Boston Policy Institute
@bostonpolicyinst.bsky.social
Boston Policy Institute, Inc is a non-profit corporation focused on providing non-partisan information and in-depth analysis about the issues facing MA & Boston. Learn more at bostonpolicyinstitute.org!
Despite today's election, there is still a regular @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social meeting tmrw. The agenda is *very* light: there is just one interesting docket. Keep reading for that, and check out the whole agenda packet here:
drive.google.com/file/d/1tjVp...
drive.google.com/file/d/1tjVp...
11.05.25 Agenda Packet.pdf
drive.google.com
November 4, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Despite today's election, there is still a regular @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social meeting tmrw. The agenda is *very* light: there is just one interesting docket. Keep reading for that, and check out the whole agenda packet here:
drive.google.com/file/d/1tjVp...
drive.google.com/file/d/1tjVp...
Last wk, @brianworrell.bsky.social's proposal to re-categorize 30+ unit apt bldgs in Boston from resi to CRE in order to more than 2x their property tax bills came out. Today, the home rule petition for it was in the @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social agenda for their 10/29/25 mtg. #mapoli #bospoli
October 27, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Last wk, @brianworrell.bsky.social's proposal to re-categorize 30+ unit apt bldgs in Boston from resi to CRE in order to more than 2x their property tax bills came out. Today, the home rule petition for it was in the @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social agenda for their 10/29/25 mtg. #mapoli #bospoli
The @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social Agenda Packet for this week's 10/22/25 meeting is out! Keep reading for what BPI will be watching at this week's meeting, and check out the whole agenda packet here: #bospoli #mapoli
drive.google.com/file/d/1ipMT...
drive.google.com/file/d/1ipMT...
10.22.25 Agenda Packet.pdf
drive.google.com
October 22, 2025 at 2:06 PM
The @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social Agenda Packet for this week's 10/22/25 meeting is out! Keep reading for what BPI will be watching at this week's meeting, and check out the whole agenda packet here: #bospoli #mapoli
drive.google.com/file/d/1ipMT...
drive.google.com/file/d/1ipMT...
This project started back in 2020:
8/11/20 Filed Letter of Intent w/ BPDA
3/16/23 Approved by BPDA Board
4/26/23 Filed w/ ZBA
8/09/23 Approved by ZBA
10/02/25 Building permit issued
This isn't the end of the project: according to BBJ only the resi component pulled a permit. #mapoli #bospoli
8/11/20 Filed Letter of Intent w/ BPDA
3/16/23 Approved by BPDA Board
4/26/23 Filed w/ ZBA
8/09/23 Approved by ZBA
10/02/25 Building permit issued
This isn't the end of the project: according to BBJ only the resi component pulled a permit. #mapoli #bospoli
Construction set to begin on $35M office, residential project near Boston Landing - Boston Business Journal
An Allston project that includes a 12-story office building and a seven-story residential building has secured a city building permit and will begin construction in October.
www.bizjournals.com
October 13, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Today the @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social has a relatively light agenda, but there are a few important dockets to highlight. Read the whole agenda packet here:
drive.google.com/file/d/1EuYo...
drive.google.com/file/d/1EuYo...
10.08.25 Agenda Packet
drive.google.com
October 8, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Today the @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social has a relatively light agenda, but there are a few important dockets to highlight. Read the whole agenda packet here:
drive.google.com/file/d/1EuYo...
drive.google.com/file/d/1EuYo...
If you read the news abt a major Boston-area developer being hired to figure out what to do about Carney Hospital in @dotnews.bsky.social & wondered what other hospitals have been converted into, this @wsj.com article from earlier this year offers some potential possibilities. #bospoli #mapoli
Everyone wants office-to-residential conversions, but it's hospitals-to-residential conversions that are the big opportunity. We never stopped designing them in such a way that most rooms had a window and some access to plumbing.
www.wsj.com/real-estate/...
www.wsj.com/real-estate/...
Forget Office Conversions. Cities Are Turning Old Hospitals Into Residential Housing.
Ideal locations are typically on prime real estate near city infrastructure with built-in amenities.
www.wsj.com
October 8, 2025 at 4:01 PM
If you read the news abt a major Boston-area developer being hired to figure out what to do about Carney Hospital in @dotnews.bsky.social & wondered what other hospitals have been converted into, this @wsj.com article from earlier this year offers some potential possibilities. #bospoli #mapoli
This week's candidate's forum is a must see! The questionnaire responses are a great read, and its issues made recent appearances in @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social regular mtg agendas. Live Q&A will add an additional layer of insight to those answers & Council debate so check out the details below:
Leadership matters in a housing crisis.
📍 City Council At-Large Candidate Forum
🗓 Oct 9, 6-8PM
📍 Roxbury Community College
Hear candidates talk about affordability, zoning, transit growth + more.
🔗 Info & RSVP: www.abundanthousingma.org/atlargecandi...
#BostonHousing #Bospoli
📍 City Council At-Large Candidate Forum
🗓 Oct 9, 6-8PM
📍 Roxbury Community College
Hear candidates talk about affordability, zoning, transit growth + more.
🔗 Info & RSVP: www.abundanthousingma.org/atlargecandi...
#BostonHousing #Bospoli
October 7, 2025 at 2:37 PM
This week's candidate's forum is a must see! The questionnaire responses are a great read, and its issues made recent appearances in @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social regular mtg agendas. Live Q&A will add an additional layer of insight to those answers & Council debate so check out the details below:
Check out BPI's latest WTR! This was a packed week w/ education updates (MCAS, METCO, Exam Schools, & New School Bldg); economic & budget updates w/ FY27budget concerns on Beacon Hill & a big office lease on South Station, and a number of other issues, including housing, bike lanes & pharmacies.
October 4, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Check out BPI's latest WTR! This was a packed week w/ education updates (MCAS, METCO, Exam Schools, & New School Bldg); economic & budget updates w/ FY27budget concerns on Beacon Hill & a big office lease on South Station, and a number of other issues, including housing, bike lanes & pharmacies.
Based @mass.streetsblog.org's reporting, @jfh01.bsky.social & City Hall didn't inform anyone before getting starting to install new bike lane protection in Back Bay last wk. This issue also hasn't been heard by the @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social . . . #bospoli
mass.streetsblog.org/2025/09/30/b...
mass.streetsblog.org/2025/09/30/b...
Boston Tries Out 'Better Barriers' to Sub For Battered Bollards - Streetsblog Massachusetts
"Long-term, our goal is to move away from flexposts in most circumstances," says Boston's Chief of Streets.
mass.streetsblog.org
October 1, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Based @mass.streetsblog.org's reporting, @jfh01.bsky.social & City Hall didn't inform anyone before getting starting to install new bike lane protection in Back Bay last wk. This issue also hasn't been heard by the @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social . . . #bospoli
mass.streetsblog.org/2025/09/30/b...
mass.streetsblog.org/2025/09/30/b...
Tmrw's @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social mtg has a packed agenda w/ a # of appts, a major green bldg report, & dockets on university housing, composting, & Boston's plan for a new recovery campus. Read more:
drive.google.com/file/d/1LIC6...
drive.google.com/file/d/1LIC6...
10.01.25 Agenda Packet.pdf
drive.google.com
September 30, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Tmrw's @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social mtg has a packed agenda w/ a # of appts, a major green bldg report, & dockets on university housing, composting, & Boston's plan for a new recovery campus. Read more:
drive.google.com/file/d/1LIC6...
drive.google.com/file/d/1LIC6...
Looking thru this week's @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social agenda packet, @massgovernor.bsky.social re-appt'd fmr D6 Clr @mattomalley.bsky.social to BPDA's Board for a full term expiring 9/09/25. Read more abt him in this piece from the @bostonglobe.com last year: www.bostonglobe.com/2024/05/24/b...
Healey names former city councilor O’Malley to BPDA board - The Boston Globe
O'Malley became the third new member appointed to the board since Mayor Wu took office.
www.bostonglobe.com
September 29, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Looking thru this week's @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social agenda packet, @massgovernor.bsky.social re-appt'd fmr D6 Clr @mattomalley.bsky.social to BPDA's Board for a full term expiring 9/09/25. Read more abt him in this piece from the @bostonglobe.com last year: www.bostonglobe.com/2024/05/24/b...
This hearing has started! Watch it here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFv6...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFv6...
September 29, 2025 at 6:36 PM
This hearing has started! Watch it here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFv6...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFv6...
Today is the first @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social hearing on exam school admissions since 2020, and BPI has 5 questions for @bostonschools.boston.gov to answer, plus a quick run-down of the recent history of the exam school admission policy conversation & the Council’s role in it. #mapoli #bospoli
September 29, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Today is the first @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social hearing on exam school admissions since 2020, and BPI has 5 questions for @bostonschools.boston.gov to answer, plus a quick run-down of the recent history of the exam school admission policy conversation & the Council’s role in it. #mapoli #bospoli
Clocking in at just over an hour, BPI's event on Wednesday morning is the most comprehensive overview of the different strands of the “how to revitalize Boston post-COVID” conversation - check out this coverage from @massterlist.com & @gintautasd.bsky.social:
massterlist.beehiiv.com/p/eastern-ba...
massterlist.beehiiv.com/p/eastern-ba...
Eastern Bank’s Rivers: ‘We just have to get more serious’ about housing
Plus: Another endorsement for Markey and more in this week’s Political Intel
massterlist.beehiiv.com
September 26, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Clocking in at just over an hour, BPI's event on Wednesday morning is the most comprehensive overview of the different strands of the “how to revitalize Boston post-COVID” conversation - check out this coverage from @massterlist.com & @gintautasd.bsky.social:
massterlist.beehiiv.com/p/eastern-ba...
massterlist.beehiiv.com/p/eastern-ba...
A discussion point at BPI's event abt post-COVID Boston yesterday & in @mayorwu.boston.gov's @bostonchamber.com speech Monday was office-to-resi conversions. Rent Cafe put together a comparison of major cities progress on this, and Boston is the back of the pack: www.rentcafe.com/blog/rental-...
September 25, 2025 at 3:43 PM
A discussion point at BPI's event abt post-COVID Boston yesterday & in @mayorwu.boston.gov's @bostonchamber.com speech Monday was office-to-resi conversions. Rent Cafe put together a comparison of major cities progress on this, and Boston is the back of the pack: www.rentcafe.com/blog/rental-...
Check out coverage from @bosbizjournal.bsky.social of the opening remarks at BPI's event yesterday from DBA President Michael Nichols. In addition to Michael, the panel also had a lot of interesting things to say, so look out for more!
#mapoli #bospoli
www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/...
#mapoli #bospoli
www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/...
Boston's Downtown Crossing avoids 'doom loop,' alliance president says - Boston Business Journal
Boston’s Downtown Crossing has turned a corner on key metrics such as retail vacancies, foot traffic and crime, the president of the Downtown Boston Alliance said.
www.bizjournals.com
September 25, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Check out coverage from @bosbizjournal.bsky.social of the opening remarks at BPI's event yesterday from DBA President Michael Nichols. In addition to Michael, the panel also had a lot of interesting things to say, so look out for more!
#mapoli #bospoli
www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/...
#mapoli #bospoli
www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/...
This is a really interesting article about how most of the 225 new liquor licenses available in Boston haven't been applied for yet. The @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social has a hearing order on this subject filed back in Jan by @brianworrell.bsky.social but no hearing has been held. #mapoli #bospoli
September 23, 2025 at 10:30 PM
This is a really interesting article about how most of the 225 new liquor licenses available in Boston haven't been applied for yet. The @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social has a hearing order on this subject filed back in Jan by @brianworrell.bsky.social but no hearing has been held. #mapoli #bospoli
Tmrw's @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social mtg has a packed agenda: a major school rebuilding project; big changes in the City's HR Cabinet; a number of important potential votes & hearings on liquor, condo conversions, ADUs, and Boston's capital budget. Read more:
drive.google.com/file/d/1dUtm...
drive.google.com/file/d/1dUtm...
09.24.25 Agenda Packet.pdf
drive.google.com
September 23, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Tmrw's @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social mtg has a packed agenda: a major school rebuilding project; big changes in the City's HR Cabinet; a number of important potential votes & hearings on liquor, condo conversions, ADUs, and Boston's capital budget. Read more:
drive.google.com/file/d/1dUtm...
drive.google.com/file/d/1dUtm...
After 8 years, 2 lost stories, and 28 lost units, this development appears to finally be moving forward. The difficulty this project faced, despite being steps from the Red Line's Shawmut Station, highlights the challenges to building housing in Boston & MA. #mapoli #bospoli
A 4-story building development that will replace a longtime auto repair yard with 72 new affordable units of housing next to the Shawmut MBTA station will move forward, according to developers who say a lawsuit challenging the project has been “resolved.” #Dorchester
www.dotnews.com/2025/shawmut...
www.dotnews.com/2025/shawmut...
September 17, 2025 at 7:17 PM
This stands out in this wk's @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social agenda packet mtg: City Hall responded to @edflynnforboston.bsky.social's request (filed on 6/25/25) for info abt the office tower assessments fight. Written answers on p. 39-40 & open appeals on p. 22-38:
drive.google.com/file/d/1xYdI...
drive.google.com/file/d/1xYdI...
September 15, 2025 at 6:32 PM
This stands out in this wk's @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social agenda packet mtg: City Hall responded to @edflynnforboston.bsky.social's request (filed on 6/25/25) for info abt the office tower assessments fight. Written answers on p. 39-40 & open appeals on p. 22-38:
drive.google.com/file/d/1xYdI...
drive.google.com/file/d/1xYdI...
Last wk's WTR focused on last Wednesday's @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social & @bostonschools.boston.gov Cmte mtgs, including a rare @mayorwu.boston.gov SC visit & another resolution spat w/ @edflynnforboston.bsky.social blocking @clrhenrysantana.bsky.social's rent control resolution. #bospoli #mapoli
September 15, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Last wk's WTR focused on last Wednesday's @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social & @bostonschools.boston.gov Cmte mtgs, including a rare @mayorwu.boston.gov SC visit & another resolution spat w/ @edflynnforboston.bsky.social blocking @clrhenrysantana.bsky.social's rent control resolution. #bospoli #mapoli
BPI is helping you celebrate Labor Day by continuing the proud tradition of election guessing games past (RIP #mapoli twitter, @dbernstein.bsky.social's Phoenix column, & Blue Mass Group). We are thrilled to launch a fresh round for Massachusetts’ 2025 municipal showdowns!
#bospoli
#bospoli
August 28, 2025 at 1:56 PM
BPI is helping you celebrate Labor Day by continuing the proud tradition of election guessing games past (RIP #mapoli twitter, @dbernstein.bsky.social's Phoenix column, & Blue Mass Group). We are thrilled to launch a fresh round for Massachusetts’ 2025 municipal showdowns!
#bospoli
#bospoli
Today @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social has their 1st regular meeting since 8/06 at 12 PM & the agenda is packed, including quite a few dockets that have already been in the news. Here are the 12 dockets BPI is watching today:
#bospoli #mapoli
#bospoli #mapoli
August 27, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Today @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social has their 1st regular meeting since 8/06 at 12 PM & the agenda is packed, including quite a few dockets that have already been in the news. Here are the 12 dockets BPI is watching today:
#bospoli #mapoli
#bospoli #mapoli
This docket wasn't in @globeopinion.bsky.social editorial abt @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social's lack of action on hot button issues, but it fits the pattern: housing-related; in the news; & can be implemented by City Hall. The Clr who offered it chairs the Cmte it was sent to, but so far, no hearing.
Docket #0161 (pg 176) from D8 Durkan & D5 @enriquepepen.bsky.social is a BIG deal: "examine amending the Boston Zoning Code to remove all residential parking minimums for new development in the City of Boston." Abolishing parking minimums is a #YIMBY goal that's been done across the USA & locally.
August 20, 2025 at 6:32 PM
This docket wasn't in @globeopinion.bsky.social editorial abt @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social's lack of action on hot button issues, but it fits the pattern: housing-related; in the news; & can be implemented by City Hall. The Clr who offered it chairs the Cmte it was sent to, but so far, no hearing.