As one of the largest real estate owners in
Boston, the City of Boston has tremendous
opportunities to impact the lives of
Bostonians through its use of public
property. The City and affiliated municipal
agencies control over 177 million square
feet of land across Boston.
The vast majority of this property is in
productive, community-oriented use
as public schools, community centers,
libraries, public safety buildings, and more.
However, the City’s portfolio of vacant
and underutilized property presents a
significant untapped resource to use public
land for public good. Many of these public
parcels, acquired through tax foreclosure,
urban renewal, or highway takings, have
sat vacant for decades as unfulfilled
promises for transformative community
development.