BPDA Board Approves 501 Housing Units and Millions in Marine Park Infrastructure

BOSTON — July 16, 2026 — Boston's BPDA board approved 501 new housing units across seven development projects at its July 16 meeting, unanimously clearing a 26-item agenda that also advanced millions of dollars in infrastructure spending at the Raymond L. Flynn Marine Park and Charlestown Navy Yard. Chair Priscilla Rojas presided over the three-member board, joined by members Ms. Bennett and Mr. O'Malley. Director Arthur Shen reported the evening's approvals represent roughly $150 million in new investment, 82 income-restricted units, and an estimated 475 construction trade jobs across approximately 530,000 square feet of development. The largest project, a 165-unit rental building at 3841 Washington Street in Roslindale, includes a first-of-its-kind MBTA bus-stop canopy integrated into the building's facade and a $49,000 Blue Bikes contribution. The most contested vote involved 85 Parker Hill Avenue in Mission Hill, a 103-unit adaptive reuse of a former nursing home, where a representative of Councilor Ed Murphy stated Murphy's opposition over student-housing concerns, Councilor Ricardo Arroyo Durkin stated non-opposition, and Councilor Ben Weber offered support — the board approved unanimously. Shen closed by mourning the death of Louisa Gag, the city's Blue Bikes transportation planner and a close collaborator of agency staff, and announced the retirement of 28-year veteran Taming Chen, who built Boston's first comprehensive 3D digital urban model.