Bpda Board of Directors - Regular Meeting

1:05 – 2:10•PRPriscilla Rojas

I am the chair of the VPDA board. Thank you for joining the August 13th, 2026 Economic Development and Industrial Corporation of Boston board meeting. At this time, the Boston Planning and Development Agency is hosting public meetings in a hybrid setting for the health, safety, and accessibility of Boston residents. Hybrid means that our board meetings are conducted in person and at City Hall in our boardroom on the ninth floor and virtually via Zoom and Boston City TV. For more information and updates, visit bostonplans.org. The open public meeting law requires that I notify the public that t

2:11 – 2:23•PRPriscilla Rojas

Mr. Shepard? Present. Mr. O'Malley? Here. And I, the chair, am present. Item number one, request authorization for the approval of the minutes of July 16th, 2026 board meeting. A motion is in order.

2:26 – 2:41•PRPriscilla Rojas

All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? The ayes have it. Item number two, request authorization to amend the lease with Mass Robotics, Inc. to add Suite 401 to the lease premises at 12 Channel Street in the Raymond L. Flynn Marine Park. Dennis.

7:29 – 7:51•PRPriscilla Rojas

Thank you very much. Any questions or comments from the board? All right, hearing and seeing none, motion is in order. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? The ayes have it. Thanks, Dennis. Item number three, request authorization to issue a request for qualifications for designer services for electric service upgrades at 12 Channel Street in the Raymond L. Flynn Marine Park. Tyler.

9:40 – 10:09•PRPriscilla Rojas

Thank you. Any questions or comments from the board? Hearing and seeing none, a motion is in order. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? You guys have it. Request authorization to issue a request for qualifications to hire a licensed design consultant to provide design services resulting in construction documents for window replacements on the ninth floor. of 12 Channel Street in the Raymond L. Flynn Marine Park. Tyler.

12:08 – 12:30•PRPriscilla Rojas

Okay, thanks. Any questions or comments from the board? Okay, hearing and saying none, a motion is in order. Second. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? The ayes have it. Thanks, Tyler. Item number five, request authorization to issue an invitation for bids for the installation of physical security infrastructure for parcels C1 and C2 located in the Raymond Alflin Marine Park. Sandra.

14:44 – 14:58•PRPriscilla Rojas

Thank you. Any questions or comments from the board? All right, hearing and seeing none, a motion is in order. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? The ayes have it. Thanks, Sandra. Thank you. Item number six, personnel. Teresa.

15:29 – 16:11•PRPriscilla Rojas

Thank you. Any questions or comments from the board? All right hearing and seeing none emotion is in order. So move 2nd, all those in favor. I opposed the guys habit motion passes. I just want to say, welcome to the to the intern and to Jacqueline. He'll be helping out. And as well, as, you know, thank you so much Christina for all of your of your contributions to the agency over the years. you've been a critical part in helping us shape the city. So I hope you're proud. I wish you best of luck in anything that you do in the future and know that you have friends here. So with that, I need a mo

16:17•PRPriscilla Rojas

Oh, you second that? You can't second and make a motion. Wait a second. I'm sorry.

16:22 – 17:39•PRPriscilla Rojas

That's what they do in the union. All right, so all those in favor? Aye. Opposed? The ayes have it. Meeting adjourned. OK, starting with the next portion of our meeting, thank you for joining the August 13, 2026 Boston Redevelopment Authority board meeting. At this time, the Boston Planning and Development Agency is hosting public meetings in a hybrid setting for the health, safety, and accessibility of Boston residents. Hybrid means that our board meetings are conducted in person at City Hall and in our boardroom on the ninth floor and virtually via Zoom and Boston City TV. For more informati

17:44 – 17:57•PRPriscilla Rojas

And the chair is present. Item number one, request authorization for the approval of the minutes of the July 16, 2026 board meeting. A motion is in order. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? The ayes have it. Item number two.

17:57•MOMatt O’Malley

Excuse me, Madam Chair, I'll be recusing myself from item number two.

18:01 – 18:24•PRPriscilla Rojas

Thank you, Mr. O'Malley. Item number two, request authorization to enter into a license agreement with the New England Aquarium Corporation for the use of a portion of BPDA-owned property located at East India Row in the downtown waterfront area until March 31st, 2027. Samantha.

19:51•PRPriscilla Rojas

Okay, thank you. Any questions or comments from the board? All right, hearing and seeing none, a motion is in order.

19:59 – 20:24•PRPriscilla Rojas

Second. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? The ayes have it. Motion passes. Thank you. Thanks, Samantha. Welcome back. Item number three, request authorization to amend the lease with Urban College of Boston, removing suite 100, located at 2 Boylston Street from the lease premises and restructuring rent payments through 2032. Liz.

22:47 – 23:17•PRPriscilla Rojas

Okay, thanks, Liz. Any questions or comments from the board? All right, hearing and saying none, a motion is in order. Second. All those in favor? Aye. Both the ayes have it. You can get something to work out down there. Item number four, request authorization to assign the lease held by Second Mass Ave Realty Trust for Building 120 in the historic monument area of the Charlestown Navy Yard to the USS Constitution Museum Incorporated.

24:46•PRPriscilla Rojas

Okay. Any questions or comments from the board? Hearing and seeing none, a motion is in order.

24:52 – 25:49•PRPriscilla Rojas

All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? The ayes have it. Thanks, Liz. I do want to just give a shout out to the real estate Division, I continue to be impressed with the work of this department and your creative solutions to supporting our tenants and being so fiscally responsible, but understanding of our tenants and the needs of our city. I just wanted to say that. But we can move on to item number five. Request authorization to extend the tentative designation status of and enter into lease negotiations with powerhouse cnyllc for the long-term lease and redevelopment of building 108 property in

27:42 – 28:07•PRPriscilla Rojas

Any questions or comments from the board? All right, hearing and saying none, a motion is in order. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? You guys have it. Item number six, request authorization to extend the final designation status of Nubian Ascend Partners LLC as redeveloper of the Blair Lot in the Nubian Square area of Roxbury for a period of six months until February 28th, 2027. Thank you again.

29:58•PRPriscilla Rojas

Thank you. Any questions or comments from the board?

30:01 – 30:16•MOMatt O’Malley

Yeah, yes, Madam Chair. Thank you. So obviously, I have no issues extending the designation. Know this area well, it's right in the heart of Nubian Square. Things have changed, obviously, due to external factors. Can you talk a little bit about how the financing is coming along with this new iteration?

31:08 – 31:34•PRPriscilla Rojas

Thank you. Any other questions or comments? All right, hearing and seeing none, a motion is in order. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? The ayes have it. Thank you. Item number seven, request authorization to issue a request for proposals to hire a licensed design consultant to provide engineering design services resulting in construction documents to perform the Pier 4 utility infrastructure repairs in the Charlestown Navy Yard.

33:55 – 34:20•PRPriscilla Rojas

Any questions or comments from the board? I do have one. So I know we said this is included in the FY27 capital construction budget, but these were unforeseen expenses, so are we having to kind of put something else off to do this, just trying to understand? I'm going to have Rebecca come up.

34:48•PRPriscilla Rojas

All right, any other questions or comments? Hearing and seeing none, a motion is in order.

34:58 – 35:38•PRPriscilla Rojas

Item number eight, request authorization to approve design changes to the South End Urban Renewal Area, project number MASR-56, parcels 1-A, 1-B, 1-C, 1-D, located at 474, 482, and 494 Tremont Street, subject to continuing design review. and to execute and deliver a release of a portion of reservation of public travel easement rights and any and all other instruments, agreements, or documents deemed necessary in connection with the construction of canopies to the rear entrances of the Castle Square residences. as part of the rehabilitation of the Castle Square Apartments. Dennis.

37:05 – 37:20•PRPriscilla Rojas

Great. Any questions or comments from the board? All right. Actually, I do have, so I think that, what was the 32 height trying to kind of prevent?

37:25 – 38:08•PRPriscilla Rojas

I don't really know. I think that answer is fine. So any questions or comments for the board hearing and seeing not a motion is in order. So moved. Second. All those in favor, aye. Aye. Opposed? The ayes have it. Thanks, Dennis. All right. Item number nine, request authorization to petition the Zoning Commission to adopt text amendments implementing updates to Article 88 of the Zoning Code to establish the new consolidated local permit process for a small clean energy infrastructure pursuant to the state's 255CMR29 and establish use and dimensional regulations for battery energy storage systems. Christopher.

50:39•PRPriscilla Rojas

Okay, thank you. Questions or comments from the board?

50:43 – 53:13•MOMatt O’Malley

Thank you, Madam Chair. Not so much a question, but a comment, and then I'll preface it by saying that this Director Shen is my favorite vote. I will cast today. It's not a project. It is on this very, very important zoning amendment. It is my fervent hope that a year from now we vote on these projects as often as we do on residential conversions. This is so needed. Obviously, I don't need to tell folks watching the importance of permitting more solar and wind. but also transition lines in terms of delivering reliability and supporting electrification. I want to zero in on the battery storage,

53:13 – 54:00•PRPriscilla Rojas

Thank you. Any other questions or comments. I just want to say. This was fascinating. I learned a lot about battery storage and I love being on this board. I get to learn about these great things. So just wanted to reiterate this has nothing to do with data center. Anything right to do with data and this is a just to to streamline the process right that permitting process to kind of you know speed this these projects to to service yes okay and yeah that's just all I just wanted to double check If there are no other further questions or comments, a motion is in order so moved 2nd, all those in

54:01 – 54:13•PRPriscilla Rojas

And we have. Let people exit. That's a popular item. But counselor Durkin the thank you for coming and the floor is yours.

55:12 – 55:40•PRPriscilla Rojas

Thank you, Councillor. All right, item number 10. Request authorization to issue a certification of approval pursuant to Article 80E Small Project Review of the Zoning Code for the proposed construction of 24 residential homeownership units, including four IZ units, and nine car parking spaces and 24 bicycle parking spaces located at 14 through 18 Hannon Street, and to enter into community benefits agreement and to take all related actions. Zoe.

1:01:11•PRPriscilla Rojas

Okay, thank you. Awesome. Any questions or comments from the board? Okay, hearing and seeing none, a motion is in order.

1:01:21 – 1:02:21•PRPriscilla Rojas

All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? The ayes have it, motion passes. Thank you so much, and almost welcome to the neighborhood. All right, item number 11. Request authorization to issue a determination waiving further review pursuant to section 80A-6 of the zoning code in connection with the notice of project change for the proposed construction of 62 all affordable residential units, 31 car parking spaces, and 77 bicycle parking spaces located at 2 Shawsheen Road, and issue one or more certifications of compliance or partial certifications of compliance for the proposed project pursuant to sect

1:10:02•PRPriscilla Rojas

Any questions or comments from the Board?

1:10:05 – 1:10:22•MOMatt O’Malley

Thank you, Madam Chair. Jeff, this is a great project. You can tell, obviously, the support that's gone in. It looks great. It's a great part of the neighborhood. Fully supported. Curious, and you may have said this, I'd just step out for a moment. Does the proximity to the wetlands provide any additional mitigation that has to be done on site?

1:10:52•PRPriscilla Rojas

All right. Item number 12. Mr. O'Malley, are you going to recuse yourself on this one?

1:10:59•MOMatt O’Malley

No. Oh, no? Oh, sorry. Sorry. I must be on the wrong. Is it?

1:11:04 – 1:11:28•PRPriscilla Rojas

It's on the wrong. It's okay. Okay. No. I have to pay Sarah. Item number 12, request authorization to issue an adequacy determination pursuant to section 80D-5.4 of the zoning code for the proposed renewal and extension of the Brigham and Women's Hospital Institutional Master Plan for a period of five years ending in 2031 and to take all related actions. Jason.

1:15:21 – 1:15:56•PRPriscilla Rojas

OK, thank you. Questions or comments from the board? No. Well, just a comment. I just want to thank you for your contributions to the city. I think many of us have probably been one of those 1.5 million people that have been serviced by Brigham and Women's. And so, you know, with pleasure, I would like, I think a motion is in order. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? The ayes have it. Thank you very much. Good luck.

1:15:56 – 1:16:46•PRPriscilla Rojas

Okay. Item number 13. Request authorization to issue a scoping determination waiving further review pursuant to Article 80B-5.4D of the Zoning Code for the proposed construction of 105 fully affordable residential rental units, 31 car parking spaces, and 105 bicycle parking spaces located at 1590 Blue Hill Avenue. to issue a certification of compliance for the proposed project under Section 80B-6 of the Zoning Code upon successful completion of the Article 80 review process, and to enter into a cooperation agreement and transportation access plan agreement and to take all related actions.

1:25:35•PRPriscilla Rojas

Thank you. Questions or comments from the board?

1:25:39 – 1:26:02•MOMatt O’Malley

A couple, Madam Chair, first of all, congratulations. Looks like a great project. Love the design. I love the two-tone. I especially love that fifth bullet point under sustainability. So you are going to do rooftop PV array? Yes. Okay, that is great. We see the bullets that say rooftop, you know, ready, which it has to be. So how many kilowatts or how many megawatts are you going to have?

1:26:03•PRPriscilla Rojas

So we don't know just yet. Just come a little bit, just because we can't.

1:26:25 – 1:26:46•MOMatt O’Malley

Just to be clear, I mean, you wouldn't be able to cover the entire because of other needs, but even a significant amount, given that height, given the fact that there's not the same sort of tree canopy surrounding or other large buildings, you could probably have a pretty decent amount that could then, to my earlier point, help power some of the common areas and certainly reduce utility costs for

1:26:50 – 1:27:03•MOMatt O’Malley

Great. Well, thank you for doing that. Again, it's proving that we ought not put sustainability and affordability in competition with one another. They should be serving on the same track, and that's precisely what you folks are doing. So well done.

1:28:59 – 1:30:28•PRPriscilla Rojas

Awesome. Additional questions or comments? I, yeah, just to echo, I mean, I get, you know, so, so excited for As of Right projects and to really see all the hard work that, you know, the planning and then now to add the development to that. It's just, it's really gratifying to see. So I'm, again, really, really proud of the team and happy to see the process working. The two and three bedrooms, family-oriented, is exactly what our neighborhood, my neighborhood, I'm a Mattapan resident, needs. This is just a real dream project, I think, for me. I just am really... It's so great to see. It's so g

1:30:33 – 1:31:24•PRPriscilla Rojas

Second. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? The ayes have it. Thank you very much. Congratulations. Good luck. All right, item number 14, request authorization to issue a scoping determination waiving further review pursuant to Article 80B-5.3D, large project review of the zoning code for the proposed construction of 165 residential rental units, including 22 IDP units and 200 bicycle parking spaces located at 45 Townsend Street, and to issue a certification of compliance pursuant to Section 80B-6 of the zoning code. upon successful completion of the Article 80B large project review process, and

1:42:57•PRPriscilla Rojas

Thank you. Questions or comments from the board?

1:44:44•MOMatt O’Malley

Thank you Madam Chair. Obviously, I always appreciate adaptive reuse, especially in this building, which I know well. Given the height, has there been exploration about rooftop solar?

1:45:17 – 1:45:32•MOMatt O’Malley

Yeah. Okay. Well, given the earlier text zoning amendment, which we passed, and we'll then go to the zoning commission, perhaps there's some opportunity for us to make you guys a test case with that going forward. So we appreciate the exploration and hope it pencils. Thank you.

1:45:33•PRPriscilla Rojas

Additional questions or comments? All right. Hearing and seeing none, a motion is in order.

1:45:41 – 1:46:14•PRPriscilla Rojas

Opposed? The ayes have it. Thank you. Congratulations. Good luck. All right, item number 15. Request authorization to issue a certification of approval pursuant to Article 80E small project review of the zoning code for the proposed construction of 35 home ownership units, including six IZ units, 75 vehicular parking spaces, and 42 bicycle parking spaces located at 350 West 4th Street, and to enter into a community benefits agreement in connection with the proposed project and take all related actions.

1:53:04•PRPriscilla Rojas

Okay, great. Thank you. Any questions or comments from the board? All right. Hearing and seeing none, a motion is in order.

1:53:14 – 1:53:37•PRPriscilla Rojas

Opposed? The ayes have it. Congratulations. Good luck. All right. Item number 16. Request authorization to terminate the existing affordable housing agreement and enter into an affordable rental housing agreement and restriction in connection with the construction of two IDP units located at 204 West 7th Street and to take all related actions. Andy.

1:54:20•PRPriscilla Rojas

Okay. Any questions or comments from the board? Hearing and seeing none, a motion is in order.

1:54:27 – 1:54:43•PRPriscilla Rojas

Opposed guys have it. Item number 17, request authorization to amend conveyance documents a 1st amendment to cooperation agreement and a 1st amendment to an affordable housing agreement in connection with the development of 50 Herald street and to take all related actions. Nick.

1:56:27 – 1:56:44•PRPriscilla Rojas

Okay, thank you. Any questions or comments from the board? All right, hearing and seeing none, a motion is in order. Second. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? The ayes have it. Thanks, Nick. And item number 18, I need a motion to pay our bills.

1:56:49•PRPriscilla Rojas

All right. All those in favor? Or no, a motion is in order. Right?

1:56:59 – 1:57:11•PRPriscilla Rojas

It's like second meeting in a row. Anyway, all those in favor? Opposed? The ayes have it. Please pay the bills. And finally, item number 19, Director Shen. The floor is yours.

2:04:05 – 2:04:56•PRPriscilla Rojas

All right, thank you so much, Director Shen. And I know we definitely should have opened it, but yes, thank you. Welcome, so welcome, Felicia. I've had the privilege to serve on the CPA board under Felicia's leadership, and we were just all overwhelmed and overjoyed to hear that you'd be joining us. So welcome and welcome. It is meaningful to be the first black woman sitting here at this table. So as the second Latina, but the first to hold the gavel, it's important. You know, representation matters and it's really exciting to kind of see the city represented on this board. So with that, welco

2:04:57•PRPriscilla Rojas

All right. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? The ayes have it. Motion passes. Thank you very much. We'll see you next month.