Boston Looks to ‘Skyline’ for Help
Changes designed to attract more developers and commercial tenants to downtown Boston and avoid a looming fiscal chasm tied to declining office occupancy are moving closer to the finish line.
New Housing Languishes While Frank Baker Sulks
Are petty City Council politics stalling plans for Mayor Michelle Wu’s ambitious overhaul of the one board that holds sway over most development projects in Boston?
As Pipeline Slows, Boston Looks for Housing Stimulants
Legalize triple-deckers by-right in all neighborhoods? Allow taller buildings as bonuses for affordability? Eliminate on-site parking? Boston officials and housing advocates are taking a look at a variety of unorthodox ways to accelerate multifamily production.
Wu Announces Sweeping Replacement of ZBA Members
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is announcing a major overhaul of the city’s Zoning Board of Appeal with the aim of “advanc[ing] the Mayor’s goal of rebuilding trust with communities through planning-led development.”
ZBA Approves 134-Room Hotel in North End
A 134-room hotel on Cross Street in Boston’s North End won approval from the Zoning Board of Appeal, a week after a state Land Court judge dismissed an abutter’s lawsuit challenging the $80 million project.
Neighbor Sues to Block North End Hotel Project
Construction of an $80 million hotel next to Boston’s Rose Kennedy Greenway is being challenged by a North End neighbor who argues that an enclosed roof deck would exceed maximum zoning heights.
Quietly, a Sea Change Comes to Development Appeals
State courts, when hearing appeals of special permits granted to development projects, will now have the power to require project opponents to post a surety or cash bond of up to $50,000.
Boston’s Next Mayor Must Deliver Homes for All
A fundamental tension between outdated institutions that deliver progress on housing and the need for fundamental reform necessary for a more equitable future will underlie this race.
Walsh Adds New Reporting Requirements for ZBA Members
An executive order by Boston Mayor Marty Walsh is adding new requirements designed to weed out conflicts of interest for the city’s zoning board of appeal following a city hall employee’s recent conviction for taking a series of bribes from a developer.
