Boston Housing Authority Seeks Home Rule Petition for Brighton Redevelopment, Replacement Housing and Music Rehearsal Space

Kenzie Bach, director of the Boston Housing Authority, told the committee she supports House Bill H4415, a Home Rule petition that would allow procurement flexibility to support a mixed‑use redevelopment in Brighton that includes replacement public housing, additional affordable units and space for displaced musicians. "Faneuil Gardens is an existing state assisted public housing community, which the BHA is seeking to redevelop replacing the all 2 58 existing public housing units with equally deeply affordable housing for the current residents, and also adding approximately 187 net new affordable units," Bach said. She told the committee the adjacent parcel at 290 North Beacon Street entered BHA ownership as mitigation after a private development displaced musicians, and BHA plans to replace rehearsal and cultural space there. Bach said BHA has followed years of tenant engagement and relocation consultation and will phase construction so residents retain the right to return. She urged the legislature to grant the Home Rule petition to permit procurement methods that BHA has used on prior Boston public housing projects and emphasized the project would preserve prevailing wage protections. Discussion only: Bach answered committee questions about tenant engagement, phasing and labor standards; no committee vote was recorded. Why it matters: the proposal combines state‑assisted public housing redevelopment, added affordable housing, cultural/rehearsal space replacement, and procurement flexibilities under a Home Rule petition; preserving prevailing‑wage requirements was highlighted by BHA. No formal action was taken at the hearing; BHA said written testimony would be submitted to the record.