BOSTON— The Boston Planning Department has launched its first-ever Planning Academy, an interactive program designed to equip residents with the knowledge and tools to engage in shaping development and zoning decisions across the city.
Announced this month to the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) Board, the Planning Academy will feature eight weekly, in-person sessions this spring covering topics such as zoning, housing development, planning values, and how affordable housing is built. The initiative was recommended in the Boston Design Vision, adopted by the board in 2024, and is now open for resident applications.
At the same meeting, the BPDA Board approved several development proposals aimed at expanding affordable housing, strengthening institutional planning, and supporting community-based uses in Dorchester and beyond.
Dorchester Food Forest Moves Forward
The board granted tentative designation to the Boston Food Forest Coalition to redevelop 82 Mascot Street in Dorchester into a community food forest. The publicly owned parcel will be combined with four additional city-owned lots to create a network of gardens for gathering, growing food, and hosting educational programming and events.
33 Income-Restricted Homes Approved
A vacant single-family property at 190 Bowdoin Street in Dorchester will be converted into 33 fully income-restricted rental homes. The project will total approximately 271,832 square feet across newly approved developments and is expected to generate about 33 construction jobs. Units will include a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, with a majority designed for families. Plans also call for a community room, roof deck, and indoor bike parking. The all-electric building will comply with Net Zero Carbon zoning and Passive House standards.
Wentworth Dorm Expansion Advances
The board also approved a 2026 amendment to the Institutional Master Plan for Wentworth Institute of Technology, allowing for a larger, reimagined Pike Residence Hall with 972 beds—572 more than originally proposed in 2024. The new, all-electric dormitory will meet LEED Gold, Net Zero Carbon, and Passive House standards and is expected to support approximately 213 construction jobs.
The expanded dorm will enable Wentworth to house its entire freshman class and move closer to its goal of adding 1,814 net new beds over the next decade. By increasing on-campus housing, the university aims to reduce pressure on off-campus housing in nearby Fenway and Mission Hill.
The amendment also includes public realm improvements such as two new courtyards, enhancements to the pedestrian corridor known as the People’s Pike, a new connection to Ruggles Street, additional bikeshare stations, and a $133,650 contribution to the city’s bikeshare system.
Additional Board Actions
The BPDA Board also approved:
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A five-year renewal and extension of Tufts University’s Institutional Master Plan.
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An amendment to the development plan for One Brigham Circle to allow clinical uses.
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Modifications to a previously approved project at 154 Terrace Street, reducing building height and unit count and converting planned condominiums into rental units.
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The disbursement of $250,000 in mitigation funding from the 35–75 Morrissey Boulevard project to support small businesses in Dorchester through the Mayor’s Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion’s Commercial Acquisition Assistance Program.
City officials said the approved projects—adding 33 income-restricted homes and 972 new dorm beds—will help advance Boston’s goals of becoming a more resilient, affordable, and equitable city while expanding opportunities for resident engagement in the planning process.
