Boston Public Facilities Commission Meeting - July 29, 2026

The Boston Public Facilities Commission (PFC) met on July 29, 2026, to consider eight agenda items covering project approvals, contract awards, and land transfers from the Public Facilities Department (PFD) and the Mayor's Office of Housing (MOH). All items were approved unanimously by the three commissioners present: Chair Catherine Craven, Commissioner Larry Mamoli, and Commissioner Donald Wright.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of meeting minutes from March 25, 2026 (Boston Fire Department) and June 17, 2026 (PFD and MOH). Both sets of minutes were approved by roll call with Chair Craven and Commissioner Wright voting yes.

Discussion Items

PFD - MSBA Accelerated Repair Program: Margarita Moon's Academy & Orchard Garden School (Votes 1 & 2)

• Tim Columber, PFD Project Manager, presented two contract awards for the 2025 Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) Accelerated Repair Program. The projects involve converting existing gas-fired heating and cooling systems to all-electric heat pump systems at both schools, and a roof replacement with PV-ready provisions at Orchard Garden School (99 Albany Street, Roxbury). The roof is approximately 23 years old.
• Vote 1: Award of a $20,000 owner project manager services contract to Scanska USA Building Inc. for the feasibility study through schematic design phase, ending September 17, 2027.
• Vote 2: Award of a $495,835 design services contract to Ritz Frost Shrumway Engineering (assigned after unsuccessful negotiations with Shakar & Associates) for the same scope and term.
• Background: Boston submitted eight statements of interest in March 2025; seven were invited into the program (one moved to a later group). These two projects are the first group. Remaining six are expected before the Commission in September 2026.
• No questions; voted unanimously.

PFD - William E. Carter School Building Envelope Testing Amendment (Vote 3)

• Gee de Acevedo, Senior Project Manager, requested a fourth amendment to the contract with Lero Program Construction Management for owner project manager services. An increase of $25,850 (all in additional services related to whole-building air leakage testing) brings the total not-to-exceed contract amount to $3,676,363. The contract expiration remains October 23, 2026. The testing is part of building envelope commissioning for the school at 396 North Canton Street, South End.
• No questions; voted unanimously.

MOH - Tentative Designation Extension for Gen Wealth Development LLC (Vote 1)

• Jamie Smith, Senior Environmental Compliance Manager, requested a six-month extension (from 12 to 18 months) for tentative developer designation for vacant land at 34 Athwald Street, Dorchester. The developer, Gen Wealth Development LLC, proposes six homeownership units. The extension allows completion of permitting, after which MOH will return for a conveyance vote. Public benefits include new housing, revitalization of vacant land, construction jobs, $250,000 city revenue from sale, and return to tax rolls.
• No questions; voted unanimously.

MOH - Intra-City Transfer to Boston Centers for Youth & Families (Vote 2)

• Jamie Smith requested transfer of three parcels (40, 48, and 54 Geneva Avenue, Roxbury) from MOH to BCYF for a new community center. The parcels total 42,937 sq ft of vacant land. Construction began January 2026 and is expected to complete in early 2028, overseen by PFD. After construction, BCYF will assume care and custody.
• No questions; voted unanimously.

MOH - Extension for ILYB LLC for Nubian Square Cultural Project (Vote 3)

• Rihanna Burnell, Associate Director of Asset Management, requested a six-month extension (from 36 to 42 months) for ILYB LLC for two unnumbered parcels on Washington Street, Roxbury. The project emerged from the Plan Nubian Square process (since 2016) with community input via the Roxbury Strategic Master Plan Oversight Committee (RSM POC). ILYB is Roxbury-based and minority-owned. The proposal includes rehabilitating and extending an existing building to create 10 performing art studios, a media mixing room, and approximately 7,000 sq ft of outdoor park, plus gallery space depicting Nubian Square's cultural influences. The RSM POC has outlined monthly deliverable milestones.
• No questions; voted unanimously.

MOH - Conveyance to Eco Homes Highland Park LLC for Highland & Marcella Streets (Vote 4)

• Antonio Leish, Senior Housing Development Officer, requested conveyance of eight parcels (237, 255, 257, 259 Highland Street and 75, 84, 86, 88 Marcella Street, Roxbury) to Eco Homes Highland Park LLC for a purchase price of $800. The RFP emphasized income-restricted homeownership. Prior tentative designations were approved in April 2024, with extensions in July 2025 and April 2026. Units will be deed-restricted to moderate and middle-income households (80–100% area median income) and owned by the Highland Park Community Land Trust, ensuring perpetual affordability. Construction is slated for fall 2026.
• No questions; voted unanimously.

MOH - Tentative Developer Designation for 11 Chippman Street, Dorchester (Vote 5)

• Minwen Yen, Project Manager, requested tentative developer designation to Regine Foster for a vacant parcel at 11 Chippman Street, Dorchester, with a recommended purchase price of $25,000. An RFP issued in March 2026 yielded one eligible proposal. The developer intends to maintain and landscape the parcel. Public benefits include returning the property to productive use and tax rolls after nine years in MOH inventory, and generating $25,000 in revenue.
• No questions; voted unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• All eight votes were approved unanimously by roll call (Chair Craven, Commissioner Mamoli, Commissioner Wright each voting yes).
• Contracts awarded: Scanska USA ($20,000 OPM) and Ritz Frost Shrumway Engineering ($495,835 design) for MSBA school projects; $25,850 amendment to Lero Program Construction Management for Carter School envelope testing.
• Extensions granted: Six-month extension for Gen Wealth Development (Dorchester) and six-month extension for ILYB LLC (Roxbury cultural project).
• Land transfers approved: Intra-city transfer of three parcels to BCYF for a community center, conveyance of eight parcels to Eco Homes Highland Park LLC for affordable homeownership, and tentative developer designation for Regine Foster at 11 Chippman Street.
• Next steps: Remaining six MSBA school projects to come before the Commission in September 2026. Gen Wealth will seek a conveyance vote after building permit. ILYB will report monthly to the RSM POC. Eco Homes and 11 Chippman Street proceed to closing and construction.