What to know about the divisive plan to allow taller buildings in downtown Boston

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Going up: The Boston Planning and Development Agency board is set to vote today on a zoning change that would allow buildings as tall as 700 feet, or roughly 70 stories, in parts of downtown. But the proposal has divided downtown advocacy groups, some of whom have gone so far as to argue it would lead to the “Manhattanization” of the historic neighborhood. What will it actually do? Here’s a breakdown:

Zoom in: Currently, building height limits downtown vary from 100 feet near Boston Common to 650 feet in the Financial District. That’s due to more than a dozen different zoning districts and overlays that govern what can be built “by-right” without any special permits, as well as state shadow regulations and FAA rules due to flight paths into Logan Airport that supersede those zoning rules. In effect, the “Plan: Downtown” zoning proposal will only change the height limits to between 300 and 500 feet near Park Plaza and Downtown Crossing along Washington Street, as well as allow buildings up to 700 feet in an already built-out area near the MBTA’s State station. (This series of maps breaks it down.)
Zoom out: The goal of the proposal is to simplify the rules and make it easier to build more housing downtown. It comes as Mayor Michelle Wu’s administration and outside experts have pushed for more apartments downtown as a way to revitalize the neighborhood in the wake of the COVID pandemic (not to mention increase the housing supply in the midst of a regional shortage).
The case against it: The Downtown Boston Neighborhood Association and Friends of the Public Garden have raised concerns that taller building heights will result in more shadows and dampen the “historic character” of landmarks dating back to the American Revolution. “This is a generational opportunity to either get it right or to get it dramatically wrong. And unfortunately, I think the city has gotten this wrong,” Rishi Shukla, a co-founder of the Downtown Boston Neighborhood Association, told WBUR’s Fausto Menard.
The case for it: The Downtown Business Alliance says the plan strikes the right balance, due to lower height limits near sensitive areas like the Common and requirements that some of the tallest buildings be primarily residential. “We believe that a rezzie-first plan for downtown will bring more people to live in the heart of the city, to support its small business community, to fill offices,” Michael Nichols, the president of the alliance, told Fausto.
In related news: Boston Magazine has a look inside the new 690-foot South Station tower, which Wu’s leading planner sees as a preview of downtown’s future.

This map shows the areas that would see increased height limits in blue under the new "Plan: Downtown" zoning proposal for downtown Boston. Areas in shaded blue would have a maximum height limit of 500 feet, but only for developments that are primarily residential. Areas in gray would effectively see little to no change to height limits under the new zoning plan, while areas in red would see a decreased height limit. — This map shows the areas that would see increased height limits in blue under the new “Plan: Downtown” zoning proposal for downtown Boston. Areas in dark shaded blue would have a height limit of 500 feet, but only for developments that are primarily residential. Areas in gray would effectively see little to no change to height limits under the new zoning plan, while areas in red would see a decreased height limit. (City of Boston)

Shots, shots, shots: As a CDC advisory panel meets to make new vaccine recommendations this week, Massachusetts unveiled its own COVID shot guidelines yesterday. Earlier this month, Gov. Maura Healey’s administration moved to diverge from the federal recommendations and ordered local health insurers to cover what the state recommends. The new guidelines from the Department of Public Health say almost everyone can get a COVID shot if they want. Here’s who it says “should” get it:

All children between 6 months and 23 months
Children between 2 and 18 years old, if they have a condition that puts them at high-risk for severe COVID or lives with a high-risk individual
Adults aged 19 to 64 if they’re high-risk for severe COVID, live with someone who is high-risk, are pregnant or recently pregnant, or have a high risk of exposure (such as working in a hospital or nursing home)
Everyone over the age of 65

Talk about a pricey electric bill: Massachusetts regulators are moving to fine one of the state’s largest competitive electricity suppliers $5 million and revoke its license over alleged misleading practices. The Department of Public Utilities says CleanChoice Energy made false rate claims based on out of date information. (CleanChoice says it never promised “a cheaper alternative,” but “a clean alternative.”)

P.S.— Calling all New York Times Games fans. Join us at CitySpace tomorrow night for a live game and conversation with Times Games editorial director Everdeen Mason. We’ll be playing Spelling Bee with the audience and learn more about how the Times develops new games. Get tickets here.

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