Mayor & BRA Announce Harvard Allston Partnership Fund Awards

Mayor Thomas M. Menino & the BRA will join Harvard University President Drew Faust this evening to award another $100,000 in grants to nine local organizations through the Harvard Allston Partnership Fund. To date, the fund has infused $200,000 in grants to nonprofits and organizations serving North Allston and North Brighton. For the full press release, click here.

BRA Joins Berklee College to Dedicate New Fenway Building

$5 million redevelopment turns former Fenway Community Health Center into state-of-the-art teaching spaces & faculty offices

BRA Director John Palmieri and city officials will join Berklee College of Music president Roger Brown later this afternoon to celebrate the completion of Berklee's newest development at 7 Haviland Street in the Fenway. Berklee acquired the former Fenway Community Health Center (FCHC) facility located between Massachusetts Avenue and Hemenway Street in April of 2009.

The sales proceeds provided FCHC with an essential component of its financing of its new facility at 1340 Boylston Street. In turn, Berklee invested $5 million to transform the property into state-of-the-art teaching spaces and faculty offices to help the college address the overcrowding of its academic facilities.

The former 16,000 square foot, 3-story health clinic building was retained, and its interior was extensively remodeled for its new purposes. In addition, Berklee converted the former surface parking spaces and private garden area to a welcoming open space for use by the college and neighborhood, complete with mature deciduous trees, shrubbery, ground cover and movable outdoor chairs and tables for informal gatherings.

We'll post pictures & video following the event.

Have You Seen the BRA's 3D Models?

The BRA Urban Design department works to find solutions for making the built environment in Boston one that is both pleasing to be in and sustainable. The team works with the elements that make up a city from the signs on storefronts, trees on sidewalks and the height of buildings – and everything in between. Because the distance one has to walk to get somewhere and the nature of that walk (Does it feel safe? Is it attractive? Is it engaging?) determines if someone gets in a car or gets out on their feet – pedaling or walking. And when they can make it so that getting out and walking or biking is the preferred method, we can help combat a range of epidemics from obesity, to crime and global warming.

Urban Designers work with developers, architects, other planners and designers and community members to find the best solutions. They use software like Sketch Up, 3D Viz and Revit to model scenarios of the city, measure shadow and wind impacts, and impacts on view corridors. Models are used to calculate square footage of projected retail, residential and mixed development. Click to see 3D models designed by BRA Urban Designers.

BRA is Helping Young Professionals Get Financially Healthy, Wealthy & Wise

With the support of a Living Cities grant, ONEin3Money.org is a campaign to increase the financial understanding and overall financial health of 20-34 year olds in the City of Boston (ONEin3ers). We aim to help them make sense of the dollars they earn to afford a well-rounded, long-term life in Boston.
ONEin3 Boston, an initiative founded by Mayor Thomas M. Menino and the Boston Redevelopment Authority, connects young adults with resources, with city government and with each other. Thirty-three percent of residents in the City of Boston are between 20-34 years old. This integral demographic represents today’s workforce and consumers, and tomorrow’s professional and civic leadership. ONEin3 Boston seeks to make the City an attractive, long-term home by studying the issues that are important to them and acting upon those findings.



Check out todays blog!

BRA is Now Accepting Applications for Downtown Crossing Art Fridays

The Boston Redevelopment Authority is looking for Artists to particapte in the Downtown Crossing Art Fridays Market.This market will take place every Friday from May 7th to October 1st from 11 am - 6 pm on Summer Street in Downtown Crossing.

All artwork must be original and handmade. We are looking for paintings, handcrafted clay, blown glass, stain glass, wood, furniture, photography, wearables, kid's clothing, metal, handcrafted toys, and silver, metal, gold and beaded jewelry, and locally produced food. Applications will be juried on a rolling basis.

Fill out an application online

For additional information, www.artfridays.com

BRA Board Grants Approval to Several New Institutional & Residential Projects

Check out our news release from the February 16,2010BRA Board Meeting.

BRA Board Meeting Tonight @ 5:30pm, City Hall

The BRA Board Meeting will be held tonight at 5:30 p.m. on the 9th floor at City Hall Boston. View the DRAFT Board Agenda.

If you are not able to attend the meeting, the meetings can be seen live on Comcast Channel 24 or RCN Channel 13, as well as live on the web.

Mayor Menino Announces Major Shot in the Arm to Boston's Economy

Liberty Mutual plans expansion of Boston headquarters, 600 new full-time positions at the company & 500 construction jobs

In a major boost to Boston’s economy, Mayor Thomas M. Menino and state officials today announced that Liberty Mutual plans to grow its global headquarters in Boston, creating 1,100 new jobs and generating more than $50 million in new tax revenue for the City. The company, founded in Boston in 1912, had opportunities to expand in other parts of the country, but ultimately decided that Boston provides the best opportunity for its growth. Liberty Mutual’s anticipated total investment of approximately $300 million in its corporate headquarters would make Boston one of the largest insurance hubs in the country.

Harvard Opens Allston Skating Rink

Harvard University has opened the Allston Skating Rink for the 2010 winter season. Admission to the skating rink is free and open to the public.

Join your neighbors and friends for ice skating this winter. Limited pairs of skates will be available on a first come first served basis free of charge or bring your own skates.

Location: 168 Western Avenue, across the street from the Charlesview Apartments at the corner of Western Avenue and Travis Street (the former VW Dealership.)

The rink is located indoors with a seating area and restrooms. Free parking is available.

Open Saturday, January 16, 2010 to March 28, 2010.

Hours:
Fridays 3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Saturdays 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Sundays 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Special Hours: School Vacation Week
February 15–19 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m

First Class of Sustainable Business Leader Program Graduates 23 Local Businesses

The Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA), City of Boston, and Sustainable Business Network (SBN) formally recognized 23 local Boston business leaders today who graduated from the BRA sponsored Sustainable Business Leader Program (SBLP) The program provided sustainable business practice technical assistance to small and medium sized businesses across sectors and Boston’s neighborhoods resulting in measureable and valuable reductions in energy and water consumption, and waste and toxics reduction. Boston businesses that invest human and financial resources in sustainable business operations improve their competitive advantage. The BRA thanks SBN for their development and management of the program and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection for their financial support. The SBLP program was launched by Mayor Menino in the Spring of 2007.

Click here to learn more about the program and graduating businesses.

Mayor Menino's Bike Friendly Business Awards

Mayor Menino and the City of Boston are committed to making Boston a vibrant and healthy city that benefits all its citizens. As a fundamental part of this commitment, Mayor Menino is working to make Boston a world-class bicycling city.Our Bike Friendly Business awards will recognize your company for taking steps to be more bike friendly. By adopting a few basic, inexpensive practices, your company will significantly improve the climate for cycling in Boston. Fill out application today. Applications Due Friday, February 12th.

Do You Live or Work in Hyde Park?

Check out the Hyde Park Planning & Rezoning. Find out how the BRA is working with the community to create a neighborhood strategic plan.

Boston Leads the Nation in NIH Awards - Top Recipient for 14 Consecutive Years

Boston leads the nation for the 14th straight year in National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant awards. In 2008, the full range of public, private, and non-profit agencies, firms and institutions located within the city received more than $1.6 billion in NIH awards. Boston Redevelopment Authority reports on the robust health of award funding to Boston’s world-renowned hospitals, universities, and research institutions.

ReadBoston Teams up with Celtics Captain Paul Pierce

ReadBoston, a Boston Redevelopment Authority initiative, teamed up with Celtics Captain Paul Pierce and forward Rasheed Wallace who performed a special play with students from one of ReadBoston's afterschool programs, the Ellis Memorial After School Program at Madison Park. The play was based on the children's book "The Clever Boy and the Terrible, Dangerous Animal" by Idries Shah. Read More