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HD 5035

An Act relative to certain affordable housing and cultural space in the Brighton section of the city of Boston

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Mike Moran

The bill would allow the Boston Housing Authority to redevelop the Faneuil Gardens site for affordable and mixed-income housing and cultural space with broad exemptions from standa

Referred to the committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight
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Bill Summary · HD 5035

Summary: HD 5035 — An Act relative to certain affordable housing and cultural space in the Brighton section of the city of Boston

Overview

  • Bill Number: HD 5035 (House Docket No. 5035)
  • Title: An Act relative to certain affordable housing and cultural space in the Brighton section of the city of Boston
  • Introduced: August 14, 2025
  • Status: Referred to the Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight
  • Sponsor/Origin: Representative Michael J. Moran (Boston), with local approvals noted

Purpose and intent

The bill seeks to authorize the Boston Housing Authority (BHA) to redevelop the Faneuil Gardens site in Brighton—specifically the parcel between Faneuil Street and North Beacon Street (Boston Parcel ID 2202616000) and the adjacent parcel at the southeast corner of North Beacon Street and Goodenough Street (Boston Parcel ID 2202627000), along with any connected area—to create new publicly-assisted, affordable and mixed-income housing, cultural space, replacement musician rehearsal space, and related uses. The Legislature would grant procurement-related exemptions to facilitate planning, design, construction, and related activities for this project.

Key provisions

  • Section 1 — Procurement and contracting exemptions (local redevelopment activity):

    • The project “shall not be subject to any general or special law related to the procurement and award of contracts for planning, design, construction management, construction, reconstruction, installation, demolition, maintenance or repair of buildings or public works by a public agency.” This includes exemption from:
    • General or special procurement laws under Chapter 149, Chapter 7C, and Chapter 30, Section 39M of the General Laws.
    • Acquisition or disposition of any interest necessary to support completion of the project shall not be subject to Chapter 30B, Section 16.
    • The project shall be subject to Sections 26 to 27H, inclusive, of Chapter 149 of the General Laws.
    • In short, the bill creates a special exemption from most standard public procurement laws for this redevelopment, while still placing the project under specific Chapter 149 provisions.

  • Section 2 — Effective date: The act takes effect upon passage.

Who or what would be affected

  • Boston Housing Authority (BHA): The agency implementing the redevelopment of the Faneuil Gardens site would operate under these exemptions.
  • Developers and contractors: Entities engaged in planning, design, construction management, and construction for the project would be affected by the procurement carve-out (with the project still subject to Chapter 149 Sections 26–27H).
  • Residents and beneficiaries: The redevelopment aims to deliver affordable and mixed-income housing, along with cultural space and replacement musician rehearsal space, benefiting the Brighton community.

Procedural/timeline aspects

  • The bill has been assigned to the State Administration and Regulatory Oversight Committee for consideration.
  • It takes effect immediately upon enactment (upon passage).
  • Local approvals: The bill’s text indicates local approval was received for the petition.

Potential implications (informational, not normative)

  • The exemptions aim to streamline procurement and project delivery for a complex redevelopment with housing and cultural components.
  • Maintaining accountability would depend on how Sections 26–27H of Chapter 149 are applied and monitored within the project timeline.
  • The balance between expediting construction and safeguarding competitive bidding, transparency, and value for the public is a central consideration given the broad carve-out from standard procurement laws.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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