MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES DIANA FERNANDEZ BIBEAU AS DEPUTY CHIEF OF URBAN DESIGN

MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES DIANA FERNANDEZ BIBEAU AS DEPUTY CHIEF OF URBAN DESIGN

BOSTON - Friday, July 15, 2022 - Mayor Michelle Wu and the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) today announced the appointment of Diana Fernandez Bibeau as the new Deputy Chief of Urban Design, to craft and execute a human-scale and inclusive vision for the design of the built environment across Boston.  “Diana is a dynamic problem solver and inclusive designer with years of experience working to reimagine how our built environment can reflect and empower our communities. I’m thrilled to bring her vision to the work we do everyday in city government,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I look forward to Diana joining Chief Jemison and the Boston Planning and Development Agency to elevate design across our city and partner in this very important work.” Under the leadership of Chief of Planning Arthur Jemison, Fernandez will elevate the importance of urban design, and champion the transformative power of sustainable and walkable communities for all ages and abilities. In partnership with Chief Jemison and the BPDA’s Urban Design Department, Fernandez will work to strategically transform existing BPDA urban design processes to promote predictability and quality for both the community members and the development industry.  “I want to welcome Diana to this new role, and new journey we are embarking on together in our city,” said Chief Planner Arthur Jemison. “I look forward to working with her on building a vision for how the city and our public realm are designed that will improve resiliency and promote equity moving forward.” As part of her work, Fernandez will partner on the Mayor's Green New Deal agenda with the City departments, including the Boston Transportation Department, the Environment Department, Parks, Office of Housing, Public Works, Public Facilities, Boston Public Schools, and Boston Public Libraries, to align urban design efforts into a comprehensive vision for Boston. “It’s an honor to be joining Mayor Wu and Chief Arthur Jemison in charting a heterogeneous design vision for the city of Boston,” said Deputy Chief Fernandez. “I'm excited to tap into the great diversity of experience, perspective, and creativity within this city to shape urban design strategies that will inclusively serve all Bostonians. I look forward to working collaboratively to define and realize this vision.”  Fernandez has worked across multiple firm scales in Philadelphia and Boston to build a design practice that reassess the policies that have perpetuated race, gender, environmental and socioeconomic inequality, and implement design methodologies that can respond to and correct them. Her experience spans a broad range of projects from planning to built work. She also provides critical thought and design leadership for landscape and urban design practices at the national level through the Landscape Architecture Foundation (LAF), American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), and the American Planning Association (APA). Fernandez was born in the Dominican Republic in a village with no running water or electricity and immigrated to New York City with her parents and younger sister when she was five years old. As a teenage mother, she completed high school and went on to attend college at Temple University in Philadelphia, where she majored in Landscape Architecture.  Fernandez is a proven thinker, collaborator and leader, who teams effortlessly with architects, planners, urban designers, ecologists and civil engineers on the design of equitable and sustainable places. She writes and lectures in the discourses of landscape architecture, urban design, and equity. Her work has been published and nationally recognized through the Urban Land Institute (ULI), ASLA, Society for College and University Planning (SCUP), American Institute of Architects (AIA), and the APA. She has also been awarded the 2019-2020 LAF Fellowship in leadership and innovation, honored with the Emerging Professional Medal in 2020 and named a 30 under 30 Leader for Temple University. Diana is a proud mother of four and an avid gardener with her husband Devin Bibeau.

Emerson Graduates Open The Door to Intimate Spaces

 Emerson Graduates Open The Door to Intimate Spaces

M’Kenzy Cannon’s PLEASE LET ME IN, the newest multimedia exhibition in the 1:1 Curatorial Initiative at Boston Center for the Arts opens August 6. 

 

Important Dates

Public Reception and Curatorial Walkthrough: Friday, August 12 • 6pm—9pm

On view: August 6–September 10 

 

BOSTON, MA - Fresh from Emerson College, artist M’Kenzy Cannon and curator Maya Rubio bring the intimacy of personal space to the Mills Gallery. Formed through video, photo, and object work, PLEASE LET ME IN, urges gallery-goers to excavate and co-create the exhibition’s narrative. PLEASE LET ME IN will be the fourth exhibition in the 1:1 Curatorial Initiative series presented in the Mills Gallery at Boston Center for the Arts. 

 

Installed deep in the gallery, a living bedroom will welcome visitors to explore an unknown stranger’s most intimate space and its hidden secrets. Large scale projections with warped home interiors and found object creations will push guests into “the realm of the Other.” 

 

PLEASE LET ME IN is a piece of object-spatial theatre, an environmental performance in which gallery-goers become a character in the sticky world of existential mystery constructed by Cannon and Rubio, gathering the threads between self and divine, intimate and unknowable, bedroom and black hole. 

 

Like past exhibitions in the 1:1 Curatorial Initiative series, PLEASE LET ME IN, presents a collaborative project between one curator and one artist. The Public Reception for PLEASE LET ME IN at 6pm on August 12, will be part of a full day of BCA programming. BCA will also be hosting Open Studios in the Artist Studio Building next door and a Project Room Show with BCA Studio Resident Karmimadeebora McMillan within the Mills Gallery. 

ALLSTON-BRIGHTON ACHIEVES LANDMARK COMMITMENTS FROM HARVARD WITH ADVANCEMENT OF ENTERPRISE RESEARCH CAMPUS

 ALLSTON-BRIGHTON ACHIEVES LANDMARK COMMITMENTS FROM HARVARD WITH ADVANCEMENT OF ENTERPRISE RESEARCH CAMPUS 

 

A product of the community’s mobilization, ERC includes 25% income-restricted rentals, $25M for an Allston-Brighton Affordable Housing Trust, community needs assessment and comprehensive planning funds

 

Boston, Mass. – At its monthly meeting on Thursday, July 14, the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) Board of Directors voted to approve Phase A of the Harvard Enterprise Research Campus (ERC) in Allston. Encompassing 9.4 acres within an existing 14.2 acre Planned Development Area (PDA), the Phase A of the ERC will consist of approximately 900,000 square feet of development that is to include laboratory, office, residential, hotel, conference, and retail use. With this approval, Phase A of the ERC advances landmark commitments, mitigation, and benefits to affordable housing and future planning processes in the Allston-Brighton neighborhood from both Harvard University and development partner Tishman Speyer. 

 

Approval of the Phase A proposal is the first step taken by Harvard in its stated plans to develop a significant portion of the University’s extensive landholdings in Allston and Brighton for commercial purposes. Harvard University owns approximately 170 acres of developable land in North Brighton and Lower Allston; with properties totaling a cumulative 360 acres, the University is the largest single landholder in Allston-Brighton. Following an extensive review process informed by the Harvard Allston Task Force (HATF), community members, and neighborhood activists, approval of Phase A sets a precedent for future development planned for Harvard land in Allston and Brighton. 

 

“I am grateful to Mayor Wu, Chief Jemison, Representatives Moran and Honan, the Harvard Allston Task Force, and community members for their advocacy throughout this project’s extensive review process,” said Allston-Brighton City Councilor Liz Breadon. “Our collaborative efforts have helped to produce a much-improved project that better serves the needs of Allston, Brighton, and Boston residents. Most significantly, this process allowed the City to commit to a comprehensive Allston-Brighton neighborhood planning process, complementary community needs assessment, and, in conjunction with Harvard, future planning processes for the remaining 22-acres of the ERC and the over 50-acre Beacon Park Yard.”

 

“Thank you to the residents, advocates, and activists fighting for Allston and Brighton,” said State Representative Mike Moran. “With the dedication of the Harvard Allston Task Force, the Allston Civic Association (ACA), and the Coalition for a Just Allston Brighton (CJAB), we have achieved this transformative community benefits package from Harvard University, laying the groundwork to ensure that all future phases meet the needs of our neighborhood.”

 

Harvard and Tishman Speyer have committed to designate 25% of the 345 housing units included in Phase A’s residential component as on-site income-restricted rental units through the City of Boston’s Inclusionary Development Policy (IDP); this commitment represents the largest percentage of income-restricted units included a single project by a private developer in Boston to date. These 86 on-site IDP rental units will be made available to households between 30% and 100% of the Area Median Income (AMI). Significantly, this expanded range of unit affordability better reflects median incomes in the Allston-Brighton neighborhood, which sit at approximately 50% to 60% of AMI. 

 

“This is both transformative and historic. The housing affordability commitments made in Harvard’s Phase A proposal will have a tremendous impact and will help correct for past errors,” said At Large Councilor and Harvard alumna Ruthzee Louijeune. “We now have an excellent precedent for how private stakeholders, community leaders, activists, and cities can work together to address our housing crisis and infrastructure challenges. I’m proud of our Allston residents and advocates, and I’m encouraged by the steps my alma mater is taking to be a better neighbor.”

 

"I applaud the Coalition for a Just Allston-Brighton, the Allston Civic Association, community leaders, and the residents in Allston and Brighton who advocated for the increase of the much-needed affordable housing in our city,” said At Large Councilor Erin Murphy. “The time to act is now, and I stand with the people of Allston-Brighton and my colleague Councilor Liz Breadon. We will continue to work together to create a more affordable, equitable, and inclusive Boston.”

 

Harvard University has also committed a total contribution of $25 million to seed the creation of an Allston-Brighton Affordable Housing Fund, the structure of which is to be further defined by the BPDA, Allston-Brighton elected officials, and community members. This Fund will be used to support efforts towards the production and preservation of affordable, income-restricted housing in Allston and Brighton. Harvard will also donate a parcel of land located at 65 Seattle Street in Allston for the production of affordable homeownership opportunities. 

 

"We are thrilled that our City Councilor was able to help facilitate this agreement which will allow us to move forward with our next phase of work,” said Cindy Marchando, Chair of the Harvard Allston Task Force. “The community has not changed its vision of a transformative, inclusive, diverse environment where people can afford to live and continue thriving. We look forward to working collaboratively on making sure all residents have access, affordability and opportunity in mind!" 

 

“I want to thank Councilor Breadon and her staff for their efforts on behalf of our community, working in collaboration with the various stakeholders, to forge an agreement to proceed with Phase A of the Enterprise Research Campus,” said Anthony D’Isidoro, Harvard Allston Task Force member and President of the Allston Civic Association. “The agreement provides a firm foundation for subsequent phases to pursue additional guarantees for an equitable resolution to a once in lifetime opportunity to transform a 36-acre site into a special welcoming destination with an impeccable quality of life.”

 

In addition to these commitments to housing affordability, Harvard University has also made significant commitments related to future planning processes in the Allston-Brighton neighborhood. Harvard will participate in City-led planning and rezoning efforts for the remaining 22 acres of the Enterprise Research Campus and the 50 acre Beacon Park Yard, and will contribute $1 million towards these planning efforts. Harvard has also agreed to contribute $1 million towards an Allston-Brighton Community Needs Assessment, which will be utilized to inform future community benefits and planning processes. 

Baker-Polito Administration Increases Visibility into Executive Branch Workforce with Expansion of Diversity Dashboard

 Baker-Polito Administration Increases Visibility into Executive Branch Workforce with Expansion of Diversity Dashboard

BOSTON – The Baker-Polito Administration today announced updates to its state employee diversity dashboard that will increase visibility into the composition of the Commonwealth Executive Branch workforce and encourage further accountability as the Administration continues to prioritize efforts to promote diversity and inclusion.

 

The diversity dashboard, launched in October 2020, is an interactive, publicly available tool on mass.gov that visualizes data describing the Commonwealth’s Executive Branch workforce. It was created to allow the public to better understand the employee demographics that make up the state government’s various secretariats, agencies, and departments.

 

The first phase of the dashboard included the total number of employees, total employees over the previous 12 quarters, and geographic distribution, racial demographics, and gender breakdowns of the workforce. This data could then be filtered by Secretariat, Agency, fiscal quarter, job category, and/or full-time/part-time status. Data is updated in April, July, October, and January, after the close of each fiscal quarter.

 

The upgrades rolled out today will triple the number of data fields displayed on the dashboard. The additional data will show Executive Branch employee promotions, hires, separations, salary bands, age bands, lengths of service, disability status, and veteran status. This data will also be able to be filtered by the fields listed above. 

 

“We recognize the importance of a diverse workforce and continue to work towards reflecting the diversity of Massachusetts in all facets and levels of government,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “We are proud to expand the diversity dashboard, which will give the public a more comprehensive view into the makeup of the Executive Branch and hold us accountable to our workforce goals.”

 

“The enhancements to the dashboard we are announcing today reflect our administration’s continued commitment to transparency and diversity in hiring,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “We will continue to strengthen our efforts to ensure the Commonwealth’s public workforce reflects the vibrant communities across the state.”

 

Since taking office, the Administration has made progress in diversifying the Executive Branch workforce.  The overall net percentage of diverse employees has increased by 18%, with the percentage of women in the workforce increasing by a net 4.1% since 2015 and the percentage of People of Color in the workforce increasing by 5%.

 

“There have been measurable improvements in the diversity of the Executive Branch and we are proud of our accomplishments so far; however, we realize that more work is needed,” said Chief Diversity Officer Sandra Borders. “We remain focused on increasing diversity and inclusion in all aspects of hiring and employment."

 

“The enhanced transparency that the updated diversity dashboard offers will not only ensure accountability on this critical priority but also provide a fuller view of our workforce demographics for those looking to join public service at the state level,” said Chief Human Resources Officer, Jeff McCue.

 

“I would like to thank Governor Baker on the continued efforts to make data about the reality of our workforce available to our communities on a transparent, user friendly platform,” said State Representative Chynah Tyler (D – Boston), Chair of the Black and Latino Caucus. “The Black & Latino Caucus was proud to lead in discussions with the Administration that led to these recent platform upgrades and additions. This workforce dashboard will help to make progress on diversifying state personnel and ensure equitable hiring and promotions.”

 

“Today, Massachusetts moves forward with greater transparency that will lead to a better future for the state’s workforce overall,” said State Representative Russell Holmes (D – Mattapan). “It is imperative that the public see the diversity of the hiring, promotions, and terminations of the state’s workforce segmented by department and at every level of government. Aggregating the workforce and comparing the workforce to the state’s population can mask poor hiring and retention performance by department managers. Today’s update to the dashboard lives beyond this administration and will ensure that masking is prevented for years to come.”

 

View the updated diversity dashboard here: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/state-employee-diversity-dashboard.

City of Boston Funding update

 

The Funding Update Subscribe to The Funding Update FEDERAL GRANTS Department of Justice, 8/15/2022 Supporting Vulnerable At-Risk Youth and Youth Transitioning Out of Foster Care grants support  residential care, treatment, and services. Eligible applicants can provide services to youth and young adults up to and including age 25. Max award for site grants: $600,000. Housing & Urban Development, 8/24/2022 Veterans Housing Rehabilitation and Modification Pilot funds are used to rehabilitate and modify the primary residence of disabled veterans with low incomes. Awards range from $700,000 to $1M. AmeriCorps, 9/13/2022 Volunteer Generation grants will develop and/or support community-based entities to recruit, manage, and support volunteers. Minimum award: $100,000. Register here for the webinar Federal funding opportunities are continuously updated on grants.gov STATE GRANTS Cultural Council, 9/28/2022 Cultural Sector Recovery Grants ($5,000-$75,000) support to Massachusetts cultural organizations, collectives, and businesses negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Executive Office of Health & Human Services, 9/30/2022 This is advance notice of a Request for Responses. EOHHS seeks a pool of qualified vendors that will be eligible to contract with MassHealth Accountable Care Organizations and Managed Care Organizations to serve as Behavioral Health Community Partners; and a separate pool of qualified vendors to serve as Long-Term Services and Supports Community Partners. Department of Conservation & Recreation, 12/31/2023 DCR is soliciting bidders to provide Real Estate Advisory Services concerning DCR public parks. Services will include Real Estate Market Analysis, Arts & Culture Feasibility, Active Uses Implementation Strategy Development, Community Outreach and Engagement, as well as marketing services.  Department of Public Health, 6/30/2029 DPH is seeking qualified attorneys to provide department-wide legal services and and/or legal support services. Scroll down to "Important Links" on CommBUYS to see Newly Posted Bids. CITY GRANTS Environment Department, 7/18/2022 The Commissioner of Environment has issued a Request for Proposals from qualified consultants to provide energy procurement and supply bill reconciliation services to the City. Boston Public Health Commission, 7/18/2022 The Mayor's Office of Recovery Services is seeking organization(s) to fill a critical need in the daytime continuum of care for individuals with substance use disorder, specifically those individuals experiencing homelessness. Boston Public Health Commission, 7/22/2022 The Mayor's Office of Recovery Services is seeking organization(s) to support community engagement teams for up to three neighborhoods identified as high need. Mayor’s Office of Arts & Culture, 7/22/2022 Requests proposals for a design and installation of public art at the Copley Square Plaza. Boston Public Health Commission, 8/6/2022 Boston Youth Resiliency and Recovery Collaborative is seeking qualified youth-serving organizations to increase equitable access to high quality mentoring opportunities for BIPOC LGBTQ+ young people. Bids are updated continuously on the City of Boston Supplier Portal. FOUNDATION GRANTS TD Bank, 8/11/2022 The 2022 TD Ready Challenge is focused on supporting solutions designed to help people and communities who may be disproportionately affected by climate change to prepare for, adapt to, and help mitigate the potential impacts of climate change and/or to work towards a transition to a low-carbon economy. Eligible U.S.-based organizations can apply for $1M.  Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, 8/9/2022 Advancing Community-Driven Mental Health grants are awarded to improve access to community-based mental health services. The application process begins with a Letter of Inquiry. Ben & Jerry’s Foundation, 8/15/2022 Grants ($30,000 max) support small, nonprofit grassroots organizations working to help themselves and their communities create broad systems change through community organizing and movement-building efforts. The foundation prioritizes organizations that are led by and center the leadership and agency of Black communities, Indigenous communities, and communities of color that approach their work using anti-oppression values.  Rea Charitable Trust, 8/18/2022 Funding focus: promotion of the arts. Awards range from $25,000 to $75,000. Organizations with a legal name beginning with letters M through Z, can apply between 7/1 and 8/15, annually. The application period for letters A-L is from 1/1 to 2/15, annually. Nasdaq Foundation, 8/22/2022 Funding goal: to champion inclusive growth and prosperity, power stronger economies, create more equitable opportunities and contribute to a more sustainable world. Funding focus: women and under-represented minority communities. There is no set minimum or maximum grant amount. Petco Foundation, 8/30/2022 Grants support nonprofit rescue organizations, animal control shelters, SPCAs and humane societies. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 9/7/2022 Seeking Policies for Action proposals to research policies with the potential to significantly improve the financial wellbeing and economic security of families and communities that have been systematically shoved to the margins, unable to enjoy a fair and just opportunity to be healthy. Awards will range from $30,000 to $450,000. Voices for Healthy Kids, 9/8/2022 The Policy Campaign Grant supports strategic issue advocacy campaigns concerning early care and education, Early Head Start/Head Start appropriations, paid family leave, preemption, school food dietary quality, healthy school meals for all, sugary drink tax and investment, SNAP incentives and produce prescription programs, and water access in schools. Awards range from $50,000 to $200,000. Cummings Foundation, 9/9/2022 The Cummings $30 Million Grant Program is a place-based initiative that primarily supports nonprofits in the Massachusetts counties where Cummings Foundation operates commercial properties and where most staff and clients of Cummings Foundation and Cummings Properties live. The application process begins with a Letter of Inquiry. Environmental Justice Data Fund, 9/16/2022 Funding goal: to help frontline communities that have been historically underserved and disproportionately impacted by climate change and environmental injustice. The Fund will enable frontline communities in the United States to use data to unlock resources, increase their access to Justice40 benefits and federal infrastructure funding, and advocate for new policies that empower communities to address past environmental harm and pave the way to a more sustainable, climate-resilient future. Awards range from $25,000 to $500,000.  Jewish Helping Hands, 9/19/2022 “Every act of tikkun olam—of repairing the world—is a spark that will light the way for the future.“ Funding goals: respond to unmet needs of those who are poor and/or marginalized; and promote self-help and empowerment within communities. Projects are ordinarily eligible for awards up to $5,000. D'Addario Foundation, 10/15/2022 Funding focus: music education and youth development programs. Average grant: $2,500.  Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation, 11/10/2022 Funding priorities: museums, cultural and performing arts programs; schools and hospitals; educational, skills-training and other programs for youth, seniors, and persons with disabilities; environmental and wildlife protection activities; and other community-based organizations and programs. Awards typically range from $1,000 to $20,000.  Waste Management, Open Grants (up to $150,000) support environmental education programs targeted at middle and high school students. The Skatepark Project, Open Funding goal: to create safe and inclusive public skateparks for youth in underserved communities. Grants range from $1,000 to $300,000. The application process begins with a Letter of Inquiry. Bank of America, Open Community Sponsorships; $5,000 max.      Check the Funding Update Archives for back issues with open deadlines. THE RESOURCE TABLE Use Your Candid Profile to Tell Your Nonprofit’s Story  Candid is collaborating with Nonprofit New York on a research project around nonprofit leadership in New York. All nonprofits are encouraged to participate in the research by earning a Candid profile Gold Seal of Transparency. By updating your profile, you provide donors with the information they need to fund you. You also get to choose what tens of millions of potential donors see about your organization. Register Here for the Webinar on 7/21/2022 at 10AM Eastern. “Genius is equally distributed. Opportunity is not. Camelback is here to change that.” Camelback Ventures philanthropy is focused on entrepreneurs of color and women. The Capital Collaborative is a cohort-based fellowship program run by Camelback and designed for White leaders in philanthropy and impact investing who want to deepen their personal and professional work on racial equity and racial justice. This cohort program will run from September 2022 through March 2023, with the first in-person Summit October 12-14th. Details here. Boston Residents: Do you need help getting online? Request FREE High Speed Internet & a Chromebook Laptop through the Boston Public Library's Long Term Lending Program! Click here to learn if you qualify. More BPL events and services are listed here.   Daily Updates from the City of Boston News, Resources, Applications, Permits, Events and more

波士頓市府宣佈高地公園為最新的建築保護區

MAYOR WU AND THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL ANNOUNCE THE DESIGNATION OF HIGHLAND PARK AS THE NEWEST ARCHITECTURAL CONSERVATION DISTRICT  Highland Park is Boston’s tenth historic district and the first historic district designated in Boston in over a decade; celebration to take place tomorrow, July 15 at Fort Hill Tower in Highland Park

 

 

BOSTON - Thursday, July 14, 2022 - Mayor Wu and the Boston City Council designated Highland Park as Boston’s newest Architectural Conservation District, under the provisions of Chapter 772 of the Acts of 1975, as amended. This designation follows an unanimous vote of approval by the Boston City Council on June 29, 2022 and deems Highland Park as Boston’s first protected historic district in over a decade. The Highland Park Architectural Conservation District Commission is made up of both Landmarks Commissioners and local neighborhood Commissioners. The Commission is charged with preserving the multifaceted history of Highland Park and its social, cultural, architectural, and aesthetic significance. The Mayor, the City Council, and the Boston Landmarks Commission will hold a celebratory event Friday at 3:30 p.m. at the Fort Hill Tower in Highland Park.   “Highland Park is a historical treasure that I’m grateful so many community members have fought to preserve and protect,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I am immensely proud to designate Highland Park as our newest historic district so that this rich, multicultural history can be connected to our communities for generations to come.”

 

 

Highland Park, which is approximately bordered by Malcolm X Boulevard on the north, Washington Street on the southeast, and Columbus Avenue on the southwest, is known for various topographies and architectural styles that reflect the many communities who have resided in this neighborhood throughout history. This district represents a diverse cross section of Boston’s history, which began with its important role for the Native people from the region. Highland Park also served a strategic role in the Revolutionary War and was critical for the civil rights movement, fostering grassroots activism and community organizing for housing, education, and economic equity. Highland Park covers about 170 acres of steep terrain with a variety of topographies, eclectic architectural styles, and distinct social significance.  “I am extremely excited that Highland Park has been designated as a historical landmark,” said District 7 City Councilor, Tania Fernandes Anderson. “Naming and honoring is important, as it helps us to properly value and maintain that which is integral to our heritage and history. With an eye toward acknowledging our rich past, we move forward in the creation of a bountiful future.” In 1978, Highland Park residents submitted a petition that was accepted by the Boston Landmarks Commission to designate Highland Park as a historic district. At the time, there was not enough wider community interest for the process to designate the district to move forward. Over the following decades, support for the district was periodically revitalized. A group of local activists organized in support of the creation of a district commission in the 1990s, although this did not come to fruition. Then, in 2018, the Highland Park Neighborhood Coalition approached the Landmarks Commission with the goal of reviving the process. Neighborhood residents gathered more than 500 signatures in support of district designation. With the support of a Massachusetts Historical Commission grant, the Boston Landmarks Commission hired the Public Archaeology Laboratory to undertake the historic research for a study report on Highland Park.  Over the course of 16 months, 23 public meetings, and three community listening events, the Study Committee worked to create guidelines that would preserve the character of the district and the quality of life for its residents, without requiring homeowners to undertake potentially costly actions. In order to avoid placing financial burden on local residents and property owners, the Study Committee developed a set of standards and criteria for the proposed Highland Park Architectural Conservation District. This includes the proposed district to not regulate how to do maintenance and repairs or which materials a building owner must use on small alterations. The regulations do address the demolition of existing buildings, major architectural alterations, major landscape alterations, and new construction. The designation of Highland Park as an Architectural Conservation District will create a commission made up of two members and two alternates from Highland Park as well as three Boston Landmarks Commission representatives. The commission will be charged with reviewing and issuing guidance on proposed demolitions and developments, monitoring and evaluating the use of open space, and reviewing any major exterior alterations to the district’s buildings. This District will provide learning opportunities and be a model for preservation in other neighborhoods where residents want to have a voice in what is preserved in their community without imposing a financial burden.  “For generations, Highland Park residents have celebrated the multilayered history of their neighborhood and today we celebrate their role in preserving it on a city-wide scale,” said Reverend Mariama White-Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy and Open Space. “As a Roxbury native, I am grateful to the Highland Park Study Committee for bringing light to this important history and to Mayor Wu, the Boston City Council and the Boston Landmarks Commission for the designation of Boston’s newest conservation district.”  “With the ACD designation, Highland Park residents now have a voice on how we want to protect our neighborhood and how we want to shape its future,” said Andrea Caceres, Highland Park Study Committee member. “This allows us to both respect our diverse history, especially our Black culture, and celebrate and protect our community that lives here today. I want to thank Mayor Wu, the Boston Landmarks Commission, the City Council, and our community for supporting the Highland Park community in achieving this massive feat.“ Prior to the designation of Highland Park, the last historic district to be established by the City was the Fort Point Channel Landmark District (South Boston) in 2009. Any ten registered Boston voters can petition the Boston Landmarks Commission to designate a historic neighborhood, building, landscape or object as a protected Boston Landmark or District. Local historic districts carry the ability to regulate change in historic neighborhoods, unlike National Register districts, which advocate for their protection. You can learn more about designating a landmark in Boston by emailing BLC@boston.gov.   Additionally, Mayor Wu created the new Office of Historic Preservation, which sits under the Environment, Energy and Open Space Cabinet, effective July 1, 2022. The Office of Historic Preservation works to ensure that Boston’s history is inclusive, honest and elevates every community to have the tools and resources to research, preserve, acknowledge, and celebrate history. Historic preservation helps support the City with its carbon neutrality goals by preserving the upfront embodied carbon, which is the energy it took to harvest, manufacture, and ship building materials that make up these properties.The new office includes the Boston Landmarks Commission and the City Archaeology Program. The Boston Landmarks Commission and the ten local historic district commissions are volunteers nominated from professional organizations and neighborhood groups specified in each commission’s legislation. There are over 8,000 properties designated as individual Landmarks or located within Boston’s local historic districts.