BPDA Board Approves 155 New Units, Historic Hotel Rehab at May Meeting

BOSTON — May 15, 2025 — Boston's planning board approved 155 new residential units and a historic hotel revival at its May 15 meeting. The BPDA Board of Directors, chaired by Priscilla Rojas and joined by members Bennett, Shepard, Landsmark, and O'Malley, voted unanimously on more than 30 items across a joint EDIC and BRA session. The two headline approvals — at 16-18 Holly Street and 123 North Washington Street — advance the city's Downtown Office to Residential Conversion Incentive Pilot Program, which Director Shen said is on track to put 1,000 homes under construction downtown by next summer; both projects receive a 29-year tax abatement of up to 75 percent under Chapter 121B. City Councilor Flynn appeared in person to seek a veterans housing preference at the Holly Street project, telling the board, "The highest concentration of veterans, of homeless veterans in the country, is women veterans," and the development team confirmed the commitment was placed in writing. The board also unanimously approved a $313,440 stabilization contract for the long-vacant Chain Forge Building at the Charlestown Navy Yard and a final designation awarding the Garrison Trotter Neighborhood Association two Roxbury parcels to build the Alma Wright Zen Garden.