KEEPING GREAT PLANS OFF THE SHELFWorking with Elected and Appointed Municipal Boards

CNU Urbanism Summit | District Hall | March 31, 2017

Corey Zehngebot, AIA, AICPSenior Urban Designer and Architect, BPDA

West End, 1957

A GREAT PLAN?

BEFORE AFTER

Government Center, 1961

South End, 1962 Charlestown, 1965

South Cove, 1965 Fenway, 1965

Certain cities and towns in the Commonwealth contain areas that are substandard, decadent or blighted open.

Urban renewal is a strategy for redeveloping and revitalizing these disinvested, underutilized and blighted areas for residential, commercial, industrial, business, governmental, recreational, educational, hospital or other uses.

This is now a state, not federal, program.

WHAT IS URBAN RENEWAL?

ADAPTING OUR VIEW OF URBAN RENEWAL

Original Approach• Tackle blight

Current Approach

• Assemble land to develop infrastructure and public facilities

• Develop affordable housing

• Aggregate parcels to build streets for vehicular traffic

• Create vibrancy• Reinvest in already

developed facilities to add density and diverse uses

• Create a diverse housing stock with mixed income, family and TOD housing

• Make current streets efficient for multi-modal transportation

Responding to the changing needs of the City of Boston

Fall 2014: City Council Briefing

BRA Board ExtensionRequest to DHCD

Simplified UR Extension Process

January 2015: DHCD ExtensionApproved

February 2015: Task Force KickoffStakeholder OutreachFinalize Public Process

March 2015: Begin Public Process

Public Outreach

Late Fall 2015: City Council ApprovalBRA Board ApprovalMayor ApprovalDHCD Approval

1. BRA-owned land: Putting public land to use for the benefit of the surrounding communities

2. Land Disposition Agreements: Imposing conditions on the use of land (for affordable housing, open space, use, etc.)

3. Public realm enhancements: Improving neighborhood public space and streets

4. Site Assembly and title clearance: Helping to make public and private sites ready for development

5. Unpredictable economy: Safeguarding against market downturns

Why do we still need urban renewal?

Answer: BRA-owned Land

Answer: BRA-owned Land

BRA Urban Renewal Website

The BRA climbs aboard City Hall To Go!May 5, May 12, May 15, May 20, May 27, May 28

CharlestownCharlestown Navy YardSouth EndChinatownRoxburyFenway

City Hall to Go

Hi there! Have any questions about urban renewal? What do you think the goals or planning objectives should be in your neighborhood?

City Hall to Go (May 2015)

City Hall to Go (June2015)

City Hall to Go (May 2015)

City Hall to Go (May 2015)

City Hall to Go (May 2015)

City Hall to Go (May 2015)

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“Apologies and forgiveness are not often regarded as signs of strength and as such do not hold a prominent place in political strategy or agency outreach. But Brian Golden’s heartfelt words and desire to make amends to the West End was one of the most powerful public statements I have witnessed.”

Community Meetings:Kickoff Meeting #1: March 30, City HallKickoff Meeting #2: April 2, Blackstone Community CenterKickoff Meeting #3: April 14: Madison Park High SchoolCommunity Workshop #1: June 10, China Trade BuildingCommunity Workshop #2: June 29, Charlestown High SchoolCommunity Workshop #3: July 9, Villa Victoria Center for the ArtsCommunity Workshop #4: July 15, Shelburne Community CenterCommunity Workshop #5: July 22, City HallWest End Exhibition Event: September 24, West End MuseumFinal Meeting #1: September 28, Bolling BuildingFinal Meeting #2: September 30, SchrafftFinal Meeting #3: October 5, NE Aquarium Intergovernmental:City Council Briefing: December 17State Delegation (State House): February 18City Council Briefing: April 22City Council Briefing: September 15State Delegation (State House): September/October 2015

Urban Renewal Task Force:February 23March 25April 29September/October TBD

One-on-One Meetings with City Councilors and Representatives:Councilor LaMattinaCouncilor LinehanCouncilor BakerCouncilor WuCouncilor FlahertyCouncilor MurphyCouncilor ZakimCouncilor Pressley (scheduled)Representative Aaron Michelwitz (July 21) City Hall to Go:May 5: Charlestown Navy YardMay 12: Mission HillMay 15: South EndMay 15: ChinatownMay 27: Charlestown Urban Renewal Email Updates:MarchMayJuneAugustSeptember (multiple)

Other Meetings: (not comprehensive)Department of Housing and Community Development (multiple)Cambridge Redevelopment Authority (multiple, December 2014, January 21, June 8, August 8)Somerville Redevelopment Authority (July 24)Boston Archives/ Boston Public LibraryWest End Museum (multiple)MACDC (multiple)Shirley Kressel (August 24)

Community Groups:Chinatown Progressive AssociationChinatown Neighborhood AssociationWashington Gateway Main StreetsSouth End SeniorsSouth End ForumAsian Community Development Corporation (ACDC)Park Plaza CACFenway CivicChinatown Master Plan Implementation CommitteeRoxbury Strategic Plan Oversight Committee Interdepartmental:BRA Planning + Urban DesignBRA Development ReviewBRA ResearchBRA GIS and MISBTD PlanningMayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services (ONS)Public Facilities Department (PFD)Economic Development (Barros and team)Boston ParksDepartment of Neighborhood DevelopmentEducation (Ramon Soto and Turahn Dorsey)Mayor’s Office of New Urban MechanicsMayor’s Office Summer FellowsCity Hall Intern Lunch + LearnONEin3Citywide Planning Staff MeetingBoston 2024

Action Plan

1. Extend www.bostonurbanrenewal.org as an information clearinghouse for the public

2. Land Disposition Agreements (LDA) Inventory3. BRA-owned land Inventory4. Review and systematize procedures for disposition of

remaining BRA land assets5. State (DHCD) approval over any takings that involve

people and/or property6. Determine provisional timeline for allowing plans to

sunset7. Area-specific actions (e.g. boundary review)

About a year later….