Thursday, May 16, 2013
The recently released draft document sets standards in Boston for bee- and hen-keeping, composting, rooftop farms and other activities.
After more than a year of discussions, the city has published a draft document outlining new rules for urban agriculture in Boston. From the keeping of hens and honey bees to regulation of composting, aquaculture, rooftop farms and farmers markets, the new document sets standards for a variety of urban agriculture activities that are not currently addressed in Boston’s zoning code. The Boston Redevelopment Authority, Mayor’s Office of Food Initiatives and Mayor’s Urban Agriculture Rezoning Working Group have been meeting monthly since January 2012 to work on the document. The new regulations, Article 89 of the Boston Zoning Code, will “create clarity and predictability for anyone interested in commercial food growing and creating farms in …
Friday, March 15, 2013
All but nine senior staff members at the Boston Redevelopment Authority will receive their first raise in five years.
Boston Redevelopment Authority staffers will receive raises for the first time in five years, the Boston Herald reported this week. With a budget separate from the city’s budget, the BRA recently approved 3 percent raises for all employees except for nine senior staff members, including Director Peter Meade and Chief Planner Kairos Shen. The increase puts eight staff members above the $100,000 salary level, for a total of 34 BRA employees who make six digits, according to the Herald. BRA spokeswoman Susan Elsbree told the newspaper that the raises represented a cost of living increase. BRA employees have worked without raises since 2008 and even received a pay cut one year, in 2009, the Herald reported. The BRA employs 207 people today—a …
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
The Boston Redevelopment Authority has scheduled a series of public meetings and tours to kick off review of the area between Long Wharf and the Moakley Bridge.
The city will kick off its latest round of waterfront development planning with a series of public meetings and tours in mid-March. This newest planning process, which is expected to last 18 months to two years, involves the redevelopment of the Downtown Waterfront area, from Long Wharf down to the Evelyn Moakley Bridge (Seaport Boulevard) and the James Hook & Co. lobster business, said Chris Busch, waterfront planner for the Boston Redevelopment Authority. “The events in March are sort of a kick-off, an introduction and orientation,” Busch said. “Then we’ll get into monthly meetings to develop the municipal harbor plan specific to the downtown waterfront area between Long Wharf and Hook Lobsters.” Over the past 20 years, the city has …
Thursday, February 21, 2013
The new 38-story building will offer studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, with a nearby retail element.
The Boston Redevelopment Authority has given the go-ahead for a developer to construct a new 38-story apartment and retail tower near the TD Garden. The board voted unanimously on Feb. 14 to approve the AvalonBay Communities Inc. project—Nashua Street Residences—which features 503 residential units ranging from studio to three-bedroom apartments and a two-story “retail arcade” that connects to TD Garden and North Station. In 2006, the developer received BRA approval to construct a building with 363 units—a mix of condominiums and apartments. But economic conditions had put the project on hold until recently. The latest proposal was filed in November. Proponents of the project said at the Feb. 14 BRA meeting that they had met with several …
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
A look at some of the Boston Redevelopment Authority's upcoming public meetings.
Boston residents can get involved and have their voices heard by attending a public meeting on a number of new developments underway this year and coming up. The Boston Redevelopment Authority has posted the following meetings for this week: The Boston Redevelopment Authority’s next board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 17 from 5:30-8 p.m. at Boston City Hall, in the ninth-floor room 900. All meetings are open to the public unless otherwise stated.
Monday, December 17, 2012
The shop will feature a grocery section with sushi chef station, pastry case, adult beverages and more as well as a health and beauty section, all incorporating interactive technologies.
The former Borders building in Downtown Crossing is being renovated into a new kind of Walgreens— one of three flagship stores the company is creating around the country that offer a mix of high-end groceries, adult beverages, beauty products and health needs. On Wednesday, Walgreens representatives offered members of the media a sneak peek at the new building, located at 10-24 School St., at the corner of School and Washington streets. Though the company has already opened similar flagship stores in New York City and Chicago, the Boston site presented a unique opportunity to blend old and new design styles in a building that is itself a mix of time periods. “We respected the fact that this is a modern building attached to a very …
Saturday, July 14, 2012
The BRA also designated a developer for the 1004 Tremont St. project.
After half a century with few outward changes, the New England Conservatory of Music has plans to redesign its Huntington Avenue campus in the style—according to one Boston Redevelopment Authority board member—of an Apple Store. “This is certainly going to be an eye-catcher,” said board member James Coyle. Representatives of the conservancy showed plans at the BRA board of directors’ meeting Thursday that depicted a brightly-lit, glass-walled structure. The group said that the project will be the school’s first new building within the city since 1959 and its first master plan ever. The plan calls for the demolition of some dormitory space as well as the addition of newer dorms, a new library and additional practice spaces. The board …
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
George Street and Castle Square developments part of new housing rush in city.
If you know someone who needs a home in Boston, the Boston Redevelopment Authority may be able to help. The agency oversaw groundbreakings on 1,000 new housing units in the last quarter of 2011, and is presently monitoring 3,360 under construction or renovation. The 25 projects under way range from the small—like the six-unit Newbury Street property being constructed in cooperation with Centremark Properties—to the large—like the 500-unit Tremont Street development currently under reconstruction by Winn Development in the South End. “[In 2012], we broke ground on 26 projects, investing $2.4 billion in our city,” said Melina Schuler, a spokeswoman for the authority. “This includes numerous multifamily residential projects.” In the last …
Thursday, June 14, 2012
YMCA outlines redevelopment plan for Huntington Avenue building.
Plans to demolish and rebuild the rear of the Huntington Ave. YMCA that houses most of the exercise facilities seem to be moving forward despite strong community opposition. A team representing the Greater Boston YMCA on Huntington Avenue was before the Boston Redevelopment Authority Tuesday night, and described the organization’s plan to tear down the 100-year-old structure, which would be sold to Northeastern University and converted into dormitories for students. The Y will then build a 23,000 square foot addition with a new pool, gym, and handball courts. The plan has faced stiff opposition from a member-initiated “Save the Boston Y” campaign. Key among their concerns are the smaller size of the proposed gym, and deeper fears that …
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Huntington Avenue YMCA
316 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA
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Tuesday, May 15, 2012
The Boston Redevelopment Authority announced the approval on Twitter Tuesday night.
The Boston Redevelopment Authority approved the $200 million Ink Block proposal, clearing the way for the massive redevelopment of the former Boston Herald site. The plan, presented to the authority by National Development, calls for 471 housing units at 300 Harrison Ave.. The mixed-use plan also calls for a grocery store, retail space and restaurants on the 6.22-acre lot. Speculation has been rampant during the planning process. According to the Boston Globe, Wegman’s supermarket head Danny Wegman told the Boston Chamber of Commerce he wanted to open locations within the city. That lead to talk of a Wegman’s at the Ink Block. Wegmans Grocery Store Might Come To Ink Block Harrison-Albany Corridor Entering New Era Landmark Commission …
Tammy
6:42 pm on Thursday, May 16, 2013
Yeah for urban chickens! more ›