BPDA Board of Directors - 2025-11-13

Approved IMP for 2025-2035 including eight proposed institutional projects totaling approximately 2.3 million square feet with over 1,900 new dorm beds. Includes $10M housing stabilization fund over 10 years, $20M economic development center operating costs, and $20M+ for Carter Playground maintenance. New accountability mechanism requires Northeastern to appear before BPDA board if off-campus housing footprint expands beyond 2024 levels.

Approved 310,000 square foot facility to replace Matthews Arena with turf and basketball practice space, weight rooms, meeting rooms. Includes preservation of historic terracotta arch, $1.5M transportation infrastructure improvements, over $6M in linkage funds, approximately 350 construction jobs. Building will use geothermal heat pump wells as part of campus energy microdistrict.

Authorized petition to Boston Zoning Commission to adopt 0% increase to linkage policy for one year commencing January 1, 2026, overriding automatic 4% increase. Current rates: $30.78/sq ft for labs, $23.09/sq ft for non-lab uses. Decision based on 26% construction cost increase since 2020, financing costs rising from near-zero to 4%, lab vacancies over 20%, office vacancies 17-24%, and significant decline in linkage-eligible filings.

Approved scoping determination waiving further review for new five-story mixed-use building with 18,000 sq ft Boston Public Library branch on bottom two floors and 33 income-restricted workforce homeownership units on upper three floors. Developer: Civic Co Development. Site owned by BPDA, tentatively designated April 2023. Includes preservation of 1915 Dorchester Trust Company facade.

Approved certification for new five-story residential building with 24 condominium homeownership units including 3 IDP units, 25 garage parking spaces, 26 bike parking spaces. Developer: Dennis Cohen. Approximately 45,600 gross square feet on vacant lot in Cedar Grove Adams Village neighborhood. Building designed to work with existing ledge on site.

Approved small project certification and 121B pilot agreement for conversion of existing six-story 21,000 sq ft office building to 18 residential rental units (8 studios, 10 one-bedrooms) with ground floor commercial. Developer: Napa Can Ameriwu. Tax abatement of up to 75% of assessed residential value for 29 years under downtown residential conversion pilot program.

Approved scoping determination and 121B pilot agreement for conversion of semi-vacant six-story 87,000 sq ft office building to 92 residential rental apartments (41 studios, 42 one-bedrooms, 9 two-bedrooms) with ground floor amenities. Second largest residential conversion in pilot program. 18 affordable units including 15 at 60% AMI and 3 for HUD voucher recipients. Tax abatement up to 75% for 29 years.

Approved certification for new six-story mixed-use building with 33 residential rental units including 6 IZ units, 3,648 sq ft ground floor restaurant space, 46 bicycle parking spaces. Located in Ashmont Station area. Developer: 555 Talbot Ave LLC. Includes public realm improvements and ongoing maintenance to Peabody Square Plaza.

Approved certification for six-story, 71-unit addition to existing 24-unit apartment building. New construction totals approximately 49,000 gross square feet with 7 vehicle parking spaces and 16 short-term bike parking spaces. Includes 12 IZ units. Located in Mission Hill neighborhood.

Approved certification for seven-story, 44-unit homeownership building including 8 affordable artist live-work units, 1,100 sq ft ground floor gallery/cultural space, 16 parking spaces, 54 bicycle spaces. Developer: Josh Brandt. Cross-laminated timber construction. Located in South End Harrison Albany Corridor.

Approved renewal and extension of Boston College institutional master plan with no changes for two years to provide flexibility as university welcomes new president and navigates higher education sector challenges.

Approved text amendments to articles 26, 8, 3, 11, and 89 of zoning code adding two new squares and streets districts (S3-6 and SC Shopping and Commercial Nodes) and making minor changes to four existing districts. S3-6 allows six-story buildings; SC allows four-story commercial-oriented mixed use. Also makes shelter facilities conditional instead of forbidden in S2-S5 districts.

Approved text amendment to article 62 specifying 150-foot maximum building height for PDA 1 area immediately south of Austin Street, consistent with Plan Charlestown 2023 recommendations and Austin Street Lots PDA master plan.