Let’s Get To Work Abolish the BPDA: Six Steps Mayor Wu Can Take Now

Let’s Get To Work Abolish the BPDA: Six Steps Mayor Wu Can Take Now

By Dwaign Tyndal, Executive Director, ACE

I was thrilled that Michelle Wu made abolishing the Boston Planning and Development Agency a key part of her winning mayoral platform.

ACE and other housing justice advocates have been calling to get rid of the BPDA for a long time — and to transfer its land to City control, and create a real Planning Department that answers to the people of Boston.

While the BPDA isn’t the neighborhood-bulldozer it once was, the agency is a tool of top-down power, overruling neighborhood input and bolstering inequality. Instead of shaping Boston neighborhoods to meet residents’ needs — things like better transit, more permanently affordable housing, green spaces and neighborhood amenities — developments are proposed by for-profit developers, pitched to the BPDA in a black box, and selected based on special zoning exceptions and hearings, by a board that prioritizes its own income.  This process gives extra influence to existing political power structures, while leaving low-income, marginalized folks excluded from an opaque process.

Now that she’s in office, Mayor Wu is likely to hear every manner of denial, distraction, and delay tactics from the developers who have benefited the most from the lack of transparency and unaccountability of the BPDA. She should ignore them. 

Fully breaking up and re-establishing democratic control over the powers of the BPDA will take state authorization, but there’s plenty the City can do first. We’re calling on Mayor Wu to stick to her guns and move forward quickly toward a better planning process for our City.

Here are the six actions that City Hall should begin pursuing immediately:

Transfer all or most of the BPDA’s real estate and property assets to the City

The BPDA currently funds itself from rental and sale income of the publicly-owned real estate. This creates perverse incentives to develop or sell land that could be serving the public good in other ways.

Dissolve or reduce urban renewal powers

Transfer Inclusionary Development Policy execution authority

Remove the BPDA’s authority to shape the Zoning Code

End the BPDA’s affiliation with economic development agencies

Transfer tax incentive powers

Mayor Wu was elected with a truly historic margin — the most votes a Boston mayor has received in decades. That wasn’t despite her bold plans with the BPDA. She won because of these bold plans.

Now, it’s time to put her plans in motion. It’s time to start abolishing the BPDA and building something better.

For more details, please refer to this legal memo: Potential Legal Pathways to Abolish the BPDA

Scroll down to sign your name on our petition to Mayor Wu:

Tell Mayor Wu: Follow Through and Abolish the BPDA

Target: Boston Mayor Michelle Wu

ACE and other housing justice advocates have been calling to get rid of the BPDA for a long time — and to transfer its land to City control, and create a real Planning Department that answers to the people of Boston.

Now that she’s in office, Mayor Wu is likely to hear every manner of denial, distraction, and delay tactics from the developers who have benefited the most from the lack of transparency and unaccountability of the BPDA. She should ignore them.

Add your name, calling on Mayor Wu to stick to her guns and move forward quickly with six steps toward a fairer and more inclusive planning process for our City.

Sponsored by

Alternatives for Community and Environment

Boston, MA

To: Boston Mayor Michelle Wu
From: [Your Name]

I was thrilled that you made abolishing the Boston Planning and Development Agency a key part of your winning mayoral platform.

ACE and other housing justice advocates have been calling to get rid of the BPDA for a long time (as you have in the Council — thanks!). Now that you’re in office, you’re likely to hear every manner of denial, distraction, and delay tactics from the developers who have benefited the most from the lack of transparency and unaccountability of the BPDA. You should ignore them.

Here are the six measures we’re asking you to begin immediately:

Transfer all or most of the BPDA’s real estate and property assets to the City
Dissolve or reduce urban renewal powers through (1) a full dissolution decision, (2) sunsetting many urban renewal areas, and/or (3) delegating renewal implementation powers to the City.
Transfer Inclusionary Development Policy execution authority
Remove the BPDA’s authority to shape the Zoning Code
End the BPDA’s affiliation with economic development agencies
Transfer tax incentive powers

You were elected with a truly historic margin — the most votes a Boston mayor has received in decades. That wasn’t despite your bold plans with the BPDA. You won because of these bold plans.

Now, it’s time to put your plans in motion. It’s time to start abolishing the BPDA and building something better.

Sincerely,