BPDA releases new report analyzing development trends since 1996
Jan 03, 2019
The Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) today released "
Trends in Article 80 Development," a new report by the agency's Research Division analyzing economic and development trends since the adoption of Article 80 in 1996.
Notable findings in the report include:
Boston's recovery from the Great Recession has been strong
-
The number of payroll and non-payroll jobs increased 24 percent, from 639,000 in 2004 to 794,000 in 2016.
-
Boston's total annual economic activity has increased by $29 billion since 2002, growing at an average rate of 2.6 percent per year.
-
Homeownership rose from 31 percent in 1990 to 35 percent in 2017.
-
More than five million residential square feet has been completed each year since 2015.
Boston is continuing to grow
-
Boston's population has grown by 93,000 since 2000, and is expected to reach 760,000 in 2030.
-
The supply of housing units has grown 16 percent since 2005.
-
Office inventory has grown by 3.8 million square feet in the past ten years.
Universities and hospitals are fueling Boston's economic growth
-
Employment in Boston's hospitals has increased 50 percent since 2001.
-
College and University employment has increased since 36 percent since 2001.
-
Boston has received the most National Institute of Health (NIH) funding for 23 consecutive years.
-
Student enrollment has grown 21 percent since 2004.
In 1996, the Boston Redevelopment Authority adopted Article 80 to provide clear guidelines for the development review process relating to large projects (adding more than 50,000 square feet), small projects (greater than 20,000 square feet), planned development areas (new overlay zoning districts for project areas larger than one acre), and institutional master plans (projects relating to academic and medical campuses). Article 80 was adopted because the parameters of these unique projects rarely fit neatly within Boston's existing zoning code and a more predictable review process was needed.
BPDA Research Division
The BPDA Research Division strives to understand the current environment of the city to produce quality research and targeted information that will inform and benefit the residents and businesses of Boston. The Division conducts research on Boston's economy, population, and commercial markets for all departments of the BPDA, the City of Boston, and related organizations.