwood Medical and Academic area.

Click her for our September edition which highlights a delegation recently received by Longwood Collective, upcoming raffle opportunities through the Longwood Collective TMA, and more.

A Message from the President 

Dear Longwood,

This week, I had the pleasure of convening Longwood Collective Members and Directors for our Annual Board meeting with a very special address from Boston City Councilor Sharon Durkan. As I shared in my remarks, in the last year, Longwood Collective has leaned more heavily than ever before into our role serving as the chief planner, principal steward, and champion of the LMA. Despite all the economic challenges in the world around us, we have demonstrated that the LMA is still a district that’s on the move, on the rise, and that wants to grow. 

• In 2019, Longwood institutions employed 68,000 workers, accounting for 1 of every 10 people who work in Boston. That was impressive in and of itself. Post-pandemic, that number has grown. As of 2022, Longwood institutions employ 73,000 workers – that’s enough workers to fill every seat in Fenway Park – twice.
• As the number of workers in Longwood has grown, we’ve also seen the number of people in the LMA on a daily basis rise from 120,000 to 134,000. This includes employees, but also students, patients, and visitors.
• Our buildings are nearly fully occupied, and many of our institutions are looking to grow. With 21 million square feet of building space in the LMA proper, and another 2 million square feet of development in the pipeline, our footprint is continuing to expand to places outside of the four corners of our 213-acre campus.

As stewards of Longwood, we will continue to do all that we can to support the district that contributes so much to our local community. With new and exciting projects at our institutions in the pipeline, there is much to anticipate and celebrate. I am excited about the prospects and possibilities in the LMA and look forward to continuing the work we do to make Longwood the best place to learn, work, and heal.

Thank you for your continued support. 

Sincerely, 

David Sweeney

President & CEO

New Summer Installations: Hanging Planters

Our summer season plantings are now in across the district, including 164 hanging floral baskets, refreshed flowers in planter beds and pots, and greenery in our Romeo and Juliet benches. High or low, our signature plantings can be seen throughout the LMA, brightening up sidewalks and lamp posts alike. Enjoy!

Mental Health Awareness Month Yoga 

In May, Longwood Collective staff recognized Mental Health Awareness month with an in-office yoga session. Taught by Blissful Monkey Yoga, the yoga class brought awareness to the importance of self-care and rejuvenation. This opportunity reminds us all to be mindful of both our physical and mental health. 

Electric BLUEbike Promotion

In honor of National Bike Month, Longwood Collective offered $10 credits to members of the LMA community who were interested in trying out the new electric BLUEbikes. With the weather finally turning to summer, the promotion could not have come at a better time. In the end, 148 people tested these new electric bikes. The electric BLUEbikes are easy to use and perfect for getting you from “point A” to “point B” – even longer distances where the ease of a normal BLUEbike might fall short. 

In light of ongoing MBTA service disruptions and Sumner Tunnel closures, Longwood Collective is offering a new promotional code for commuters.

Let Electric BLUEbikes help fill the gaps in your commute this summer. Use the code "LongwoodMBTA" for a discount.

Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure (BERDO) Upcoming Deadlines & Resources for Building Owners 

July 1*

Hardship Compliance Plan application deadline

*After 2024, long-term Hardship Compliance Plan applications are due 12 months in advance. Short-term Hardship Compliance Plan applications are due 6 months in advance

September 1

Individual Compliance Schedule application deadline

The City's Environment Department is offering resources and info sessions for building owners who need assistance, including:

• Weekly office hours on Fridays at 10am via Zoom (register here), or one-on-one building emissions consultations available (register here).
• Webinars on flexibility measures and emissions compliance (upcoming sessions listed here).

Gateway East Pilot Bus Project

Beginning in mid to late June, the Town of Brookline plans to pilot bus lanes along a short stretch of Route 9 in Brookline Village, extending from High Street to the Boston Town Line. Longwood Collective is working with the Town of Brookline, MBTA and MassDOT on this 1-year pilot, which aims to enhance the efficiency of bus service for MBTA routes 66, 65 and 60. The 66 is one of the most heavily used routes in the system and carries many LMA workers.

To assist with the evaluation of this pilot, Longwood Collective will be monitoring emergency vehicle access, diversion impacts to the street network, queuing lengths on Route 9, and overall bus and vehicle travel times to compare with pre-implementation data.

Click here for more information from the Brookline Department of Public Works.

MBTA Updates Near the District 

Red Line

• Shuttle buses will replace service between Alewife and Harvard the weekend of June 29 – 30 for track work. Commuter Rail service will be free to ride between Porter and North Station. Bus Route 77 will be fare-free.
• The outbound platform at Kendall/MIT station will be closed beginning at 9:00 PM on Friday, June 28 and continuing for the weekend of June 29 – 39.

Orange Line

• Shuttle buses will replace service between Oak Grove and North Station the weekend of June 22 – 23 for signal work. From June 23 – 30, shuttle buses will replace service between Wellington and North Station for bridge and track work. 

TMA Mode Feature: Zipcar

Pride Month: Celebrating Fenway Community Health Center

Since 1971, Fenway Health has been working to make life healthier for the people in our neighborhood including the LGBTQIA+ community, people living with HIV/AIDS and the broader population. Fenway Health was founded in 1971 as part of the free clinic movement by students who believed that “health care should be a right, not a privilege.”

In its early days, Fenway Health was a drop-in clinic providing free blood pressure checks and STD screenings. Over the years, it obtained permanent space and became a freestanding health center with a staff of one volunteer doctor, one nurse and one intake worker.

Today, Fenway Health has a budget of more than $131 million, a staff of more than 700 and a patient population of nearly 40,000. It also remains a leading destination for confidential HIV counseling and testing in the state, proudly serving as the primary outpatient provider for HIV/AIDS care in New England. Their pioneering work and unwavering dedication have made Fenway a beacon of hope and a sanctuary for countless individuals seeking compassionate care and understanding.

Mark Your Calendar: Juneteenth 

Join us in commemorating Juneteenth, a day of immense historical significance and celebration that is recognized on June 19. Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, honors the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States. It serves as a reminder of the ongoing journey towards equality and justice for all.

Let's come together to acknowledge this time in our history, reflect on its significance, and uplift one another on this day.

Free Admission: Juneteenth at the Gardner Museum

Visit the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum on Juneteenth for a free day of performances, conversations, and activities that celebrate community and freedom. The Museum invites you to learn and reflect on the legacy of Black residents, creatives, organizers, and cultural leaders on this very special day. Read more about specific programming here.

Longwood in the News

Thousands Participate in 2024 Eversource Walk for Kids along Boston's Esplanade

WCVB

Thousands of people gathered along the Charles River Esplanade on Sunday for an annual fundraiser benefitting Boston Children's Hospital. Participants walked a two- or six-mile route between 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., and a food tent and live entertainment was waiting for them afterward. The event is on track to surpass its goal of raising $1.3 million for Boston Children's Hospital.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and OncoHost partner for renal cell carcinoma research

PharmaTimes online

The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and OncoHost have partnered to research and identify biomarkers for renal cell carcinoma (RCC), a form of kidney cancer. The collaboration aims to create a proteomic plasma profile by providing OncoHost with materials using Dana-Farber’s repository of patient plasma samples and clinical data. Ofer Sharon, chief executive officer, OncoHost, said: “We are excited to collaborate with Dana-Farber on this important research study… to improve clinical decision-making in the first-line setting and, ultimately, patient outcomes.”

Dana-Farber's new Golden employee is a very good girl

BBJ

The cancer hospital's pediatric clinic welcomed Opry the Golden Retriever this month, its first-ever pet program.

Step Count Just as Effective as Exercise Timing for Heart Health, Brigham and Women's Hospital Study Suggests

Hoodline Boston

In a recent investigation that's got fitness buffs taking note, researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital have found that it doesn't matter whether you count steps or clock exercise minutes—both can significantly slash the risks of heart disease and early death.

Fenway Health names new CEO

BBJ

The Boston LGBT-focused community health center’s interim CEO Jordina Shanks has been moved into the role on a more permanent basis.