Boston Planning & Development Agency chief Brian Golden is departing on the finish of the month, the company introduced.
Golden has led the long-controversial planning company — which, when he began, was referred to as the even-more-controversial BRA — via a sequence of modernization efforts as constructing boomed beneath his and Mayor Marty Walsh’s tenures.
“He focused on improving transparency, accountability, and community engagement, while furthering equitable outcomes throughout Boston’s neighborhoods,” a press launch asserting his departure reads.
Golden, a former state rep from Allston-Brighton and an Army veteran, led the division for eight years, together with almost all of Walsh’s time in workplace.
“The Board has seen first hand the instrumental work Brian has led to support economic development and new housing opportunities that lift up our communities, while creating a more transparent, accountable BPDA that better serves the people of Boston,” stated BPDA Board Chair Priscilla Rojas within the press launch.
The BPDA board is because of meet Thursday afternoon.
It’s no secret that Mayor Michelle Wu has a distinct imaginative and prescient for the BPDA.
A number of years in the past, when she was metropolis councilor, her workplace launched a manifesto about abolishing the company, which critics like her say nonetheless leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to transparency and neighborhood engagement.
It’s not totally clear what route she’s going to tackle the abolishment entrance — a transfer that would wish state approval — however she already has created a brand new “chief of planning” place that might in impact be her workplace’s oversight function wanting on the quasi-independent BPDA.
Golden has remained head of the BPDA via the primary few months of her tenure, however will depart on the finish of April.
Golden was appointed government director/secretary by former Mayor Thomas Menino in 2009, after which everlasting director by Walsh in 2014.
The BPDA touts that over that point the town’s authorized a complete of “approximately 49 million square feet of residential development, as well as 32 million square feet of commercial, institutional, life science, hotel, retail, and industrial development. These projects represent approximately $43 billion of investment.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com”