Community and public input on any part of the process is always welcome. You can share your thoughts or feedback by submitting your comments through the form below or by emailing your community engagement manager at [email protected]
Latest Updates
PLAN: Charlestown adopted by BPDA Board
The BPDA Board of Directors adopted the PLAN: Charlestown planning initiative at a board meeting on September 28, 2023, after four years of work and engagement with the public. The plan includes: an analysis of neighborhood needs and recommendations to improve access to services, new zoning for existing industrial parts of the neighborhood to encourage more housing and retail options, and urban design guidelines to govern future development in the former industrial area and in the Original Peninsula. The implementation of this plan will deliver new zoning, along with the resources, amenities and modifications that residents have been advocating for such as diverse housing options, open space, historic preservation tools, and transportation infrastructure.
PLAN: Charlestown Zoning Amendments
The updated Zoning text amendments were approved by the BPDA Board on September 28, 2023 and are set to go the Boston Zoning Commission on October 18, 2023. Questions and comments can be submitted via email to [email protected]. The PLAN: Charlestown Draft Zoning Amendments implement the land use and built form recommendations from PLAN: Charlestown, simplify and improve the readability of the zoning text, and establish new zoning maps. Please use the links below to access the Draft Zoning Amendments and Draft Zoning Maps.
Draft PLAN: Charlestown Zoning Amendments
The BPDA is excited to announce the release of the final draft PLAN: Charlestown. Public comment is open until September 21, 2023, and comments can be submitted via this feedback form. This document is the culmination of years of community engagement and public process. It exemplifies comprehensive urban planning, setting a holistic vision for how Charlestown can continue to thrive and grow in inclusive and equitable ways.
A Day in Charlestown
At the BPDA, we are always looking for new ways to engage with the community. This comic book about PLAN: Charlestown started out as a youth engagement initiative, but it turned into a visual story that could help anyone — regardless of age — better understand the impact of PLAN: Charlestown. We hope you enjoy this tool, and remember, your feedback on the Plan is important, and we want to hear from you! Our 2 month comment period closed on June 9th, 2023, but you can still let us know what you think by emailing Jason Ruggiero at [email protected].
Summary & Goals
In partnership with the community and guided by Imagine Boston 2030 and other past planning efforts, PLAN: Charlestown is a comprehensive planning initiative that will produce a framework to shape the future of the entire neighborhood of Charlestown predictably. PLAN: Charlestown seeks to determine how to accommodate new contextually appropriate growth along the Rutherford Avenue Corridor and in Sullivan Square while preserving the character of its existing residential areas.
PLAN: Charlestown will establish a comprehensive and coordinated plan to ensure the equitable provision of infrastructure to support future land uses and development, mobility connections into and within Charlestown, parks and open space, climate resiliency, affordable housing, as well as strategies to enhance the existing community and preserve its historic assets. The PLAN: Charlestown team is also closely coordinating with an interdepartmental working group across city departments and state transportation agencies.
Learn more about the Advisory Group
Learn more about planning efforts related to PLAN: Charlestown
Please sign up for our mailing list, and stay tuned for updates about future events.
Past Planning Phases
Visioning
In our visioning phase residents collectively used Map.Social, an interactive mapping tool, to draw hopes and priorities for the neighborhood. With this fun and interactive tool, residents identified various opportunities to preserve, enhance, and grow over the next twenty years. Map.Social Tutorial
Draft Scenarios - 2022
PLAN: Charlestown released two draft scenarios in July 2022 for the future of the industrial area along Rutherford Avenue and Sullivan Square. These draft scenarios continue a collaborative dialogue to create a framework for future development in this area.
Visit bit.ly/PLANCharlestownScenarios to see the scenarios. Nine surveys on various topics were integrated into the webpage, and 952 survey submissions were received between all nine surveys. The surveys helped to inform the making of a new, hybrid scenario.
Please note, the scenarios are best viewed on screens tablet size or larger. The BPDA also collected feedback on the scenarios through in-person tabling in the neighborhood, several events, and a series of virtual listening sessions.
Download the results of the draft scenarios surveys (PDFs, .zip file)
Hybrid Scenarios - 2023
PLAN: Charlestown released a hybrid scenario, combining the best of the previous scenario iterations, in July 2022 for the future of the industrial area along Rutherford Avenue and Sullivan Square. These draft scenarios continue a collaborative dialogue to create a framework for future development in this area.
One survey accompanied the hybrid scenario, and 392 survey responses were received.
Download the raw hybrid scenarios survey data here (PDF)
Past Engagement
PLAN: Charlestown and Zoning Closeout Public Meeting| Monday, September 11, 2023
We discussed revisions to the Draft PLAN: Charlestown, as well as zoning implementing the plan. BPDA Staff presented changes to draft PLAN: Charlestown as well as the subsequent zoning amendment and were available for questions and comments from meeting attendees.
Recording | Presentation
PLAN: Charlestown Zoning Office Hours | Monday, August 21, 2023
The PLAN: Charlestown held virtual office hours to discuss the proposed Charlestown zoning amendments.
Final Draft PLAN: Charlestown Release Public Meeting | Thursday, August 3, 2023
Final Draft PLAN Charlestown | Survey
Recording | Presentation | Chat
PLAN: Charlestown Neighborhood Needs Recommendations Meeting | Wednesday, July 12, 2023
Topics: Housing, Open Space, Climate Resilience, Retail, Food Security, Arts + Culture, and Mobility
Recording | Presentation | Chat
PLAN: Charlestown Walking Tour | Wednesday, June 28, 2023
This was an opportunity to learn more about the Urban Design Guidelines and Preservation recommendations emerging out of PLAN: Charlestown. Points of interest included Monument Square, Doherty Park, and Bunker Hill Street.
PLAN: Charlestown Neighborhood Services Recommendations Meeting | Wednesday, June 14, 2023
Topics: Public Schools, EMS, Fire, Police, Emergency Management, Public Libraries, Community Centers, Water and Sewer, Trash and Recycling, Street Sweeping, and Ice/Snow Control
Recording | Presentation | Chat
PLAN: Charlestown Urban Design Public Meeting #2 | Thursday, June 1, 2023
Topics: Urban Design Principles and Guidelines for the Sullivan Square and Rutherford Avenue areas
Recording | Presentation | Chat | Tell us what you think!
PLAN: Charlestown Urban Design Guidlines Public Meeting #1 | Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Topics: Urban Design Guidelines for the Original Peninsula and Lost Village areas; Preservation recommendations; Zoning recommendations to support urban design goals
Recording | Presentation | Chat | Tell us what you think!
Walking tour in Charlestown | Saturday, April 29, 2023
This walking tour was an opportunity to learn more about Charlestown’s neighborhoods and PLAN: Charlestown’s latest future scenarios for these industrial areas and to discuss your priorities for the neighborhood. Points of interest included Bunker Hill Community College; Rutherford Avenue; Hood Park; Cambridge Street, and Roland Street.
Office Hours - Charlestown Public Library
The BPDA PLAN: Charlestown team held in-person office hours for more discussions about the latest scenario.
PLAN: Charlestown Hybrid Scenario Public Meeting | Thursday, March 30, 2023
Recording | Presentation | Fill out our Survey!
Austin Street Parking Lots RFP Discussion Meeting | Wednesday, March 8, 2023
Recording | Chat Transcript | Presentation
PLAN: Charlestown Advisory Group Meeting 7 | Tuesday, January 24, 2023
Recording | Presentation
Austin Street Parking Lot Scenarios Meeting | Tuesday, December 13, 2022
Recording | Presentation
Austin Street Parking Lots Visioning Workshop | Thursday, October 27, 2022
Recording | Presentation | Jamboards
PLAN: Charlestown Advisory Group Meeting 6 | Thursday, September 29, 2022
Recording | Presentation
Pint with a Planner at Tradesman in Charlestown
Tuesday, August 30, 2022
Hosted by SPARK Boston and the BPDA
PLAN: Charlestown Listening Sessions
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- Tuesday, August 2, 2022
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- Wednesday, August 3, 2022
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- Thursday, August 4, 2022
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- Tuesday, August 16, 2022
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- Wednesday, August 17, 2022
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- Thursday, August 18, 2022
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- Saturday, August 27, 2022
PLAN: Charlestown Advisory Group Meeting 5 | Wednesday, June 29, 2022
Recording | Presentation | Code of Conduct
PLAN: Charlestown Walking Tour - City Square to Mystic River and Sullivan Square | Saturday, June 25, 2022
Feedback
PLAN: Charlestown Walking Tour - Bunker Hill Community College to Sullivan Square | Saturday, May 14, 2022
Feedback
PLAN: Charlestown Advisory Group Meeting 4 | Wednesday, April 27, 2022
Recording | Presentation
Preserving Charlestown's Sense of Place Part 2 | Wednesday March 2, 2022
Have you ever wondered why certain areas in your neighborhood look and feel the way they do? Are you curious about historic preservation, historic landmarks, and districts? Boston Landmarks Commission Staff will join us and present on the process and tradeoffs when landmarking specific buildings or historic areas.
Recording | Presentation | Questions and Answers
Preserving Charlestown's Sense of Place Part 1 | Wednesday February 9, 2022
Have you ever wondered why certain areas in your neighborhood look and feel the way they do? Are you curious about historic preservation, historic landmarks, and districts? Boston Landmarks Commission Staff will join us and present on the process and tradeoffs when landmarking specific buildings or historic areas.
Recording | Presentation | Map of Charlestown's Existing Preservation Assets | Questions and Answers
Framing the Future | Thursday October 21, 2021
Please join your neighbors and the PLAN: Charlestown staff team to discuss your vision and goals for the future of Charlestown. At this workshop, we will report back and build on the values, hopes, and concerns Charlestown members identified in prior engagements to finalize a community vision statement and land use goals. This will set the planning framework for the next phase and future workshops, where we will dive deeper into priorities, future scenarios, and associated trade-offs.
Recording | Presentation | Survey | Draft Vision Statement, Goals, and Principles | Survey and Revisions to the Draft Vision Statement, Goals, and Principles Due Nov 22nd.
Sullivan Square Open Space Meeting (in collaboration with Boston Parks and Recreation Department, Boston Transportation Department, and Hood Park) | Tuesday October 12, 2021
Join us at an online community engagement meeting to discuss what activities and programs you want to see at Ryan Playground, Hood Green, and Rutherford Avenue. We will discuss the challenges and opportunities of each site and how the spaces connect to each other and open space in the greater Charlestown area.
Recording | Presentation | Survey (Closes November 12, 2021)
PLAN: Charlestown Advisory Group Meeting 3 | Wednesday, August 18, 2021
Recording | Presentation
PLAN: Charlestown Planning Places - Original Peninsula and Lost Village | Tuesday, June 29, 2021
Join your neighbors for the second event of the series for Planning Places. You will discuss and share future land-use priorities and community benefits for different Charlestown sub-areas as part of the ongoing PLAN: Charlestown neighborhood planning initiative. The PLAN: Charlestown team will share community feedback collected at the first event in this series from the May workshop that focused on Rutherford Avenue and Sullivan Square.
Recording | Presentation | Charlestown Design Guidelines
PLAN: Charlestown Planning Places - Rutherford Ave and Sullivan Square | Wednesday, May 26, 2021
Join your neighbors for a pair of workshops this spring on planning places. You will discuss and share what future land-use priorities and community benefits should be for different Charlestown sub-areas as part of the ongoing PLAN: Charlestown neighborhood planning initiative. The PLAN: Charlestown team will share community feedback collected at the April workshop. Both workshops will include an interactive presentation, activity, and small group discussions.
Recording | Presentation
PLAN: Charlestown Advisory Group Meeting 2 | Wednesday, May 12, 2021
Recording | Presentation
PLAN: Charlestown Land Use Through Time Workshop 2 | Wednesday, April 7, 2021
Join your neighbors for a follow-up workshop on future land-use priorities and needs in Charlestown as part of the ongoing PLAN: Charlestown neighborhood planning initiative. The PLAN: Charlestown team will share community feedback collected at previous workshops
Recording | Presentation | Summary| Survey (Open until April 21, 2021)
PLAN: Charlestown Advisory Group Meeting 1 | Wednesday, February 24, 2021
The Advisory Group (AG) will play a key role in assisting the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) in the public participation process involved with the planning initiative. Your active participation and valuable input during regularly scheduled meetings will ensure that the public process and review process is successful.
Recording | Presentation
PLAN: Charlestown Open Space and Climate Resilience Workshop | Wednesday, December 16, 2020
Building on discussions at previous PLAN: Charlestown community events, the initiative will host a workshop on the topics of climate resilience and open space. Staff from the BPDA and the City of Boston Environment Department will present on past and upcoming phases of Climate Ready Charlestown. Additionally, BPDA and Boston Parks and Recreation staff will expand on October’s Parcel Priority Plan exercise with a discussion of Charlestown’s current parks and planning for future open space.
Recording | Presentation | Open Space Questions | Open Space Photo Repository
PLAN: Charlestown Open Office Hours | Tuesday, October 13, 2020
The PLAN: Charlestown team will hold Open Office Hours to review prior meeting materials and help stakeholders with any technical difficulties using the mapping tool introduced in the October 8, 2020 Land Use Through Time Workshop.
Recording | Presentation
PLAN: Charlestown Land Use Through Time Workshop | Thursday, October 8, 2020
Based on feedback received at the January 30, 2020 Open House and the August 27, 2020 Open Office Hours, the PLAN: Charlestown neighborhood planning initiative will host a workshop on the topics of history and open space. Preservation experts will present a history of Charlestown's built environment, and Parks and Recreation staff will present on the topic of public open space
Recording | Presentation
PLAN: Charlestown August Open Office Hours | Thursday, August 27, 2020
During the August PLAN: Charlestown Open Office Hours, BPDA staff members provided a brief overview of the Kick-off Open House, previewed the next meeting topic, and answered questions from the public.
Recording | Presentation
PLAN: Charlestown Kick-off Open House | Thursday, January 30, 2020
The PLAN: Charlestown Kick-off Open House allowed Charlestown community members to share ideas, learn about the planning process, and how to get involved. Members were also introduced to members of the City and the Boston Planning & Development Agency's planning team.
Boards | Feedback
Advisory Group
The Advisory Group (AG) will assist the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) and other City agencies in creating a long-term vision for the PLAN: Charlestown initiative. The primary goal of the study will be to develop a new framework for the preservation, enhancement, and growth of Charlestown, while balancing the importance of livability, daylight, walkability, climate change, access to open space, affordability, and a dynamic mix of uses, among others.
| Member |
Affiliation |
| Melissa Brennan |
Associate at Feinberg, Campbell and Zack |
| Brian Callahan |
Sullivan Square Residential Association |
| Chris Kushcel |
Transportation Planner at MAPC |
| Mary Chippa |
Charles Newtown, Board Member |
| Amber Christofferson |
Mystic River Watershed Association |
| Sarah Coughlin |
Charlestown Coalition, Partners Health |
| Elaine Donovan |
Activist, Charlestown Coalition, Neighborhood Council, 02129 Steering Committee |
| Karie Everett |
Community Activist |
| Shannon Fitzgerald |
Charlestown Mothers Association |
| Anda French |
Boston Society of Architects, Owner French2D Architects |
| Tina Goodnow |
Charlestown Residents Alliance(BHA), Vice President |
| Julie Hall |
Charlestown Historical Society |
| Intiya Isaza-Figueroa |
Resident, Opportunity Communities, Senior Development Manager |
| Nancy Johnsen |
Charlestown Neighborhood Council |
| Joanne Massaro |
Retired PWD Commissioner, Active in neighborhood |
| Ryan McCarthy |
Community Activist-Member of Beautification Committee |
| Mary McCarthy |
Architect, Finegold and Alexander Architects |
| Lisa McGoff Collins |
Charlestown Neighborhood Council, Member |
| James Donovan |
Teamsters Representative |
| Zaire Richardson |
Youth, Turn It Around |
| Niko Skiadas |
Resident, Real Estate Professional at JLL |
| Phil Smith |
Resident, Small Business Background |
| Paul Sullivan |
Mishawum Resident |
| Karson Tager |
Resident, Charlestown Neighborhood Council Member |
| Stephanie Ward |
Resident, Volunteer at Charlestown BGCB |
| Amanda Zettel |
Charlestown Preservation Society |
Ex-Officio Advisory Group Members
| State Senator Sal DiDomenico |
| State Representative Dan Ryan |
| District City Councilor Gabriela Coletta |
| At-Large City Councilor Michael Flaherty |
| At-Large City Councilor Ruthzee Louijeune |
| At-Large City Councilor Julia Mejia |
| At-Large City Councilor Erin Murphy |
Planning Efforts Related to PLAN: Charlestown
Austin Street Parking Lots Disposition Planning
Imagine Boston 2030 (2017)
Coastal Resilience Solutions for Charlestown Phase II (ongoing)
Coastal Resilience Solutions for Charlestown Phase I (2017)
Boston Urban Forest Plan (ongoing)
Sullivan Square Disposition Plan (2013)
Lower Mystic Regional Working Group report (2019)
Revitalizing Older Houses in Charlestown (1973)
Charlestown Navy Yard Master Plan (Updated 2007)
Development Projects Under Review in Charlestown