Boston Redevelopment Authority got Ed O'Donnell on board to become their new chief for real estate.
According to bostonglobe.com, Ed O'Donnell had been working as head of economic development in Somerville for the past two years before he got hired by BRA to manage their real estate portfolio that has a total of 16 million square feet.
Mayor Martin J. Walsh said that O'Donnell's responsibilities include planning and developing the 191- acre Boston Marine Industrial Park. The city plans on using the park as affordable housing site for blue- collar workers who were forced to move out from their previous homes due to price increase. O'Donnell will also oversee the planned redevelopment of a market in China Trade Center on Boylston Street.
O'Donnell aims to make the people know that these developments are underway as part of promoting their neighborhood for real estate opportunities. "We need to let people know these assets are out there," he added.
According to Director Brian Golden, O'Donnell plays a crucial role on their city's development. If the latter is able to liven up their real estate profits, they will be able to fund more planning efforts for the city. "The only way to make sure the BRA is doing bona fide urban planning is to make sure we've got the resources to beef it up," he added.
In a report by patch.com, hiring of O'Donnell is part of Mayor Walsh's reforms for the past few years. He said "As change continues at the BRA, I look forward to having Ed O'Donnell bring his experience and fresh perspective to this role. We aim to continue strengthening this agency by promoting efficiency and effectiveness, and I am confident that Ed's background will complement our efforts and add to the dynamic leadership needed to take Boston's real estate to the next level."
What are your thoughts about Ed O'Donnell's new job as BRA's real estate chief? Share it in the comments!