Latest Updates
Draft PLAN: Downtown Design Guidelines Amendment
The Planning Department is excited to release a draft amendment to PLAN: Downtown's design guidelines based on the Downtown Historic Character Area Study. The amendment adds an additional chapter on historic context to PLAN: Downtown's design guidelines, guiding how future projects can enhance and complement Downtown's rich historic fabric. There is a comment period on the draft amendment until August 2, 2024. Please submit any comments or questions to [email protected].
Downtown Draft Zoning Amendment
A draft zoning amendment for Downtown was released on April 10, 2024 based on recommendations of PLAN: Downtown. The zoning changes focus on modernizing land use regulations to encourage new and diverse businesses Downtown and enable more density to unlock new housing and mixed-use opportunities. A public comment on the draft amendment was open from April 10 to June 4.
The BPDA Board of Directors adopted the PLAN: Downtown planning initiative at a board meeting on December 14, 2023. The community planning process, which started in 2018, establishes a new framework for the growth, enhancement, and preservation of Downtown Boston as a 24-hour neighborhood, balancing livability, affordability, walkability, climate change preparedness, access to open space, and a dynamic mix of uses. PLAN: Downtown includes recommendations regarding growth and preservation, mobility, open space, and climate change resiliency. The plan also includes design guidelines to help shape future Downtown development projects, policy actions to implement the goals of the plan, and key zoning considerations to inform future zoning changes.
Study Overview | 规划：市区概况
Over the last decade, Boston’s Downtown has transformed from primarily a business district into a vibrant mixed-use neighborhood. Associated with this transformation and the marked increase in development proposals is a clear need to plan for the future of Downtown comprehensively.
Building on past studies, the primary goal of the study will be to develop a new framework for the preservation, enhancement, and growth of the Downtown area of the City of Boston, while balancing the importance of livability, daylight, walkability, climate change, access to open space, affordability, and a dynamic mix of uses, among others. As one of the most diverse places in the City, due in part to its accessibility, it is necessary to encourage growth that is inclusive for all. Supporting a thriving Downtown environment that is responsive to the 21st-century needs of residents, businesses, and visitors is critical to Boston’s continued success as an important American city.
Study Area Boundary | 研究边区位置 | Límite del Área de Estudio
Draft PLAN: Downtown Goals | 起草目标
Staff hosted a Vision Workshop with the Downtown & Chinatown communities to prioritize values and goals for this planning initiative. Community members who could not attend the workshop were encouraged to complete an online survey. The feedback received through the Vision Workshop, Vision Survey, along with the December Open House, two Advisory Group meetings, and various informal engagement “pop-ups” shaped the draft project goals. The draft project goals will be used to guide this planning process moving forward.
Vision: Develop a new framework for the preservation, enhancement, and growth of Downtown Boston as a place for all, balancing livability, daylight, walkability, climate change preparedness, access to open space, affordability, and a dynamic mix of uses.
Plan: Downtown will...
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Promote dense, mixed-use development, and grow and diversify active ground-floor uses, especially legacy and small businesses.
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Enhance access to housing and amenities Downtown for all levels of affordability, stages of life, and backgrounds.
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Preserve cultural heritage, historic building fabric, and embrace distinctive histories to create a unique and cohesive Downtown.
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Strengthen connections to and throughout Downtown, with a focus on active transportation, transit, and other non-vehicular modes of transportation.
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Improve existing public spaces and create new ones that invigorate downtown year-round.
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Ensure new and existing spaces and development projects are resilient and mitigate climate change impacts.
Timeline | 时间段
PLAN: Downtown Timeline
Advisory Group | 顾问团
As part of the PLAN: Downtown process,staff sought nominations for community members to serve on an Advisory Group (AG). Members of the AG will assist the City’s planning team in several tasks related to the initiative including:
- Community outreach efforts
- Reviewing the consultant’s tasks and their findings
- Evaluating existing conditions analyses
- Participating in the development of a vision, goals, and principles for the Future Downtown
- Assessing development scenarios and their associated impacts
- Proposing viable recommendations that will ultimately inform new urban design and development guidelines and potential zoning regulations
| Barbara Boylan |
Joshua Leffler |
| Lauren Cambell |
Angie Liou |
| Paul Chan |
Lydia Lowe |
| George Coorssen |
Herb Lozano |
| Alison Frazee |
Beatrice Nessen |
| Arturo Gossage |
Michael J. Nichols |
| Gilbert Ho |
Mary Ann Ponti |
| Peggy Ings |
Joyce Sanchez |
| Karen LaFrazia |
Rishi Shukla |
| Suzanne Lavoie |
Tony Ursillo |
Ex-Offico Members
| State Representative Aaron Michlewitz |
| State Senator Lydia Edwards |
| City Councilor Ed Flynn |
| Roger Mann, Senior Director of Real Estate at the MBTA |
Previous Events | 社区参
Wednesday, July 10, 2024 | 6:00 PM-7:30 PM
This virtual public meeting provided a review of the draft amendment to PLAN: Downtown's design guidelines based on the Downtown Historic Character Area Study. The meeting also reviewed changes to the draft Downtown zoning amendments based on public comments.
Presentation | Recording
Virtual Office Hours
Tuesday, April 9, 2024 | 6:00 PM-7:30 PM
This virtual public meeting provided an initial overview of the draft zoning amendments for Downtown. The meeting also gave an overview of an upcoming Downtown Historic Character Study that will be conducted with the assistance of the Boston Landmarks Commission to help inform preservation priorities and development project review Downtown.
Presentation | Recording
Wednesday, November 8, 2023 | 6:00 PM-7:30 PM
The Draft PLAN: Downtown report was posted on August 21, 2023 and a public comment period was open until September 18, 2023.
Presentation | 演示 (中文) | Recording
Wednesday, September 13, 2023 | 6:00 PM–7:00 PM
An additional opportunity to provide feedback on PLAN: Downtown and its recommendations. The planning team and Chief Jemison responded to comments and questions and shared the PLAN's overall approach. The draft PLAN: Downtown report was released on August 21, 2023.
Presentation | 演示 (中文) | Recording
Thursday, August 24, 2023 | 6:00 PM–7:30 PM
Presentation | 演示 (中文) | Recording
Wednesday, August 16, 2023 | 6:00 PM–7:30 PM
Presentation | Recording
Tuesday, June 13, 2023 | 5:30 PM–7:00 PM
Presentation | Recording
Thursday, May 4, 2023 | 6:00 PM–7:30 PM
The PLAN: Downtown team hosted a virtual public meeting to discuss the ongoing Downtown Office Conversion Study. The meeting explored the obstacles and opportunities of converting underutilized office space to new uses Downtown.
Presentation | 演示 (中文) | Recording
Tuesday, April 4, 2023 | 9:00 AM–11:00 AM
Downtown Crossing, Summer Street at Washington Street, Boston, MA 02108
Boston by Foot, the Boston Preservation Alliance, and the PLAN: Downtown team led a walk through Downtown's Ladder Blocks. The walkthrough started in Downtown Crossing at the corner of Summer Street and Washington Street and continued through the Ladder Blocks, exploring the neighborhood's rich history, it's historic sites, and preservation efforts in the area.
Presentation | Recording
Chinatown Gate, John F Fitzgerald Surface Road & Beach Street, Boston, MA 02111
The PLAN: Downtown team hosted a walk through Chinatown to discuss and give feedback on the recently proposed zoning recommendations for the area.
PLAN: Downtown Office Hours
The PLAN: Downtown team held office hours to discuss the Plan’s latest draft development scenario for Downtown and Chinatown.
Presentation | Recording
Presentation | 演示 (中文) | Recording
This meeting provided a closer look at the preservation, growth-balanced scenario, and refinements for Downtown and Chinatown based on public feedback.
Presentation | 演示 (中文) | Recording
This workshop provided an overview of the remaining PLAN: Downtown process and sought feedback from the community on how the past planning work can be refined to address the impact of the pandemic on the area and revitalize Downtown and Chinatown.
The PLAN: Downtown team relaunched the planning process at an outdoor kick-off event on November 9 in Downtown Crossing.
Agenda (Includes Goals) | Presentation | Reference Maps | Previous Feedback Summary
日程安排 | 演示 | 地图
Staff invited the Downtown and Chinatown community to discuss the PLAN: Downtown development scenarios. The planning team presented an overview of current zoning, followed by two future scenario options for rethinking preservation and growth in Downtown and Chinatown. The goal of this session was for community members to help the planning team narrow down to one preferred scenario and provide input into the next round of updates to the preferred scenario.
Agenda | Visions, Goals Strategies | Feedback Boards
The eighth Advisory Group (AG) meeting for PLAN: Downtown was a working session focused on small group discussions and prioritizing the draft planning recommendations.
Agenda | Presentation | Notes (forthcoming) | 日程安排 (中文) | 演示 (中文)
If you are unable to see the animations embedded within the AG#7 Presentation then please visit the links below. The animations are for illustrative purposes only.
Current Conditions Animation | Scenario 1 Animation | Scenario 2 Animation
The seventh Advisory Group (AG) meeting for PLAN: Downtown focused on the development scenarios.
Agenda | Vision, Goals, and Strategies | Presentation | Boards | Feedback Boards
日程安排 (中文) | 起草愿景和目标 (中文) | 演示 (中文)
Staff invited the Downtown and Chinatown community to participate in the PLAN: Downtown Community Priorities Workshop. The workshop updated participants on the planning work completed to date and explored the preliminary planning recommendations and public space improvements identified by PLAN: Downtown. Themes included Growth & Preservation, Climate & Resiliency, and Mobility & Public Space. Participants aided the planning team in prioritizing the preliminary list of recommendations by geographic area, including Chinatown, Downtown Crossing, the Financial District, the Theater District, and the Wharf District.
Agenda | Presentation | Feedback | Notes | 日程安排 (中文) | 演示 (中文)
The sixth Advisory Group (AG) meeting for PLAN: Downtown focused on community priorities and draft planning recommendations.
Agenda | Presentation | Notes | 日程安排 (中文) | 演示 (中文)
The fifth Advisory Group (AG) meeting for PLAN: Downtown focused on mobility and the public realm.
Agenda | Presentation | Notes | 日程安排 (中文) | 演示 (中文)
The fourth Advisory Group (AG) meeting for PLAN: Downtown focused on climate and resiliency.
Agenda | Presentation | Notes | 日程安排 (中文) | 演示 (中文)
The third Advisory Group (AG) meeting focused on preservation and growth and the draft goals for PLAN: Downtown.
Future of Downtown Feedback | Map-based Feedback
Staff invited the Downtown community to participate in the PLAN: Downtown Vision Workshop. The workshop explored and prioritized draft values & goals for this planning initiative. The event began with a brief presentation explaining the PLAN: Downtown initiative. Attendees then broke into small groups to discuss priorities for the planning initiative. Community members who could not attend the Workshop were encouraged to complete an online survey. This survey replicated some of the discussion questions from the PLAN: Downtown Vision Workshop. Responses to this survey are currently being compiled and will be shared anonymously with the Vision Workshop feedback on the project website.
Agenda | Presentation | Notes | 日程安排 (中文) | 演示 (中文)
The second Advisory Group (AG) meeting for PLAN: Downtown focused on existing conditions and the character areas.
Agenda | Presentation | Notes | Advisory Group Member List | Advisory Group Roles & Responsibilities | Open House Summary Booklet
日程安排 (中文) | 演示 (中文) | Advisory Group Member List (中文) | Advisory Group Roles & Responsibilities (中文) | Open House Summary Booklet (中文) | Open House Summary Booklet (Español)
The first Advisory Group (AG) meeting for PLAN: Downtown introduced the planning team and AG members as well as provided an update on the current status of PLAN: Downtown.
Presentation Boards & Gathered Feedback | Presentation | Summary Brochure | Significant Landmark & Places Feedback | Neighborhood Profiles: Downtown | Photo Slideshow of Downtown Through Time | Smart Model Demonstration
Presentation Boards & Gathered Feedback (中文) | Brochure (中文) | Significant Landmark & Places Feedback (中文) | Open House Brochure (Español)
Staff kicked off the PLAN: Downtown on December 3, 2018 from 4–7 pm. The session offered opportunities for visitors to learn about the goals of the Plan, to share ideas for Downtown, and to discover how to participate in shaping the Plan’s outcomes. Over one hundred and twenty residents, workers, business and property owners, students, advocates, and other visitors interested in the future of Downtown Boston attended the Open House.