Transformation at the BPDA is coming
And we need your input & participation!
When running for office, Mayor Wu promised to abolish the BPDA and put community first in planning. Since becoming Mayor, in her most recent state of the city the Mayor announced major steps in transforming the BPDA and has since filed home rule petitions and executive orders to begin the process. In one major step towards community led development, Chief Arthur Jemison, the new head of the BPDA, has made a call for community advocates to fill out an Equity Challenge to begin to create a rubric for the BPDA to use in judging upcoming developers projects proposals commitments to advance Resiliency, Affordability, and Equity. Chief Jemison has also invited advocates to participate in the Boston Design Vision as a part of the Community Advisory Board (CAB) to guide the process to shape a new, more inclusive planning and design process for the city. More on both below:
Equity Challenge: Resiliency, Affordability, and Equity
From the BPDA:
"The BPDA is announcing a new challenge to our development and resiliency, affordability and equity organization partners to inform projects and create development practices that help address the challenges of Resilience, Affordability, and Equity (RAE) we face as a city. We are looking for your input on potential metrics for development that advances the priorities of resiliency, affordability, and equity. We hope this challenge will spark a collaborative conversation and creative thinking to inform strategies to advance these goals through development. This first phase is seeking information from both developer proponents of all projects currently under review by the BPDA and organizations who represent community development or who work to advance resilience, affordability, and equity. The BPDA will use the results of these questionnaires, among other resources, and upcoming community-wide engagement processes to create a new evaluative framework to assess development projects. We expect to complete these by the end of 2023."
You can view the prompts here, and submit responses using this Google Form.
Fill out the survey here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeQPrcQB0UPHavKiPiirK7iWTvmh9Q0QYFuK5O90LG3RS41oQ/viewform
Please submit responses by April 28, 2023.
Boston Design Vision - Community Advisory Board (CAB)
From the city's website: The Urban Design staff of the BPDA is launching a new city-wide design vision to support a public realm that expresses the diversity of the neighborhoods of Boston, in an effort to anchor a sense of belonging in the midst of the City’s growth. The design of the public realm as it is experienced can be personal and culturally important. Leading a design vision can help build an environment that furthers our ability to witness and experience diversity as a means for building a healthy community and democracy... [more on website, linked above]
Community Advisory Board
Apply today to help guide the Boston Design Vision as a part of the Community Advisory Board (CAB)! CAB members are considered to be key partners in shaping an inclusive planning and design process. In collaboration with the CAB, staff hopes to create a plan that represents community-supported values and objectives that can be carried forward into the implementation of this design vision in all neighborhoods.
Please submit responses by April 28, 2023.
