前屋斯特市經理 Edward M. Augustus 將出任麻州首位房屋廳廳長

圖片來自維基百科

            (Boston Orange 編譯) 麻州州長奚莉 (Maura Healey) 及副州長Kim Driscoll今 (15) 日宣佈，指派曾任屋斯特 (Worcester)市經理 的Edward M. Augustus出任麻州歷來首位房屋廳廳長 (Housing Secretary) ，訂6月1日上任。。

                                         這一新職位的全稱為住宅及宜居社區 (Housing and Livable Communities) 廳廳長。

              Edward M. Augustus當年在任時，曾為屋斯特市蓋了數以千計，供不同收入層次民眾居住的住宅單位。奚莉州長稱他嫻熟地方政府市務，知道如何和市鎮合作，達成州政府的住宅目標，是麻州此刻需要的領袖。副州長Kim Driscoll則說，專為住宅設立一個廳長級職位，將大幅度影響麻州處理住宅危機的能力。

              Edward M. Augustus 在2014至2022年間，擔任人口20多萬，作為麻州門戶城市之一的屋斯特市市經理。他在位期間監管並分配2530萬元的社區發展集團(Community Development Block Group)，住家投資合夥項目 (HOME Investment Partnerships Program) ，以及屋斯特減鉛健康家庭計畫 (Worcester Lead Abatement and Healthy Homes Program) 經費，為麻州有補助住宅數量第三多的屋斯特市，在全市發展並保存2000個以上可負擔住宅單位。Edward M. Augustus還把來自聯邦政府的美國援救法 (ARPA)的3000萬元，用於為屋斯特市蓋住宅，包括1500萬元撥給了可負擔住宅信託基金。

              在屋斯特市經理一職上，Edward M. Augustus管理7億5000萬元預算，以及9000萬元的” 重振城市20年計畫”。他率先支持撥款2億4000萬元來重新發展屋斯特市運河區地標，包括從帶領波士頓紅襪隊AAA附隊 (WooSox) 遷移到屋斯特市，道建造多用途極地公園體育館，酒店，以及住宅大樓，以及Kelley廣場交界處的重新設計等。

在加入伍斯特市之前，Edward M. Augustus曾擔任聖十字學院政府與社區關係主任、伍斯特第二選區麻州參議員、國會議員吉姆麥戈文 (Jim McGovern) 的幕僚長，以及柯林頓 (Clinton) 政府教育部政府間及機構間事務助理部長。 他最近擔任院長學院 (Dean College)的校長。

              麻州州長在3月1日時向麻州議會遞交第87號法案，要設立州長辦公室的住宅及宜居社區廳，把麻州政府目前的住宅及經濟發展辦公室從原本的經濟發展廳獨立出來，成為一個新的廳長級職位，並把其工作範圍，擴大至包括建造房屋。

              這一新設職位將專注於住宅，並推動在大眾交通系統沿線，造更多可負擔房屋，降低開銷的方法，以期人民可以住得和工作地點距離更近，更容易獲得醫療護理，採購雜貨，得到其他的基本生活服務。

Governor Healey and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll Name Edward M. Augustus as Housing Secretary 

Former Worcester City Manager with record of creating thousands of housing units will lead administration’s new Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities 

 

BOSTON – Governor Maura Healey and Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll today announced that they are naming former Worcester City Manager Edward (Ed) M. Augustus to serve as the state’s first Housing Secretary in more than 30 years. Augustus, who helped to create thousands of new housing units at all income levels during his tenure in Worcester, will lead Governor Healey’s new Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities beginning June 1. 

 

“Ed Augustus is the leader Massachusetts needs to take the helm of our new Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities and drive an ambitious, collaborative strategy to increase housing production and lower costs across the state,” said Governor Maura Healey. “He left Worcester a stronger city than it was a decade ago, with booming economic development in the downtown and thousands of new housing units. Importantly, he is intimately familiar with local government and knows what it takes to collaborate with municipalities to move our state forward on our housing goals.”  

 

“The establishment of a cabinet-level secretariat dedicated solely to housing will have a major impact on Massachusetts’ ability to address this crisis and lower costs across the state. Ed Augustus has the right experience, vision and drive to lead this important work,” said Lieutenant Governor Driscoll. “His motto is ‘How do we get to yes?’ which is an approach our entire administration is embracing. We’re committed to partnering with cities and towns to ensure they have the resources and support they need to give a hearty “Yes!” to housing development in their communities.” 

 

“I’m honored that Governor Healey and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll have placed their faith in me to lead the new Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. Massachusetts' housing crisis impacts every single community in our state, but we know what the solution is – build more housing,” said Augustus. “This administration recognizes that there is no one-size-fits-all strategy to achieving this and that we must work closely with communities to deploy a diverse toolbox of options to meet their unique needs. That’s what this new secretariat will be committed to doing.” 

 

Augustus served as City Manager of Worcester, functioning as the Chief Administrative and Executive Officer of the Gateway City of more than 200,000 people, from 2014-2022. During his tenure, he oversaw the commitment or distribution of $25.3 million in Community Development Block Group, HOME Investment Partnerships Program, and Worcester Lead Abatement and Healthy Homes Program funds to develop or preserve more than 2,000 affordable housing units throughout the City. Worcester is the city with the third largest subsidized housing inventory in the state. Augustus also dedicated $30 million of the ARPA funds coming into the city to housing, including $15 million for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. 

 

As City Manager, Augustus managed a $750 million budget, as well as the $90 million, 20-year Urban Revitalization Plan. Notably, he spearheaded the $240 million landmark redevelopment of Worcester’s Canal District, including leading the complex negotiation to relocate the Boston Red Sox AAA-affiliate (now the WooSox) to the city and construction of the multi-use Polar Park stadium, hotel, and housing development, as well as the Kelley Square intersection redesign.  

 

Prior to joining the City of Worcester, Augustus served as Director of Government & Community Relations for the College of Holy Cross, State Senator for the 2^nd Worcester District, Chief of Staff for Congressman Jim McGovern, and Chief of Staff to the Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental and Interagency Affairs at the U.S. Department of Education under President Clinton’s Administration. He most recently served as Chancellor of Dean College. 

 

Governor Healey filed Article 87 legislation to create the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities on March 1. The legislation moves the Department of Housing and Community Development out of the current Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development into the new secretariat and broadens its scope of work to also include housing production. 

 

This new cabinet-level secretariat will be solely dedicated to housing and driving solutions to create more homes and lower costs. It will focus on the urgent need to build places to live that are affordable and closer to public transit – giving residents access to jobs, medical care, groceries, and other essential services. The Housing Secretary will work collaboratively with stakeholders – public housing authorities, cities and towns, the federal government, non-profits, developers, landlords, renters and advocates – to develop a comprehensive housing development and stabilization strategy. The secretariat will also administer financial assistance and programs focused on housing production, rehabilitation, preservation, affordability, stability and security, while centering fairness and equity with every opportunity. 

波士頓華人投資協會第2屆創投簡報賽 MyroBalan奪冠

波士頓華人投資協會創辦人易敏 (前右五)和主辦團隊，嘉賓、參賽者合影。 (周菊子攝)

 

波士頓華人投資協會創辦人易敏 (右二)  向 MyroBalan的
三名創辦人，左起王靜，何志剛，馮國平道喜。 (周菊子攝)

                    (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 波士頓華人投資協會 (BCIC) 日前在南波士頓Cambria旅館，舉辦第2屆國際生物醫療創投大賽，從86家參賽企業中選出MyroBalan療法等共6名優勝者。

MyroBalan的共同創辦人王靜，親自講解該公司研發內容，
計畫籌資2000萬元。 (周菊子攝)

                    BCIC今年的創投大賽，重點關注在北美具有潛力的高品質早期生物科技項目，並促進初創企業和投資者之間的交流。今年的參賽隊伍，決賽獎項也都創新高。去年有48隊報名，今年暴增至86家企業參賽，其中有5家公司的成員包括多名美國院士。這些初創公司經過為期半年的數輪競爭後，共有18家打入決賽，12家分別在網上，或在麻州南波士頓的現場做簡報，即席回答評審提問。

                        經過一整天的簡報後，獲選的優勝團隊依序為，第一名MyroBalan；第二名有2名，InGel療法和Full Circles 療法；第三名有3名，Neodroid 生物科學公司，Elpis 生物製藥公司，以及DoriVac免疫療法公司。

德州的 InGel療法贏得第二名，江一鵬  (左) 領獎。

                   MyroBalan共同創辦人兼執行長王靜當天親自出馬，解說該公司的「腦信息欄重塑 (Brain Infobahn Restoration) 」，是在研發中樞神經疾病的小分子療法。該公司科學創辦人馮國平是麻省理工學院麥高文研究所腦神經學教授暨博德研究所 (Broad Institute)研究員，另一名科學創辦人是2021年當選為美國醫學院院士的何志剛。MyroBalan於2021年8月創立後，9月完成種子輪融資，在波士頓和南京設有研究實驗室，現有20多名員工，已申請5項專利，估計到2024年時，需要融資2000萬元以跨入臨床階段。

由吳昊做簡報的Full Circle 也贏得第二名。 (周菊子攝)

第二名的得獎者分別為針對色素性視網膜炎找出幹細胞療法的InGel療法，以及藉由平台開發新型治療性基因組藥物的Full Circles 療法公司。第三名有3名，依序為研發下一代納米醫學的Neodroid 生物科學公司，針對腫瘤做臨床階段生物技術的Elpis 生物製藥公司，以及用DNA納米技術開發癌症免疫療法的臨床前生物技術公司DoriVac。

曾洋(左)代表DoriVac 從BCIC創辦人易敏手中領第三名獎座。 (周菊子攝)

                      其餘的12個入圍決賽團隊或企業，都獲得創新獎。分別為Dart 生物科學，Likarda責任有限公司，Fuse生物醫藥，Carta生物醫藥，Aplife 生物科技，Adcura公司；SunVax mRNA 療法；大灣生物 (Great Bay Bio)，Santomean 療法，Elpis 生物療法，Cellula 生物製藥公司，511療法等。

麻省理工學院首席研究員張曙光不只當嘉賓，也參加了簡報
比賽，在他的休假一年中，為治療胰臟癌研發mABs療法的
511療法公司做簡報。 (周菊子攝)

                  這場創投大賽邀請了哈佛大學生物化學及分子藥理學教授Gerhard Wagner，麻省理工學院首席研究科學家張曙光，波士頓上海張江企業園財務長田華，朴道資本 (Pagoda Tree Partners)創辦人魯彥岑，美迪西生物醫藥創辦人兼執行長陳春麟，ATLATL創投中心創辦人兼執行長朱鵬程，香港科學園區企業發展資深經理

JJ Lake的負責人柳一夫解說該機構為初創企業提供的服務，
以及其背後Oriza集團旗下的多家資本公司。 (周菊子攝)

William Cheung等人擔任評審，並為大賽做主題演說，或介紹各自企業的概況。

         贊助商也多半是為創業者提供所需服務的企業，例如柳一夫做說明，為初創企業提供創業輔導，資金來源，並側重協助美國企業進軍亞洲的JJ Lake，請有李開復做榮譽董事長，設有基金，要做科技創新服務平台，也辦全球創業比賽的Hicool 商學院。         

            其中的朱鵬程，原本為波士頓海外華人企業家協會成員，2010年在波士頓創業有成後，2017年回中國發展，其後成立ATLATL創投中心，為生物醫藥領域初創公司提供平台，實驗室空間並橋接投資。 

BCIC會後宣佈成立AlphaBio Ventures LLC。 (主辦機構提供)

BCIC創辦人易敏指出，由於這場大賽的參賽隊伍來自世界各地，又有E藥經理人、深藍觀、賽柏藍，以及HiCool等合作夥伴全程直播，儘管在波士頓主賽場僅約百人出席，但在線看直播的卻有上萬人。

              BCIC會後宣佈成立生物醫療投資服務公司AlphaBio Ventures LLC。

BCIC 2023創投簡報會工作團隊合影。 (主辦機構提供)

EMPath頒 EMPower獎表揚麻州州長Maura Healey

Kim Janey頒EMPower獎給麻州州長Maura Healey。 (周菊子攝)

              (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 致力賦能婦女，協助脫貧的非牟利組織EMPath，5月11日傍晚，在波士頓兒童圖書館舉辦籌款會，頒發Empower獎表揚麻州州長奚莉 (Maura Healey) 。

Kim Janey現任EMPath 董事長兼執行長。 (周菊子攝)

              EMPath原名Crittenton，創立於1824年，致力為人提供住宅，教育，人力發展，以及家庭及生活技能支援等服務。2006年時，和倡議婦女在經濟上自給自足，為婦女提供就業培訓及輔導者，也為遭遇暴力婦女提供過渡住宅的「婦女聯盟 (The Women’s Union) 」合併，並成為在大波士頓以創新方式，協助低收入婦女及其家庭在經濟上自給自足的主要非牟利機構之一。2016年5月6日，該機構更名為經濟流動之路 (Economic Mobility Pathways) ，簡稱EMPath。

              2022年5月，EMPath 聘請曾代理波士頓市長，因而成為波士頓市有史以來第一位女市長，也是第一位黑人市長的

麻州州長Maura Healey (周菊子攝)

Kim Janey出任董事長兼執行長。

              Kim Janey 是在當年的波士頓市長馬丁華殊 (Marty Walsh) 遠赴華府，走馬上任美國勞工部部長後，以市議會議長身份，依法代理市長一職，直到選民投票選出吳弭 (Michelle Wu) 為下一任市長後，才於2021年11月16日卸任代理市長，回任波士頓市議會議長，職至2022年1月3日卸任。

              Kim Janey隨後獲邀成為哈佛大學甘迺迪政府學院學者，再於

麻州州長Maura Healey親切的應出席者要求合影。 (周菊子攝)

5月走馬上任EMPath董事長兼執行長。

              Kim Janey在頒獎晚會中指出，EMPath是個有200年歷史，150多個夥伴機構的國際組織，她在青少年時期，就曾獲得該機構協助，從而獲得導正生活機會，並一路走來，不但完成學業，還跨進市政府，甚至一度當上市長，成為波士頓市有史以來的第一位女市長。如今再回這個組織，她格外感恩，也很幸運在競選路上認識現在的麻州州長奚莉，這位做為先驅，全美少有，公開同性戀身份的州長，看到她為人民創造機會、扶持家庭，重視教育的持續努力。

              奚莉州長在上台領獎時稱許Kim Janey成為波士頓市的第一位女市長，第一位黑人市長，直言代表性很重要 (representation matters) ，除非人們看見，不然很難做到。她不諱言自己主掌的州長辦公室女性略微偏多，還強調她的內閣政府也是最多元化的，因此能夠制定更完善的政策，得到更好結果。

AbbVie 和 Celtics 進社區翻建STEM實驗室 6月到昆士小學

艾伯維 (AbbVie) 生物製藥免疫及病毒發現研究副總裁Jochen Salfeld (右)致詞。 (周菊子攝)

(Boston Orange周菊子波士頓綜合報導) 波士頓市的Shelburne青少年和家庭中心 (BCYF)，在艾伯維 (AbbVie)生物製藥公司和凱爾特人隊(Celtics)攜手合作中，把一個大約800平方英尺的活動室，變成STEM實驗室，5月10日請波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu)出席啟用儀式。

艾伯維生物製藥公司義工團隊合影。 (周菊子攝)

艾伯維 (AbbVie) 生物製藥公司的免疫及病毒發現研究副總裁Jochen Salfeld，和凱爾特人隊代表Kash Cannon，Shelburne青少年和家庭中心主任Diane Gallowang和波士頓市長吳弭等人在啟用儀式中簡短致詞。

Jochen Salfeld向STEM 實驗室中的小朋友及青少年們說明，艾伯維致力回饋社區，希望能夠協助更多青少年認識，喜愛科學、技術、工程及數學 (STEM) 這些科目，將來成為各領域的領袖。

波士頓市長吳弭說，她去過許多地方，見過許多人，經常聽到Shelburne這個名稱。她向場中的青少年及小朋友們強調，他們不知道自己有多幸運，有多少其他地方的人都渴望有他們所享有的設備及資源。

波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu) 和贏得凱爾特人隊
簽名籃球的小朋友們合影。 (周菊子攝)

凱特爾隊人這天不但把該隊的吉祥物請到會場，還在每一位嘉賓出場致詞時，分別拿出太陽眼鏡，帽子等小禮物，送給場中的小朋友。活動結束時，還請吳弭市長和小朋友玩一場推桌球比賽，讓Shelburne贏得一顆有凱特爾隊球員簽名的金色籃球。

艾伯維公司這天有 Alessandra Welker 等多名義工出席。他們透露，艾伯維不只捐款把Shelburne青少年和家庭中心這佔地800多平方英尺的房間，改建成一個STEM實驗室，購置了許多新穎設備，還將不定期派出義工團隊，傳授生物醫學相關知識。

波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu) 和小朋友玩耍。 (周菊子攝)

艾伯維去年出動100多名義工，在Worcester的Forest Grove中學，為他們建了一個STEM實驗室。Shelburne青少年和家庭中心是該公司在波士頓建的第一個STEM實驗室。

                           在即將來臨的6月，艾伯維公司將在「充滿可能性的一週 (Week of Possibility) 」這鼓勵員工為社區義務服務的活動中，為波士頓的昆士小學，以及屋斯特(Worcester)的Belmont街社區學校翻新STEM空間。 (更新版)

              

                               

凱爾特人隊代表Kash Cannon介紹出席嘉賓。 (周菊子攝)

波士頓市人力發展辦公室共撥340萬元給26個社區組織

MAYOR WU, OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AWARD $3.4 MILLION IN NEIGHBORHOOD JOBS TRUST FUNDING TO 26 COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS This disbursement, the largest in the Trust’s history, is expected to serve an estimated 1,500 residents

 

BOSTON - Thursday, May 11, 2023 - Mayor Michelle Wu and the Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development (OWD) today announced the allocation of $3.4 million of Neighborhood Jobs Trust (NJT) funding to 26 community-based organizations across Boston’s neighborhoods. This marks the largest one-time grantmaking round in the Trust’s history and will serve approximately 1,500 Boston residents while allowing grantees to leverage $10.6 million in additional funding. The recipients were celebrated at More Than Words bookstore in the South End, an NJT grantee. Funding from the NJT supports local organizations that provide low to moderate income residents with job training and support services, enabling them to obtain higher paying jobs in diverse fields including human services, technology, hospitality, and healthcare.  “The Neighborhood Jobs Trust is a critical tool in our work to connect our residents to crucial job training and support services and ensure Boston is a city for everyone,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I’m thrilled to support these critical community organizations that invest in our city’s workforce and people and look forward to their work in strengthening our communities and economy.”  “The Neighborhood Jobs Trust funding will help provide residents the opportunity for training and a pathway to a meaningful career,” said Council President Ed Flynn. “Many of the community-based organizations that are funded are neighborhood anchors that provide important language training, digital literacy, workforce development, and youth programs that are essential to our immigrant and at-risk families."  “As a trustee of the Neighborhood’s Job Trust and the Boston City Council Chair of the Labor, Workforce & Economic Development committee, our office is invested in creating workforce opportunities for our residents while strengthening our economy,” said Councilor Julia Mejia. “I am pleased that, through this funding process, we were able to apply an equity lens in the selection of our recipients. This funding cycle gets us closer to addressing the wealth gap by uplifting community-based organizations that are seeking ways to support some of our most vulnerable communities, such as English for New Bostonians and Breaktime. I am also excited to see work focused around closing the digital equity gap and helping Boston residents strive in the 21st century through the work of Tech Goes Home.”  The Neighborhood Jobs Trust is a public charitable trust replenished by linkage fees from developers of large-scale commercial projects in Boston. Since its inception, the NJT has received over $55 million in Linkage funds to support Boston’s education and workforce development efforts, with $2.8 million disbursed in fiscal year 2022. Changes to the linkage policy were approved in March of 2023. The changes include lowering the threshold and exemption from 100,000 square feet to 50,000 square feet, increasing the total linkage fee for lab uses over two years to $30.78 per square foot for lab space and to $23.09 for other commercial uses, up from $15.39. Sixteen percent of the fees will support job training and job preparedness programs, while the remaining 84 percent will support the creation and preservation of affordable housing. The increase in the fees will be phased in over two years beginning in January 2024.  "I am excited about the City's increased investment in the innovative programs our community based organizations provide," said Chief of Worker Empowerment Trinh Nguyen. "These programs enrich Boston's talent pool by connecting residents to job and skills training and support services that will enable them to obtain high paying jobs in high growth industries and growing markets."  “In 2022, the BPDA Board approved new development projected to generate approximately $7.5 million in linkage fees to support job training,” said City of Boston Chief of Planning Arthur Jemison. "We're proud to continue to support the Neighborhood Jobs Trust through the work we do at the Boston Planning & Development Agency. I am hopeful that there will be even more funding to go towards high-paying, quality jobs for Bostonians, in the years to come.”  The Neighborhood Jobs Trust award recipients were selected through a public Request for Proposals (RFP) process released by the Office of Workforce Development in October 2022. This year’s grantees will provide programs that focus on careers in high growth industries and growing markets including clean energy and technology. Additionally, the programs are designed to serve individuals with barriers to employment and incorporate supportive wrap-around services.  “Mothers for Justice and Equality (MJE) is proud to partner with Mayor Wu's Office of Workforce Development on creating jobs for individuals who are dealing with chronic unemployment as a result of generational traumatic experiences,” said Monalisa Smith, Founder, President, and CEO of Mothers for Justice and Equality. “The support MJE was given from the Neighborhood Job Trust will allow us to triple the number of women served. Thank you, Mayor Wu for sharing our vision for quality human services to people of color living in underserved communities with high rates of mental health, incarceration and unemployment. Together, I believe we will make all the difference.”  "English for New Bostonians is thankful for NJT support -- this is a win for Boston's immigrant communities and a win for the city's economic prosperity,” said Claudia Green, Executive Director for English for New Bostonians. “With today's tight labor market, there's not a moment to waste. Funds will support online and in-person English classes, career coaching, job skills training, and connections with employers and entrepreneurship opportunities that promote immigrants' economic mobility."   "Access to high-quality digital devices, reliable internet service, and relevant digital skills training are all critical to helping Boston residents find and keep good jobs,” said Dan Noyes, CEO of Tech Goes Home. “This funding from the Neighborhood Jobs Trust will make it possible for more than 100 new learners to participate in Tech Goes Home's proven, workforce-focused programming, where they will gain critical tools and knowledge that will expand opportunity for them, their families, and our communities. We are grateful to the City of Boston and the Office of Workforce Development for their support and partnership in our ongoing work to advance digital equity."    To view the full list of Fiscal Year 2023 NJT grant recipients, visit boston.gov/neighborhood-jobs-trust.

BPDA approves new affordable housing in Dorchester, Jamaica Plain PLAN: Mattapan wins approval

BOSTON - Thursday, May 11, 2023 - The Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) Board of Directors this month approved two new development projects representing 201,000 square feet (SF). The new projects will create 181 residential units, 118 of which, or 65 percent will be designated income-restricted, and will support approximately 182 construction jobs and 63 permanent jobs. These projects will make Boston a more resilient, affordable, and equitable city.  Planning and Zoning BPDA Board approves PLAN: Mattapan The BPDA Board of Directors adopted the final PLAN: Mattapan planning initiative at their monthly board meeting. The adoption of the Plan comes nearly five years after the initiative began in October 2018. The plan proposes recommendations that lay the groundwork for an affordable, equitable, and resilient Mattapan: the allowance of backyard Additional Dwelling Units (ADUs), mobility improvements and mixed-use zoning that will cultivate a 10-minute neighborhood, transit improvements, and promoting investment in Mattapan Square and opportunities to strengthen local businesses. Read more here. BPDA Board approves contract for the Harvard Enterprise Research Campus District and Greenway Plan The BPDA Board approved a contract with W X Y Architecture & Urban Design to design a comprehensive regulatory master plan for the 22 acres of the Harvard ERC outside of the 14 acres within Phase A and Phase B of the proposed project. As part of the mitigation and community benefits package for the Harvard ERC Phase A, that was approved by the BPDA Board on July 14, 2022, Harvard committed to fund this planning study. The Plan will be used by the BPDA and its partner agencies to determine the future land use plan for the ERC, guide review of future PDA phases, inform mitigation, refine the character and programming of the greenway, and coordinate with other neighborhood planning efforts. Development Projects Project at 900 Morrissey Boulevard will create new supportive housing in Dorchester Live: 99 studios, 100 percent income-restricted Work: Approximately 47 construction jobs, 13 permanent positions in property management and resident services Connect: Shuttle to public transportation, improving sidewalk conditions This project will redevelop what is currently a hotel into supportive housing for formerly homeless individuals. The building will contain 99 compact studio units. Through a collaboration with the Pine Street Inn, “wrap around” social services will be available including on-site case managers, social activities, access to job training services, and other social service supports. Senior citizens 62 years of age and older will get preference for this housing. The project is consistent with the City of Boston’s goal of providing affordable housing for Bostonians, supporting mixed-income communities, and increasing access to opportunity through the project’s supportive services. BPDA Planning staff worked with the project to significantly improve the streetscape, pedestrian experience, and open space on site. The project will also support a shuttle for residents to public transportation. New mixed use development at 3390 Washington Street will build housing, commercial, and restaurant space Live: 82 residential units, 19 income-restricted units Work: Commercial space, restaurant space, retail space, approximately 50 permanent jobs, approximately 135 construction jobs Connect: Bicycle parking, new Bluebikes dock, new mid-block pedestrian crosswalk, new pedestrian paths Sustain: LEED Gold, all electric systems for residential portion of project Located in Jamaica Plain, this project involves two buildings that will contain the existing business – BMS Paper & Market – 82 housing units, residential amenities, and a new restaurant. The units are a mix of studio, one, two, and three-bedroom units. Of those 82 units, 23 percent will be income-restricted. The event room within the restaurant will also be available for the public to use for community meetings for free. This project will be a transit-oriented development, as it is in close proximity to the Green Street and Forest Hills MBTA stops, and has bike lanes nearby. The project will also provide much needed sidewalk and streetscape improvements on Washington Street, including a midblock crosswalk with curb extensions on both sides of the street. As part of the community benefits, the project will contribute $49,000 toward the City’s bikeshare program, and space will be provided for at least one 15-bike docking station on site.  In addition to these projects, the Board approved:  An update to a previously approved project at 4-18 Cheney Street in Dorchester for a reduction in the total unit count. An update to a previously approved project at 375 Cummins Highway for a reduction in parking spaces. An update to a previously approved project at 88 Black Falcon Avenue to split construction and renovations of the project into two phases. An update to a previously approved project at 2 H Street to add new income-restricted units. The disbursement of $100,000 to eight community organizations in the Fenway neighborhood as part of the Fenway Park Demonstration Project Community Benefits.