Boston to update its zoning code

olhendrix said:
Was anyone at the October Zoning Commission about PLAN: Downtown? Did it get approved?
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www.boston.gov

Zoning Commission Approves New Zoning for Downtown Boston

The Boston Zoning Commission approved comprehensive zoning updates for Downtown Boston for the first time in more than 30 years. This new zoning strengthens protections for Downtown’s historic and cultural assets, streamlines the conversion of old office buildings, and enables the essential...
www.boston.gov www.boston.gov
 
KCasiglio said:
www.boston.gov

Zoning Commission Approves New Zoning for Downtown Boston

The Boston Zoning Commission approved comprehensive zoning updates for Downtown Boston for the first time in more than 30 years. This new zoning strengthens protections for Downtown’s historic and cultural assets, streamlines the conversion of old office buildings, and enables the essential...
www.boston.gov www.boston.gov
Click to expand...
“Residential uses are now legal throughout the new zoning districts, whereas large hotel, lab, and office uses will require further zoning approval. Also in support of housing growth, the zoning requires that any new buildings of significant height in the Washington Street corridor (more than 200’) must be predominantly residential.”
What is the Washington Street corridor defined as here?
It’s interesting that Seaport is the new central job hub w/o much residential while Dowtown is going to transition into more of a mixed neighborhood, I’d be interesting to how the commuter flows in the city change.
The Seaport could really use a light rail line…
 
It would definitely be good to protect a substantial portion of the older downtown building stock. Between the idea of it becoming an historic district and continued efforts toward residential conversion, we can hopefully retain a lot of what makes downtown interesting and visually compelling.
 
Love historic preservation, but it seems like this also really runs to the cost of maintenance, conversion, and rehabilitation. Didn't know there were explicit tax incentives to support these historically zoned areas:



Why is the City interested in having buildings and historic districts within its borders? National Register designation automatically creates eligibility for the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Tax Credit, and the Federal Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits in instances where the buildings are undergoing substantial redevelopment. The two layers of credits can cover as much as 40% of capital costs in a preservation-oriented rehabilitation, helping to reduce the costs for retrofits, conversions and restoration.
 

Councilors propose eliminating parking requirements for new housing​


“The City Council will consider a proposal by three city councilors to end all zoning requirements for parking to go with new apartments and condos built in Boston - as a way to help spur development and reduce housing costs.

Councilor Sharon Durkan (West End, Beacon Hill, Back Bay, Fenway, Mission Hill) said current parking requirements - even if now generally reduced through Boston Planning Department and zoning-board determinations - are a sad relic of the 1950s that have failed in their goal of reducing congestion - and have left the city with up to one-third of its private parking spaces built for specific projects going unused each night.

Eliminating the requirement completely would spur new housing development - and reduce apartment and condo prices, she said. She added the proposal does not mean developers could not continue to propose new parking, just that they would no longer have to do so…..”

 
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