Summary & Goals
PLAN: Newmarket, The 21st Century Economy Initiative is working closely with community stakeholders to develop a vision for an equitable industrial neighborhood of the future. Identified by Imagine Boston 2030 as an "expanded neighborhood" initiative, PLAN: Newmarket is focused on land use and employment goals, as well as the climate resilience, transportation, and public realm infrastructure needed to achieve them.
Latest Updates
PLAN: Newmarket Zoning Amendments
Zoning changes resulting from PLAN: Newmarket were encoded on February 7, 2024. The BPDA Board voted on December 7, 2023 to petition the Boston Zoning Commission to adopt the Article 90 Zoning Amendment. The amendment was then approved by the Boston Zoning Commission on January 10th, 2024.
The Article 90 Zoning Amendment and Zoning Map changes are a direct result of PLAN: Newmarket. A public comment period on draft amendments was open from August 17, 2023 to September 25, 2023. A revised Draft Article 90 Zoning Amendment was then released on September 27, 2023.
The Article 90 Zoning Amendment implements the land use and built form recommendations from PLAN: Newmarket, simplifies and makes the zoning text more comprehensible, and more clearly defines light, heavy, and creative industrial uses. Please use the links below to access the Draft Zoning Amendment, Draft Zoning Maps, and a fact sheet providing an overview of the zoning changes and written comments.
BPDA Board adopts PLAN: Newmarket
The BPDA Board of Directors adopted the PLAN: Newmarket planning initiative at their monthly board meeting on Thursday, August 17, 2023.
The plan lays out a vision and the tools for Newmarket to serve as a key center of industrial activity and employment for Boston residents and an area primed to attract the industries of tomorrow. Overlapping the neighborhoods of Dorchester, Roxbury, South Boston, and the South End, the Newmarket industrial zone acts as an economic engine for the City of Boston, and this plan supports the enhancement of that role.
The goals of the plan are to: maintain traditional industrial jobs, attract new industries, promote job equity and access, and support the growth of the creative economy. Affirming Newmarket as Boston’s industrial center will allow the city to unlock the potential of other parts of the City to host much-needed transit-oriented housing and mixed-use development. Draft zoning implementing the plan was released for a final round of public comment and is projected to go to the BPDA Board next month.
Past Engagement
PLAN: Newmarket Zoning Implementation Meeting (virtual)
Wednesday, September 6, 2023 | 9:00 AM–10:30 AM
BPDA staff presented the Draft Article 90 Zoning Amendment, highlighted key takeaways, and addressed questions and comments from meeting attendees.
The Draft Article 90 Zoning Amendment was posted on August 17, 2023. A public comment period on draft amendments will be open until September 25, 2023. Revised text amendments may then go to the BPDA Board on October 12, 2023 and then to the Boston Zoning Commission.
View Meeting Recording | View Meeting Presentation
PLAN: Newmarket Plan Review Meeting (in-person)
Wednesday, July 12, 2023 | 10:00 AM–11:30 AM
Pipefitters Local 537 Union Hall, 40 Enterprise Street, Dorchester, MA 02125
Building on plan document content review meetings in May and June, BPDA staff shared the release of the fully compiled PLAN: Newmarket report. Staff reviewed the land use, public realm, urban design, climate resilience, and transportation guidelines that will support Newmarket in thriving as a 21st Century industrial neighborhood.
PLAN: Newmarket Advisory Group Meeting (virtual)
Tuesday, June 13, 2023 | 10:00 AM–11:00 AM
This meeting was a follow up on previous Advisory Group (AG) meeting presentations with an opportunity to discuss all planning topics: mobility, public realm, zoning, urban design, and transportation, with a focus on building use regulation.
View Meeting Recording | View Plan Content Presentation Boards
PLAN: Newmarket Draft Plan & Pathways (in-person)
Saturday, June 10, 2023 | 10:00 AM–11:00 AM
Plumbers & Gasfitters Union Hall Local 12, located at 1240 Massachusetts Avenue, Dorchester 02125
During this meeting, BPDA staff provided a walk through of the draft plan for adoption of PLAN: Newmarket and discussed next steps.
In addition, the event offered a chance to connect with the Newmarket Business Improvement District's jobs initiative.
PLAN: Newmarket Advisory Group Meeting (Hybrid: in-person and virtual)
Wednesday, May 31, 2023 | 9:00 AM–10:00 AM
Pipefitters Local 537 Union Hall, 40 Enterprise Street, Dorchester, MA 02125
This meeting followed up on previous AG meeting presentations with an opportunity to discuss all planning topics: mobility, public realm, zoning, urban design, and transportation.
View Meeting Recording
PLAN: Newmarket Office Hours
Wednesday, May 10, 2023 | 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Optional online office hours followed up on the May 3, 2023, Advisory Group meeting with an opportunity to review all planning topics: mobility, public realm, zoning, urban design, and transportation.
View the Zoning Comparison Chart Reviewed in Office Hours: Height Regulation vs. Floor Area Ratio Regulation
PLAN: Newmarket Advisory Group Meeting
Wednesday, May 3, 2023 | 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
A regular PLAN: Newmarket Advisory Group (AG). This meeting followed up on previous AG meeting presentations with an opportunity to discuss all planning topics: mobility, public realm, zoning, urban design, and transportation.
View Meeting Recording
PLAN: Newmarket Office Hours - Focus on Public Realm & Climate Resilience
Wednesday, April 12, 2023 | 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Open office hours: an optional opportunity to follow up on materials discussed in the April 5, 2023 PLAN: Newmarket Advisory Group meeting.
PLAN: Newmarket Advisory Group - Public Realm & Climate Resilience
Wednesday, April 5, 2023 | 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Public realm in cities is often understood as the space between buildings. Public realm planning shapes the experiential quality of a neighborhood, its climate reliance, and how people, goods, and vehicles move in these spaces.
This discussion built on previous transportation discussions, focusing on design regulations and guidelines for buildings, streets, sidewalks, and climate resilience infrastructure. This topic was the last new planning content presented as part of the PLAN: Newmarket process.
View Meeting Presentation
View Meeting Recording
PLAN: Newmarket Office Hours
Wednesday, March 15, 2023 | 4:00 PM - 4:45 PM
Optional office hours: an opportunity to discuss all PLAN: Newmarket materials, with a focus on transportation content from the March 1, 2023 Advisory Group meeting.
PLAN: Newmarket Advisory Group Meeting 9
Wednesday, March 1, 2023 | 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Meeting of the PLAN: Newmarket Advisory Group to discuss transportation and mobility concepts for the Newmarket neighborhood.
View Meeting Presentation
View Meeting Recording
PLAN: Newmarket Advisory Group Meeting 8
Wednesday, February 1, 2023 | 9:00 AM - 9:45 AM
Meeting of the PLAN: Newmarket Advisory Group, with an overview of upcoming project tasks and milestones.
View Meeting Presentation
View Meeting Recording
PLAN: Newmarket Advisory Group - Office Hours
Wednesday, November 2, 2022 | 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Human-Centered Design Lab: Discover Newmarket
Saturday, October 8, 2022 | 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Discover Newmarket was a fun and interactive way to learn about the Newmarket neighborhood, as well as an additional way to make your voice heard in the current planning process! Together, we explored some Newmarket businesses and ways in which they can thrive. The Phoenix and The Record Co. opened their doors to the public with a mix of free tours, instrument exploration, yoga, and more.
PLAN: Newmarket Advisory Group - Office Hours
Wednesday, October 12, 2022 | 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
PLAN: Newmarket Advisory Group Meeting 7
Wednesday, September 14, 2022 | 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Meeting of the PLAN: Newmarket Advisory Group, covering the topics of public realm and climate resilience.
View Meeting Presentation
View Meeting Recording
PLAN: Newmarket Advisory Group - Office Hours
Wednesday, August 3, 2022 | 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Open office hours with the PLAN: Newmarket staff team. The open office hours were held during the regular monthly Advisory Group meeting time, and all members of the public were invited to attend.
PLAN: Newmarket Advisory Group Meeting 6
Wednesday, July 6, 2022 | 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Meeting of the PLAN: Newmarket Advisory Group, covering the topic of transportation.
View Meeting Presentation
View Meeting Recording
PLAN: Newmarket Advisory Group Meeting 5
Wednesday, May 4, 2022 | 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
The first portion of the meeting revisited the topic of future land use. We reviewed what stakeholders thought a 21st Century industrial neighborhood should look like, and the PLAN: Newmarket land use map that reflects this vision.
The second portion of the meeting discussed new work products that build off our most recent meetings in the fall. Staff from Utile and the BPDA have refined building prototypes for each of the future land use zones. While the design and performance goals of these prototypes have been a fundamental part of the planning process since its inception, the three dimensional models presented on May 4th will be a primary means of communicating these guidelines and values in future planning documents.
The meeting concluded with a preview of the remaining topics that PLAN: Newmarket will cover in the coming months.
View meeting presentation
Chat with a Planner
ednesday, October 20, 2021 | 5:00 PM–6:30 PM
Design Lab
Wednesday, September 29, 2021 | 4:00 PM–8:00 PM
View meeting presentation | View meeting recording
PLAN: Newmarket Advisory Group Meeting 4
Monday, September 13, 2021 | 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
View meeting presentation | View meeting recording
PLAN: Newmarket Advisory Group Meeting 3
Wednesday, June 30, 2021 | 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
View meeting presentation | View meeting recording
PLAN: Newmarket Advisory Group Meeting 2
Wednesday, April 21, 2021 | 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
View meeting presentation | View meeting recording
PLAN: Newmarket Advisory Group Meeting 1
Wednesday, March 10, 2021 | 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
View meeting presentation | View meeting recording
Defining 21st Century Industry Virtual Workshop
ednesday, June 16, 2021 | 6:00 PM–8:00 PM
This workshop focused on defining 21st Century Industry uses and jobs in Newmarket.
View meeting presentation
Virtual Chat with a Planner: The future of employment and jobs in Newmarket
Thursday, January 28, 2021 | 5:00 PM–7:00 PM
Members of the planning team were joined by:
- Michael Feldman, President & CEO, Feldman Surveyors
- Robert Lewis, Jr., Founder & President, The Base
View meeting video recording | View meeting chat transcript
Virtual Chat with a Planner: Existing Conditions
Wednesday, July 1, 2020 | 2:30 PM–3:30 PM
- A background on how Newmarket came to be
- Newmarket today
Virtual Chat with a Planner
Friday, June 5, 2020 | 2:30 PM–3:30 PM
- What does Community Engagement look like in a time when we can’t gather?
- Synopsis on Imagine Boston 2030 and why Newmarket was identified as a study area
Chat with a Planner
Thursday, February 20, 2020, Dorchester Brewing Company
Tuesday, February 11, 2020, The Phoenix Gym
Wednesday, October 23, 2019, Bully Boy Distillers
Wednesday, November 13, 2019, Bully Boy Distillers
Open House | June 26 & 27, 2019 | At this Kick-off to PLAN: Newmarket, members of the public were invited to learn about the upcoming process. Informational boards were presented on various topics and participants were asked to give feedback on how they know the area.
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: Newmarket, The 21st Century Economy Initiative. The PLAN will provide recommendations for updated zoning for the Newmarket neighborhood. This initiative will assess existing neighborhood conditions and propose viable recommendations that will address community concerns and issues, exploring themes outlined in Imagine Boston 2030 in detail. The rezoning of the neighborhood will follow the planning phase that the BPDA facilitates. Nominations for the AG were publicly solicited in the Summer of 2019. Members were appointed by Mayor Martin J. Walsh in January 2021 and will serve for the duration of the planning process.
Advisory Group Members
| Bob Biggo, Boston Medical Center |
| Chimel Idiokitas, B.U. School of Medicine |
| Desmond Murphy, Worcester Square Area Neighborhood Association |
| Dianne Wilkerson, Former Massachusetts Senator |
| Nicole Bowdon, Eversource |
| Roger Mann, Senior Director of Real Estate at the MBTA |
| Jim Vaughan, Plumbers and Gasfitters Local 12 |
| John Smith, Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative |
| Jonathan Garland, J. Garland Enterprise |
| Manny Frangiadakis, Costas Provisions/Twelve Points Wealth Management |
| Margarita Polanco, Suffolk Construction |
| Mary Tarpy, Boston Cab Dispatch |
| Marynee Pontes, Initiative for a Competitive Inner City |
| Matt McArthur, The Record Company |
| Michael Feldman, Feldman Surveyors Inc. |
| Michael Hunter, Trinity Financial |
| Michael Rothschild, Abbott Realty LLC |
| Pattie McCormack, Andrew Square Civic Association |
| Paxton Sheldahl, BOS/UA |
| Robert Lewis Jr., The Base |
| Sarah Porter, Victory Programs Inc. |
| Saritin Rizzuto, Metro Credit Union |
| Sheldon Lloyd, City Fresh Foods |
| Sue Sullivan, Newmarket Business Association |
| Vijay Sehli, McDonald's at 870 Massachusetts Avenue |
| Carol Tienken, The Greater Boston Food Bank |
| Will Willis, Bully Boy Distillers |
| Yaz Ortiz, Newmarket Business Association |
| Kevin Deabler, Rode Architects |
Ex-Officio Members
| State Representative Elizabeth Miranda |
| City Councilor Frank Baker |
| City Councilor Andrea Campbell |
| City Councilor Annissa Essaibi-George |
| City Councilor Michael Flaherty |
| City Councilor Kim Janey |
| City Councilor Julia Mejia |
| City Councilor Erin Murphy |
| Yolanda Smith, Suffolk County House of Corrections |