Divisions

Peter Meade was appointed Chief Economic Development Officer for the City of Boston by Mayor Thomas M. Menino in April 2011. Meade serves on the Mayor’s cabinet, and as Chief Economic Development Officer, leads the Boston Redevelopment Authority, which for the past fifty years has been responsible for Boston’s planning and economic development agenda. With an annual budget of more than $40 million and over 200 employees, the BRA focuses on planning Boston’s neighborhoods, guiding large-scale projects through the zoning process, and job training and workforce development.

Administration and Finance maintains the BRA's financial records and provides human resources, computer, purchasing, and administrative support services to all departments. For more information, contact Bob Luisi, Acting Director of Administration and Finance, at (617)918-5425.

The BRA's Economic Development Division plans, coordinates, and manages the activities and tools of the BRA in support of the economic growth and development of the City of Boston. The department oversees the City's review process (see Article 80 of the Boston Zoning code) for large-scale development projects.

Economic Development also manages the agency's housing production strategies and the planning and development functions associated with educational and medical institutions in Boston. In addition, the division administers the functions of the Economic Development and Industrial Corporation, developing and coordinating strategies and initiatives to expand and enhance Boston's industrial and economic base.

For more information, contact Brenda McKenzie, Director of Economic Development, at (617)918-4424.

The Executive Director/Secretary’s Office staffs the work of the BRA Board of Directors. The Office has several basic functions:

Preparation of Board meeting agendas

Maintenance of Board minutes and all related materials

Responding to all correspondence, inquiries and phone calls for or pertaining to the Board Members

Advertising for public hearings, public meetings, requests for proposals, requests for qualification, and letters of interest

Facilitating public viewing of documents during business hours

Certification of Board votes, BRA maps, official documents, FOIA requests, and orders of taking under eminent domain authority.

For more information, contact Tammy Donovan at (617)918-4388.

The Mayor’s Office of Jobs and Community Services (JCS), an agency within the City’s Economic Development Cabinet, manages $25+ million in Federal, State and local funds which invests in the upgrading of skills and education of Boston residents, including youth, to enhance their ability to access family sustaining wage jobs, continue their education, and support the City’s employers’ needs for high quality workers. JCS provides workforce development and human service grants management, program development, and direct service, also working closely with the Boston Redevelopment Authority to coordinate workforce with economic development projects.

JCS also houses the following initiatives:

ReadBoston
WriteBoston
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
Youth Options Unlimited (YOU)
Living Wage Administration
Neighborhood Resource Centers in Allston-Brighton, Roxbury and South Boston

For more information, contact Constance Doty, Director of Jobs and Community Services, at (617)918-5252.

The Office of the General Counsel provides the BRA with legal advice and represents the agency in litigation and in real estate matters.

For more information, contact Kevin Morrison, General Counsel, at (617)918-4277

The Planning Division coordinates all planning and zoning activities in neighborhoods throughout the city, including coordination of community planning, involvement in planning and project review, and development of master plans and zoning.

Community planning efforts engage local residents, businesses, agencies and institutions in guiding the future character of Boston’s unique neighborhoods and districts. Current planning efforts are listed on this website as Planning Initiatives.

The Planning Division's urban design group conducts planning, analysis, and design review for major downtown, neighborhood, and institutional development proposals. To find information on a specific development project, go to the Development Projects page on this site.

The zoning group reviews Zoning Board of Appeal applications, makes referrals to the BRA Board, provides liaison to and staff assistance for the Zoning Commission, and advises staff and public regarding zoning issues. Maps of current zoning can be accessed via the zoning page.

The Boston Atlas showcases the capabilities of the Office of Digital Cartography and GIS group, which has made contemporary and historic maps, demographic, and other data accessible to the public at large. Information such as the outlines of planning areas, building outlines, street edges, and property ownership can be viewed and information downloaded, including aerial photographs of the city.

For more information, contact Randi Lathrop, Deputy Director for Community Planning, at (617)918-4302.

The BRA's Research Division compiles and analyzes current, historical, and comparative data on Boston's economy, population, and commercial markets for all divisions of the organization, the City of Boston, and related organizations. Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and many other secondary sources, as well as proprietary economic and population software we strive to understand the current environment of the city to produce quality research and targeted information that will inform and benefit the residents and businesses of Boston.

For more information, contact Alvaro Lima, Director of Research, at (617)918-4428.