Nubian Square’s Smart Growth: How 10 Malcolm X Boulevard Transforms Parking into Community

123 homes rise where 74 cars once parked—without demolishing a single building.

In the heart of Boston’s Nubian Square, a joint venture between SV + Partners, TRAX Development, and Caste Capital is proving urban density doesn’t require a wrecking ball. The 10 Malcolm X Boulevard project, designed by EMBARC with landscape architecture by MDLA and H+O Structural Engineering, transforms a 1.65-acre site through preservation and strategic infill.

The development preserves an existing 37,000-square-foot commercial building—the former Roxbury Boys Club—while adding two new residential structures on underutilized surface parking lots. The result: 123 new homes mixing rental and homeownership opportunities, plus renewed commercial space, all without starting from scratch.

The Housing Crisis Meets Historic Preservation

Boston loses thousands of residents annually to housing costs. Meanwhile, neighborhoods like Roxbury fear new development means cultural erasure. This project threads the needle between these competing pressures.

The development team recognized the existing commercial building at 10 Malcolm X Boulevard wasn’t the problem—the surface parking was. By keeping the structure and building on adjacent lots, they deliver housing while maintaining neighborhood continuity. The approach respects both the area’s history and its need for growth.

This preservation-first strategy also accelerates the development timeline. Rather than spending months on demolition permits and community pushback, the team focused on what they could add, not what they could tear down. For developers facing similar urban infill challenges, this model offers a faster path to groundbreaking.

Two Buildings, One Vision

The residential program splits across two distinct buildings, each serving different market needs. A six-story mixed-use structure at 20 Malcolm X Boulevard includes ground-floor retail space, activating the street while providing neighborhood-serving commercial opportunities. The four-story building at 70 Dudley Street offers a different scale and product type, responding to community requests for diverse housing options.

The mix of rental and homeownership units addresses Roxbury’s need for both accessible housing and wealth-building opportunities. This dual approach serves residents at different life stages and economic positions—from those seeking flexibility to families ready to plant roots in Nubian Square.

Between preservation and new construction, the site maintains its commercial vitality while adding residential density. The 37,000 square feet of renovated commercial space ensures job-generating uses remain in Nubian Square. Ground-floor retail in the new building extends this commercial presence, creating an active streetscape along Malcolm X Boulevard.

Public Space as Community Infrastructure

Urban developments often treat open space as leftover area between buildings. Here, the public realm becomes the project’s organizing principle. A new plaza at the corner of Malcolm X Boulevard and Shawmut Avenue creates a genuine community gathering space—not a token gesture, but a designed destination.

The landscape design by MDLA connects all three buildings through walking paths and green corridors. Trees, shrubs, and perennials create buffers between streets and plazas while maintaining visibility and safety. Fixed seating walls provide permanent gathering spots, while movable furniture allows the community to reconfigure spaces for different uses.

This isn’t just about aesthetics. In dense urban neighborhoods, quality public space determines whether development feels like an imposition or an amenity. By leading with landscape, the project positions itself as a community asset from day one.

A Model for Urban Infill

As cities nationwide grapple with housing shortages and neighborhood preservation, 10 Malcolm X Boulevard offers a replicable model. The project demonstrates parking lots—not existing buildings—represent the real development opportunity in established neighborhoods.

For architects, this approach suggests new ways to work with existing context. Rather than starting with a clean slate, the design challenge becomes integration and enhancement. How can new buildings complement what exists? How can preservation anchor contemporary development?

For developers, the economics make sense. Keeping the commercial building maintains cash flow during construction. Building on parking lots simplifies permitting and reduces community opposition. The mixed approach—rental and ownership, residential and commercial—creates financial sustainability while serving diverse residents.

The transformation of parking into housing also aligns with broader urban trends. As cities reduce car dependence and improve transit access, surface parking becomes increasingly obsolete. This site sits in an area well-served by public transportation, making parking reduction both feasible and forward-thinking.

What’s Next for Nubian Square

The 10 Malcolm X Boulevard development represents just one piece of Nubian Square’s evolution. As Boston continues addressing its housing crisis, projects like this show how growth can enhance rather than erase neighborhood character.

The success of this preservation-plus-infill model will likely inspire similar approaches throughout Boston and beyond. Developers scanning their sites for opportunity might look past buildings to their parking lots. Architects might explore how new and old can create dialogue rather than conflict.

Ready to transform your underutilized sites into thriving mixed-use communities? Our proven approach to structural optimization delivers cost-efficient, community-centered developments. Let’s explore how strategic engineering can unlock your site’s potential while respecting what makes neighborhoods unique