Commercial and institutional

Steven P. Odom Serenity Garden

A Site in Transition: Step 1

Before the residential project’s construction got going, the City created a temporary park, leveling the designated garden area with gravel and providing planters and benches for neighborhood use.

Simplified Site Plan

Working out the logistics of construction and programming needs of the neighborhood led to a streamlined path that serves a large, open lawn area for events and fitness classes, a contemplative labyrinth area, and a community patio at the building’s community room.

Butterfly Gardening

The plant palette for the garden leans into natives that support local pollinators and the color purple, both in celebration of Steven P. Odom.

Fence Details

Adding to the celebratory feel of the space, the fence at the garden’s entrance will be adorned with butterfly appliques.

Site in transition

The site has a dramatic grade change, with a valley between its two bounding streets. This shot was taken at the start of construction of the adjacent residential project.

Salvaged Stones

The Odom Family selected stones from another City of Boston Park undergoing renovation for use as a “touchstone” and bench in the new garden.

Morton Station Village

The adjacent residential building was completed in 2023 and includes a community room with direct access to the garden parcel.

From renderings to reality

At the residential ribbon cutting, we saw how closely the construction followed the design.

Residences complete

The dramatic grade change across the site required that most off the existing vegetation be removed to construct the projects. This large oak was preserved, along with a nearby crabapple, throughout the construction.

In September 2017, RBLA Design LLC was awarded the design and detailing of the Odom Serenity Garden in Dorchester, MA to complement the Morton Street Residences in development for the adjacent property.

Starting with a series of community meetings in 2018, we’ve been working with the Community, the City of Boston's Parks Department and Department of Neighborhood Development (DND), and the developers of the adjacent residential proposal, the Planning Office of Urban Affairs for the Archdiocese (POUA) and Caribbean Integration Community Development (CICD) to develop this garden to provide an area of respite and reflectance to the neighborhood.

Today's concept includes serpentine walks through a shady grove of trees or a sunny butterfly-attracting garden, all with access to community space off the planned multifamily residential building. Final design and construction documents are being developed in conjunction with bid documents for the adjacent Morton Street development.

Dorchester, MA

LOCATION

ongoing

year completed

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Commercial and institutional

Steven P. Odom Serenity Garden

LOCATION

year completed

COMMERCIAL AND INSTITUTIONAL PROJECTS