COVID-19

New Boston Developments Approved

Boston – The Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) June board meeting was held virtually to ensure the safety of the public, staff members, and BPDA board members during the COVID-19 public health emergency. The items on the agenda did not require or completed their public process prior to the suspension of in-person public meetings in March.

In addition to authorizing the agency to make strategic investments that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion; hiring a director of diversity, equity and inclusion; and creating an Equity and Inclusion Fund; the board also voted to:

3992-3996 Washington Street

  • Approve the development project located at 3992-3996 Washington Street in Roslindale, which completed its public review process earlier this year. The project will construct a four-story, mixed-use building that will bring 18 home-ownership residential units, two of which are income-restricted to the neighborhood.
  • Following a virtual public hearing, the board approved an amendment to the Tufts University Institutional Master Plan (IMP), and a four year renewal of the IMP following a virtual public hearing. The amendment will add two buildings to the IMP as leased space: 230 The Fenway in the Fenway neighborhood, and 160 St. Alphonsus Street in Mission Hill. The properties currently function as the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University.

  • Building on Mayor Walsh’s recent announcement to expand use of public spaces for outdoor dining, the board authorized the agency to enter into short term licenses for the use of BPDA-owned land for COVID-19 relief and recovery efforts. This vote supports the mayor’s ongoing work to support the city’s small businesses, and will create a streamlined approval for appropriate temporary uses of BPDA property to support safe outdoor business operations, activate public space, and assist with COVID-19 related relief efforts.