Here’s the short, legally-accurate picture as of today (September 19, 2025):

Question:

What is the corporate status of the ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION OF BOSTON and what is the legal relationship and corporate connections with the Boston Redevelopment Authority and the Boston PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT AGENCY?

What EDIC “is”

• Name & status. The Economic Development and Industrial Corporation of Boston (EDIC) was created by special act in 1971 (St. 1971, c. 1097) as a “public body politic and corporate” and an instrumentality of the Commonwealth (with a seven-member board appointed by the Mayor, subject to City Council confirmation). Massachusetts State Archives
• Authorities. The EDIC enabling act gives EDIC development powers (including, within approved Economic Development Areas, land assembly and eminent domain), sets out planning/approval procedures, and provides certain tax provisions. Massachusetts State Archives
• Tax/financial characterization. EDIC is treated as a governmental entity (political subdivision) for federal tax purposes (IRC §115) and is described in its own materials as a component unit of the City of Boston. City of Boston Planning Department

What BRA “is”

• The Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) is a separate public body politic and corporate established under Massachusetts redevelopment law (G.L. c. 121B) and Boston-specific enactments. Massachusetts General Court+1

How EDIC, BRA, and “BPDA” relate

• Two corporations, one operating umbrella. Since the mid-1990s the BRA and EDIC have operated together, and in 2016 they rebranded the joint operations as the “Boston Planning & Development Agency” (BPDA). The rebrand did not merge the corporations—BRA and EDIC remained distinct legal entities. Boston.gov+1
• d/b/a BPDA. City notices and ordinances continue to refer to “the Boston Redevelopment Authority d/b/a Boston Planning & Development Agency”, underscoring that BPDA is a doing-business-as name for the two statutory entities working together, not a third corporation. Boston.gov
• Current City framework. Boston’s 2024–2025 planning reforms created a City Planning Department and formalized coordination with BPDA. The ordinance text explicitly states that the BRA and EDIC “together do business as the BPDA.” City of Boston Planning Department+1

Pending structural change (has not yet taken legal effect)

• In 2023–2024 the Mayor and City Council advanced a Home Rule Petition that would abolish BRA and EDIC and consolidate their powers into a single new BPDA entity. As of now, the petition remains under review at the State House, so the BRA and EDIC still exist as separate corporations operating jointly as BPDA. City of Boston Planning Department+2Banker & Tradesman+2

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Bottom line

• EDIC: a public body politic and corporate, created by St. 1971, c. 1097, functioning as an instrumentality of the Commonwealth and (in practice) a component unit of the City. Massachusetts State Archives+1
• BRA: a separate public body politic and corporate under G.L. c. 121B (and Boston’s enabling framework). Massachusetts General Court+1
• BPDA: not a separate corporation; it’s the operational umbrella/brand under which BRA and EDIC act together. Until the Legislature enacts the pending petition, BRA and EDIC remain distinct legal entities doing business as the BPDA. City of Boston Planning Department+2Boston.gov+2

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