Developers in Boston are being pushed to improve their plans for public spaces, according to a Boston Globe article. The Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) is looking more closely at designs being submitted by developers:

In April, the city told Millennium Partners to improve plans for the Great Hall that would be the street-level centerpiece of a skyscraper the developer envisions for the site of the Winthrop Square Garage in the Financial District. Staffers urged a closer look at design of the place, and more details on how it would be used every day. The Great Hall could be an important civic and perhaps cultural space in downtown Boston, the BPDA wrote, but it cautioned that retail uses alone do not achieve the distinction of a great civic amenity.

The BPDA is also striving to get already existing indoor and outdoor public spaces noticed and utilized more. Many of those public spaces are courtyards, lobbies, and decks within private buildings. A goal is to get the managers of these properties to add better, and welcoming, signage.

We have to be really creative and give open space the attention it deserves, said Brian Golden, director of the BPDA. Wherever we can leverage private property and private resources to the public benefit, its incumbent on us to do that.

Some of the existing public spaces within private spaces are the 14th-floor observation deck at 470 Atlantic Avenue at Independence Wharf; the observation deck at the Custom House Tower; Fosters Rotunda, on the ninth floor of 30 Rowes Wharf; andNorman B. Leventhal Park in Post Office Square.Read the Boston Globe's Boston Pushes Developers to Create Better Public Spaces.If youhavequestions about buying or selling Boston real estate, please call me at617-584-9790, orsend me an email via the linkbelow.  

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The Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) defines urban design as "the art and science of shaping a city's public realm, collectively comprised of public spaces, the activities that occur within them, and the buildings that frame them."An Urban Design Departmentplays a key role within the BPDA. That department's staff is charged with making sure Boston's historic character remains intact in conjunction with contemporary development.The group uses design principles and visual aids to inform development planning studies about the appropriateness of various heights, densities, and characteristics.The design review process looks at projects large and small, and also takes into consideration how the public in particular, pedestrians can interact with related open spaces, streets, and anything else at ground level.The BPDA also has a full time model builder who keeps the wooden city model (shown here) up to date. It doesn't show all of the city, but much of the downtown area, including Back Bay, Beacon Hill, the North End, and Charlestown.Learn more about the BPDA and what its Urban Design Department does, and how, here.

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In itseffort to strategize bettercommunicationand collaboration with Boston neighborhoods,the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) worked with a Bostondesign firm called Continuumthat focuses on institutions with complex problems.There's an interesting article about this ongoing transition inFast Company, highlighting Mayor Marty Walsh's role in initiating a strategic overhaul of what was until recently known as the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA). Changing the BRA's identity and branding was a first step in moving forward to a better exchange with City of Boston residents.Jon Campbell, the senior vice president of experience and service design at Continuum, describes realizing the need to understand and work witheachneighborhood's character:

For the BDPA, Continuum also created a set of guidelines specific to each of Bostons 26 neighborhoods and labeled each with a fingerprint that mimics the unique street layouts in the different districts. In talking with residents and stakeholders, it became very apparent that it was important that new developments respect the individual character of the neighborhoods, Campbell says. To that end, the agency is making an effort to ensure their community meetings are well attended.

One of the important points the in-transition BPDA is striving to make is that urban renewal need not lead to displacement, as it didin Boston's past.Read Fast Company's After a Dark Past, Boston's Urban Renewal Agency is Building a Citizen-Led City for the Future.

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The almost 60-year-old Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA)will changeits name next Tuesday, a WBUR article reported yesterday.The shift to the name of Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA) is meant to more accurately describe the agency's function.Aware that it haddeveloped a less than favorable reputation, the BRA wantsdialogue with city residents and neighborhoodsto bepart of its planning process. Agency director Brian Goldenhopes the rebranding will lead to stronger public support and approval:

There are still far too many people, far too many community organizations that view the organization negatively, and we think that by emphasizing planning, by being in the neighborhoods talking about planning, receiving meaningful input from the people of Boston, and adopting planning documents that can accommodate quality future development, we will have greater public support, greater legitimacy and greater credibility, Golden said.

Read WBUR's The Boston Redevelopment Authority is Getting a New Name.Doyou have plans to relocate to Boston?Are youthinking about where to livein Boston?Im always ready to help with your questions about buying or selling Boston homes or condos.Please call meat617-584-9790, or email me using the blue link right below.  

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