posted 4/9/2008
It seems like every year we read about how there is very little capital budget for our schools, parks and other city infrastructure. Many taxpayers do not realize that our city government has given away literally hundreds of millions, perhaps billions of dollars to the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA). In most cities, if a municipal parcel of land is identified for disposition, it is required to be put out for bid, the highest capable bidder wins and proceeds are apportioned to capital projects in the community (under the theory that one time revenues should be spent on one time expenses).
Boston is different. Typically city-owned properties, each worth hundreds of thousands, even tens of millions of dollars, are given or sold to the BRA for $1! (The BRA takes it by eminent domain - without request for compensation to the city). Then the BRA sells or leases out the land, often changing zoning and other restrictions in return for additional payments from the developer. Proceeds are not returned to the city; instead, the BRA keeps the money to support its own operations. Boston is thus deprived of huge amounts of critical capital and operating funds.
We are the only municipality in America that is run by an urban renewal authority, accountable to no one but its own board which is 80% controlled by mayoral appointments. Other cities have operating departments for planning and zoning with a public process for disposing of property, all under accountable officials. Boston could and should do the same. The BRA's urban renewal plans should be terminated. The City Council vote of 2004 extending those plans should be rescinded since the BRA has violated the reporting conditions of that vote. All BRA land and money should revert to the City. By copy of this letter and your own comments, please let our elected officials know that it's time for Boston to go "BRA-less".
A few examples of BRA acquisitions:
- City Hall Plaza -- zero compensation
- Hayward Place -- zero compensation
- 24 parcels in Dorchester for Salvation Army youth center -- $1 compensation (BRA sold it to SA for $2.4 million, per appraisal)
- Winthrop Square garage interest (right to collect rent) -- zero compensation - and planning to give the garage property itself to BRA, for zero
- Air rights under the cornice lines of countless buildings -- zero compensation
- Ninth floor of City Hall -- zero compensation
For a more complete list of the hundreds of BRA owned properties, go to www.cityofboston.gov/assessing and type in "Redevelopment" under owner's name. You will note that these properties are also exempt from property taxes.