Don Briggs

Boston is enjoying a more rapid and stronger economic recovery than the majority of the country, driven by the combination of many great strengths – innovation, stable institutions, a historic urban fabric, a connected multi-modal system of transportation and a well-educated, diverse population. As these same strengths are driving the recovery and growth in many of America’s other great cities, the lines of economic competition are being drawn both nationally and globally. Bruce Katz in his book “The Metropolitan Revolution” makes a compelling argument that cities, or as better defined “urban regions” – not states or countries – are the new basic units of global competition.
It is at the regional urban level that we will compete for the brightest minds, collaborate and innovate to create the next generation of new ideas, and construct urban ecosystems that are more sustainable, connected and enduring. While Greater Boston has a strong foundation on which to build, several critical challenges need to be addressed.

Housing Affordability
Last January, the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission (MAPC) issued a report projecting a demand for the development of 435,000 housing units built throughout the region by 2040 in order to maintain a healthy economy. Mayor Martin Walsh has made the construction of new housing within the city of Boston a primary goal, calling for the construction of an additional 53,000 units by 2030.
Our collective success is dependent on both retaining the bright, young minds that come here to be educated and on providing access to jobs and skills training for the breadth of our population at all rungs on the economic ladder. How we choose to meet this challenge will have an impact on our city for generations to come.
The solution must embrace density that provides access to our employment and research centers. We must seek opportunities to knit density into our historic fabric, creating new neighborhoods and enhancing our existing ones. We must find creative solutions to how we tackle the cost burdens of new construction so that the neighborhoods we deliver are affordable.

Transportation Infrastructure
Even as voters have opted to repeal indexing the gas tax as a funding source for transportation infrastructure, we must find a way to prioritize smart, responsible investment in public transit, roads and bridges to truly realize our economic potential.
Extension of the Green Line, improvements to the Fairmount Line, construction of the West Station, increasing capacity into the South Boston waterfront and improving connectivity to the incredibly valuable research clusters in Kendall Square and the Longwood Medical Area are all priorities that will lead to a more competitive region. Investment in new forms of transit, including diesel multiple units and bus rapid transit systems, will enable us to cost efficiently expand connectivity between emerging development areas and our economic engines located along the Red and Orange Line corridors.
Facing our public infrastructure needs collectively through thoughtful prioritization and allocation of substantial resources will pay major dividends in growing our region.

Sustainability And Resiliency
In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, the impacts of sea level rise and storm surges have been laid bare. Recent reports like ULI’s “Living with Water” and HUD’s “Rebuild by Design” have focused on creative ways that cities can design, fund and build a resilient future. Incorporating district-wide measures to make our most vulnerable areas resilient and sustainable will prevent future losses and ensure the reliability our economic engine requires.

Regional Cooperation
Integrating these new ideas into our built environment will require regional solutions and the cooperation of cities and towns. The new Baker Administration must play a leadership role in setting priorities and helping to define an agenda; but, ultimately, we must address these challenges at the local level, with guidance from mayors, support from the business community and input from of our citizens.
One great example of regional cooperation is the new Life Sciences Corridor, which has received the support of the mayors of Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, Quincy and Braintree – the five cities along the Red Line corridor. Expanding economic partnerships to address other challenges facing our region represents an important blueprint for how communities can come together to enhance Greater Boston’s overall competitiveness.
A healthy region with plentiful affordable housing, connected by a world-class transportation system, and built in a sustainable manner will lead to broader economic prosperity for all the citizens of greater Boston. 

Don Briggs is the president of Federal Realty Boston and the District Council Chair of the Urban Land Institute of Boston (ULI Boston/New England).