In the heyday of the city’s building boom, meetings of the Boston Planning and Development Agency would routinely last at least five hours. The September 2020 special meeting discussing Suffolk Downs, the largest private development project in Boston’s history, didn’t adjourn until past midnight.
On Thursday afternoon, however, the BPDA board wrapped its monthly gathering in a brisk 1 hour and 21 minutes. The unusually brief proceedings were a stark reminder of how little development activity is planned or underway in Boston.
Much of the meeting was dedicated to celebrating the service of longtime board member and civic leader Ted Landsmark, who is stepping down from the board after a dozen years of service. Mayor Michelle Wu and City Councilor Miniard Culpepper jointly presented Landsmark with a proclamation declaring March 19 “Dr. Ted Landsmark Day” in the city, which prompted a standing ovation in the ninth-floor boardroom.
“You have counseled mayor after mayor, leader after leader, in every sector of the city,” Wu said. “I want to thank you personally for your kindness and mentorship.”
