RKG Associates

RKG Associates wrapped another busy week of client engagement activities with Summer Pan presenting our findings for Westborough's Downtown Plan and Alison Christensen leading an MBTA Communities workshop with Randolph's Town Council and Planning Board. Engagement with decision makers is key to creating a shared understanding of the issues, choices, and trade offs. At RKG, we strive to provide data and information to inform those choices and trade offs.

We are thrilled to be supporting the TOWN OF BROOKLINE on this study. An area small in size, but big in potential, this offers a real opportunity to support the Town's goals of bringing more jobs and activity to this slice of Route 9.

Yesterday, RKG Associates traveled to Sanford, Maine to kick off their economic strategy and market assessment. We toured the city, met many people invested in the future of Sanford, and we are excited to help the city organize around economic growth. We even had a client eclipse watch party...

RKG Associates is looking to expand our team in Boston or Alexandria! Do you have a passion for using data to inform community decisions and outcomes? Interested in working on a wide range of projects with public and private sector clients? Consider applying today!

Last week, RKG Associates and Innes Associates Ltd. presented to over 400 Needham residents at a hybrid meeting on the Town's proposed MBTA Communities Districts. This marked a significant milestone in garnering public feedback on the two scenarios as we work toward drafting zoning and a preliminary submittal to the state. Congrats to Needham and the HONE Committee for continuing to push toward compliance!

B&T ran an editorial this week describing the magnitude of housing production that could be achieved if the MWRA water and sewer network were connected to Weymouth and Brockton. This would open up the potential for as many as 6,000 housing units at the former South Weymouth Naval Air Station. The zoning is already in place in all three communities for this to happen, but infrastructure investment is needed. RKG Associates assisted New England Development and Brookfield with the economic and fiscal impact analysis that led to the adoption of the zoning and framework plan in Weymouth, Rockland, and Abington.

In early March, RKG Associates attended the kick-off for the Allston-Brighton Neighborhood Plan led by Grayscale Collaborative. We are so excited to be part of our fourth neighborhood planning effort in the City of Boston with an amazing interdisciplinary team of colleagues! This neighborhood has more large-scale, complex projects going on than almost any other in Boston. Understanding the impacts of these projects on housing, jobs, and business will be critical to maintaining and expanding opportunities for all.

Insights on Evolving Commutes in America Recent research by Stanford University economists and Gusto reveals a significant shift in American work commutes. Since the pandemic's onset, the share of employees living 50 miles or more from their workplace has surged sevenfold, reaching 5.5 percent in 2023 compared to less than 1 percent in 2019. Despite hybrid work schedules, the average commuting distance has risen to 27 miles from about 10 miles in 2019, influenced by factors such as age, income, and hiring date. Notably, workers hired post-March 2020 tend to live even farther from their employer's office, with income emerging as a crucial determinant impacting proximity to the corporate hub and remote work feasibility. These findings reflect the evolving nature of work arrangements and commuting patterns, necessitating a nuanced approach in shaping future workforce strategies. #CommuteTrends #WorkforceInsights #RemoteWorkEra

A great article by Banker & Tradesman highlighting communities that are trying to leverage MBTA Communities to build housing and support their downtowns and commercial corridors. Shout out to our consulting colleagues working on the ground in communities trying to advance this important law. Innes Associates Ltd. Barrett Planning Group LLC JM Goldson Utile VHB Stantec and many more....

It's been a busy start to 2024, but we're back to share more insights, company news, and project updates! First up, a big one for RKG Associates as our team made headlines for our unique approach to community engagement in the Town of Westborough this morning! Our amazing team includes FHI Studio, Innes Associates Ltd., and OverUnder helping Westborough find ways to improve an already successful downtown.