Casey Ross | The Boston Globe

More than 275 apartments are under construction next to the JFK/UMass station. BARRY CHIN/GLOBE STAFF
More than 275 apartments are under construction next to the JFK/UMass station. BARRY CHIN/GLOBE STAFF

The streets around Dorchester’s MBTA stations are on the cusp of transformation.

Adjacent to the JFK/UMass Red Line station, more than 275 apartments are under construction, and another 184-unit building is planned on nearby Mount Vernon Street. The next southbound stop, Savin Hill, has attracted a proposal for 375 new homes and a 60,000-square-foot cluster of restaurants and stores.

The owner of the South Bay Center, sandwiched between the Red Line and Fairmount commuter rail, is pitching apartments, stores, hotels, and a 65,000-square-foot cinema. And at Ashmont Station, a developer that completed one residential and retail building will add another in 2016.

Transit-oriented development is finally becoming more than just high-minded planning jargon in Dorchester. It is sweeping through the neighborhood, bringing new housing, shopping options, and broader economic growth that promises to revitalize residential and commercial districts.

“This is a huge opportunity,” said Richard Taylor, director of the Center for Real Estate at Suffolk University. “You get a lot of ripple effects from this kind of development. It increases residential density, you have more arts and entertainment, and it injects more income to support local retail.” Read more