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4w ago

Boston Planning Board to Vote Thursday on Downtown Height Plan for Housing

Opponents argue the plan threatens historic districts, citing shadow-law concerns.

BOSTON, MA – November 3: The skyline of the Financial District looking across the Fort Point Channel on November 3, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts.
Boston, MA - Buildings along Washington St in what has been dubbed the “Ladder District”. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)
Mayor Michelle Wu addresses the crowd during the 44th Anniversary of the South Boston Vietnam Memorial at Medal of Honor Park, Sunday. (Libby O’Neill/Boston Herald)

Overview

  • The Planning Department/BPDA board will take up the “Plan: Downtown” zoning changes at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, positioning the proposal as a tool to boost housing and office-to-residential conversions.
  • The latest draft establishes a 155-foot “sky-low” area north and west of Washington Street, with predominantly residential projects along the Washington Street corridor eligible to rise to 500 feet.
  • Planning chief Kairos Shen says the framework follows FAA height limits and the state shadow law and incorporates revisions that reduced how many parcels could seek the 500-foot allowance.
  • A coalition led by the Downtown Boston Neighborhood Association sent Mayor Michelle Wu an open letter urging rejection, alleging a flawed public process and warning of impacts to Ladder Blocks and Park Plaza near the Common.
  • City leaders remain split, with backers such as Councilor Sharon Durkan and the Downtown Boston Alliance calling for downtown density, and critics including Councilor Ed Flynn and DBNA’s Rishi Shukla opposing taller towers.