PLAN: Downtown Zoning
June 17, 2025
Earlier this week, Tom Nally, Senior Advisor at A Better City, testified in support of the City of Boston Planning Department's final draft zoning amendment for Downtown. The revised draft incorporates public feedback on the draft zoning released on January 8, 2025, and aims to strengthen protections for Downtown’s historic and cultural assets, while enabling a mix of uses and housing. In terms of next steps, the BPDA Board is expected to review the proposed zoning in July, and the Boston Zoning Commission is expected to review the proposed zoning in August. If approved, Mayor Wu could sign the zoning into law in September.
A Better City believes that it is important to enhance the vitality of Downtown Boston. A combination of many actions is needed to accomplish that end, and a very significant action is to put in place zoning provisions that will support that desired vitality. The proposed zoning changes will contribute to vitality by supporting appropriate density in this most transit accessible location in the city, by incentivizing the addition of more residential uses, by infusing the neighborhood with entertainment and retail elements, and by pacing a premium on preservation by providing a means of protecting valuable landmark structures and places that help to make Downtown Boston the diverse mix of experiences that it has always valued. We support the proposed new zoning for Downtown Boston. - Thomas J. Nally, Senior Advisor, A Better City
Please reach out to Tom Nally with any questions or feedback.
