In collaboration with the Boston Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture (MOAC) and the Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA), and led by Isenberg Projects, Agency worked to improve transparency and streamline processes around providing low-cost space to arts & cultural tenants on the waterfront.
Agency led an inventory of existing Facilities of Public Accommodation (FPA) that fall within the public benefit civic/cultural use requirements designated by certain Chapter 91 licenses, conducting document reviews, site visits, and interviews to identify a complete list of existing civic and cultural spaces protected by this designation on the Boston waterfront.
Agency worked with MOAC and the PBDA to develop a list of anticipated and projected future FPA spaces to support MOAC’s efforts to conduct more comprehensive, city-wide cultural planning. After a comprehensive analysis of existing Chapter 91 licenses, Agency and Isenberg Projects crafted recommendations to support an improved process for civic and cultural providers who are tenants of FPA spaces, as well as developers pursuing Chapter 91 licenses, both of which struggle with complexity and lack of standardization today.
While Chapter 91 can be an effective tool for civic and cultural FPA spaces to bridge gaps in Boston’s cultural landscape, there are a number of barriers that limit their full potential today. The City can work with the State to develop standard language around the desired outcomes and requirements for civic and cultural FPA space to make the option more appealing and accessible to developers and the community. MOAC can work to demystify the FPA process and make the application workflow more accessible to potential cultural tenants. Finally, our study identified the need to embed climate resilience requirements and considerations into the Chapter 91 licensing process.
You can read the full report here.
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