In June, Mayor Wu announced the extension of the City of Boston's Office to Residential Conversion Program with $15 million in additional funding from the state. The program, which formally launched in October of 2023, aims...more
On July 20, 2024, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (“SJC”) decided Shoucair v. Board of Appeal of Boston, 494 Mass. 319 (2024), which clarified the standard for imposing a bond on a party who appeals the grant of...more
In its decision this morning in Shoucair v. Board of Appeal of Boston, the Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) held that in court appeals under § 11 of the Boston Zoning Enabling Act (Section 11), the trial judge can require the...more
On June 13, 2024, the Boston Planning & Development Agency (“BPDA”) Board of Directors approved a proposed zoning text amendment regarding Net Zero Carbon (“NZC Zoning”) and authorized its submission to the Boston Zoning...more
“Your success in life isn’t based on your ability to simply change. It is based on your ability to change faster than your competition, customers and business.” — Mark Sanborn. This past July, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu,...more
On July 31, 2023, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu signed an executive order ending the use of fossil fuels in new construction and major renovations of city-owned buildings. Although city buildings comprise a small percentage of...more
In a further effort to create and preserve affordable housing, the Massachusetts House of Representatives recently advanced House Bill 4637, “An Act Relative to Real Estate Transfer Fees and Senior Property Tax Relief” (“H.B....more
The City of Boston and the Boston Planning and Development Agency (“BPDA”) have put forward a new proposal, known as the zero net carbon building zoning initiative, which would require that newly constructed buildings over...more
The Standells may “love that dirty water” according to their 1966 hit song, but the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) New England region is hoping to reduce stormwater pollution running off industrial, commercial and...more
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu just lifted the city’s proof-of-COVID-19 vaccine mandate for indoor businesses, effective immediately. The city’s February 18 announcement was based on public health data, citing a recent drop in...more
Newly elected Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has announced that, starting on January 15, 2022, individuals will be required to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 in order to enter certain indoor spaces in Boston. People...more
Last week, the Boston City Council approved amendments to the Building Energy Reporting and Disclosure Ordinance. The changes are being referred to as “BERDO 2.0”, which almost understates the scope of the revisions. As...more
The City of Boston has announced that, in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it will require individuals to wear face coverings “whenever they are indoors on the premises of a business, club, place of assembly or...more
Given the improvement in the number of COVID-19 cases and the City’s positivity rate, Mayor Martin J. Walsh has announced the City of Boston will lift some restrictions and return to Step One of Phase Three of the Reopening...more
Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker recently issued Order 43, moving Massachusetts into Phase 3 of the Commonwealth's four-phased Reopening Plan. Phase 3, like prior phases, has two steps, with Step 1 of Phase 3 taking...more
The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston (Reserve Bank) announced changes to the Main Street Lending Program (Program) to allow more small and medium-sized businesses to be able to participate in the Program. The changes are...more
Non-essential construction is not presently permitted in Boston, but draft best practice guidelines and an associated contractor certificate identify the way forward for owners and contractors. Non-essential construction...more
The City of Boston has proposed new safety protocols for construction work deemed essential during the ongoing health emergency caused by the COVID-19 virus. ...more
Sullivan recently issued a client alert highlighting key provisions of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the "CARES Act") as well as a follow-up client alert providing a deeper dive into the Paycheck...more
On Monday, March 16, 2020, Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced that all active construction sites in Boston are halted. The Mayor told companies to maintain skeletal crews to make sure sites remain “safe and secure” and...more
In response to the public-health crisis caused by the spread of COVID-19, Mayor Walsh has ordered all construction activity halted in Boston, effective March 17, 2020. The order carves out exceptions for emergency utility...more