IREM President’s Message: Boston’s zoning reforms usher in a new era for real estate development and management

Following its official approval in August by the Boston Zoning Commission, Boston is currently undergoing major zoning reforms – marking the most substantial changes to the city’s developmental review process in nearly 30 years.

The reforms are reshaping how property managers, asset managers, developers, and other real estate professionals plan, operate, and reposition properties by streamlining approvals, encouraging adaptive use, and emphasizing sustainability.

For property managers, clearer zoning rules will reduce the uncertainty when repositioning or upgrading assets; as such, managers can review timelines with more accuracy, allowing for expedited renovations and improvements. Adaptive use is now encouraged, translating into an increased number of opportunities to convert existing buildings into housing or mixed-use spaces. In addition, updated zoning supports sustainability upgrades, dovetailing with the increasing number of property managers pursuing energy-efficient retrofits and other green initiatives.

While these reforms don’t automatically rezone commercial or industrial areas to residential, they create pathways for developers to propose residential conversions more easily. With their emphasis on flexibility and modernization, the “new and improved” zoning laws go a long way toward aligning zoning with Boston’s housing needs.

As we near the close of 2025, I’d like to take a moment to reflect on the resilience, collaboration, and innovation that define our real estate community in the greater Boston area. The holiday season offers us a chance to reflect and celebrate the progress we have made together.

On a personal level, it has been my honor and privilege to serve as president of the Boston Metropolitan Chapter No. 4 this year and while I will no longer claim that title, I will enthusiastically remain a member of the board of directors in both the capacity as immediate past president and vice president of Region 1.

On behalf of IREM Boston Chapter, I wish all a wonderful holiday season and a prosperous 2026.

Anthony Susi is the 2025 IREM Boston Chapter president and is the director of property management at The Simon Companies, Braintree, Mass.