Upham’s Corner Main Street, Inc. (UCMS) is a community-led business district planning agency that works to build a vibrant commercial district in Upham’s Corner, a bustling town center in Dorchester, Massachusetts that is anchored by the historic Strand Theatre. UCMS was first created in 1995 when a group of concerned neighborhood residents, merchants, and civic leaders banded together with a goal of advocating, planning, and managing the revitalization of the Upham’s Corner business district. The goal: to create more permanent jobs, an optimal mix of retail businesses, and shopping opportunities that fit the needs of residents. UCMS, managed by a volunteer Board of Directors, project-focused committees, an Executive Director and part-time staff/interns, is successful only through energetic volunteer action. The organization operates under The National Trust for Historic Preservation Main Street approach to revitalize Upham’s Corner through Design, Economic Restructuring, Organization, and Promotion. If you are interested in being part of UCMS’s work, please take a look at recent posts and Calendar for community meetings and events – you might find something you’d like to get involved with! As one of the leading programs in the Boston Main Streets network, UCMS has a track record of innovative project planning and implementation that has raised the profile of the Upham’s Corner commercial district. Upham’s Corner is on the radar as a neighborhood destination and is highly sought by new businesses looking for a profitable location. [Lots of free parking in the Belden Square Municipal Lot, behind CVS!]
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Upham’s Corner, Dorchester, MA
Upham’s Corner is a bustling Boston neighborhood retail district rich in history and filled with opportunities for innovation, active living and creativity. This compact, walkable urban village offers a brand-new 6.5-acre state-of-the-art fitness facility, restaurants ranging from casual to chic, a supermarket, a landmark performing arts venue, three major banks, a large health center, a drugstore, artists’ studios, shops selling shoes, clothing, decorative items, as well as other goods and services. The Upham’s Corner commercial district is a lively crossroads serving approximately 14,000 neighborhood residents, plus commuters and employees of nearby businesses. The neighborhood has a lively mix of cultures and lifestyles and is welcoming to new residents. About 2.5 miles from downtown Boston, Upham’s Corner is well-served by public transit including a newly renovated MBTA station 10 minutes from South Station and several bus routes from nearby MBTA Red Line stations. Upham’s Corner is easily accessible by bike – it is about a 15-min ride from the South End and features two Hubway bike share stations. A mile by car from I-93 and abundant, free off-street parking makes Upham’s Corner an easy stop for shopping and services. Jones Hill and Virginia-Monadnock are two well-known residential areas featuring historic Victorian homes near Upham’s Corner, but there are several other enclaves of 19th century architecture worth visiting within walking distance. The district is rich with history, hosting such landmarks as the newly renovated 1,400-seat Strand Theatre (1918), Dorchester North Burying Ground (1634), and the site of the country’s first supermarket (1915). The historic Blake House (1661), oldest in Boston, and a giant Clapp’s Favorite Pear public art piece mark Edward Everett Square at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Columbia Road, less than a ten minute walk. For more on Upham’s Corner’s rich history see this link, and for Dorchester’s history click here.
