Reflecting on 2023 in Dorchester Bay City’s Journey – and Looking Ahead to 2024

The past year marked significant strides toward realizing our vision for Dorchester Bay City. The green light from the Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA) for our master plan marks a pivotal milestone, moving us one step closer to bringing this transformative project to life.

While other milestones like state approvals, building permits, and construction await, we take pride in the progress achieved since our initial unveiling of the DBC vision. Our unwavering commitment to meeting our community's needs remains at the forefront, and the BPDA-approved master plan is a testament to how we’ve incorporated their invaluable input.

Key highlights and benefits to Dorchester Bay City include:

• Economic Opportunity: The project’s scale ensures unprecedented local resident participation, along with substantial involvement from minority and women partners in investments and inclusive businesses. Also, $18 million will be dedicated to economic development programs, fostering growth and opportunities within the community.

• Affordable Housing: DBC includes 20% onsite affordable housing at 70% of the Area Median Income (AMI), totaling approximately 391 units. Additionally, it allocates  approximately $53.7 million in housing exaction payments and approximately $10 million in funding for the Massachusetts Affordable Housing Alliance’s (MAHA) STASH Program.

• Public Realm: The asphalt parking lots that dominate the site today will be transformed into over 15 acres of publicly accessible green spaces. Additionally, 1,000 new trees will be planted to combat the urban heat island effect, creating cool and comfortable public spaces for all.

• Transportation: With nearly $36.8 million in transportation contributions from the Accordia team to improve the neighborhood’s existing infrastructure, the DBC project will catalyze a number of multi-modal infrastructure projects that have been priority needs in the community for decades.

“There aren’t many legacy projects that tackle such difficult challenges as resiliency and infrastructure and inclusion,” Accordia co-managing partner Kirk Sykes recently told The Boston Globe. “So to be able to do that here feels pretty good.”

Our team's commitment to both industry leadership and community involvement cannot go unnoticed throughout this process. Notable achievements from our team this year include:

• Kirk Sykes, Co-Managing Partner of Accordia Partners, has been elected President of NAIOP Massachusetts for 2024, collaborating closely with NAIOP staff and Chapter leadership.

• Dick Galvin, Accordia’s Co-Managing Partner, celebrated a decade of the Commercial Real Estate Success Training (CREST) Program—an initiative he co-founded, supporting underrepresented students of color and women in the commercial real estate industry.

• Jill Griffin, Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Accordia, and a board member of the Builders of Color Coalition, received recognition from NAIOP MA for outstanding contributions to real estate, charitable activities, and community enhancement.

Looking ahead, our team is eagerly dedicated to keeping momentum going for DBC, aiming to propel this project forward and deliver its wide-ranging benefits to the community.

Accordia Commemorates a Decade of the Commercial Real Estate Success Training Program

Celebrating 10 years of the Commercial Real Estate Success Training (CREST) Program, Accordia’s Co-Managing Partner and founder of CREST Dick Galvin recently joined program alumni, mentors, representatives, sponsors, and partners at the Omni Seaport Hotel in Boston.

The CREST Program evolved from a prior internship called the CVP Career Academy launched in 2014. The initiative supports commercial real estate and related companies in their commitment to attract underrepresented students of color and women to the industry.

“Both Accordia and the Dorchester Bay City team remain committed to ensuring diversity in real estate and it can start all the way at the collegiate level,” said Galvin. “I’m proud to see programs like CREST continue to prosper as we seek to create an equitable and inclusive workforce in CRE.”  

In addition to the CREST’s alumni and supporters, attendees of the Omni Seaport Hotel gathering included this year’s CREST intern Quang Ngheim.

Quang Nghiem, 2023 CREST intern

He’s a Senior at Suffolk University Boston where he studies Entrepreneurship with a minor in Real Estate. He says programs like CREST are a great steppingstone that will help influence his career path after graduating.

“I’ve always been interested in creating changes both in the community and beyond,” said Nghiem. “The CREST program has taught me that it is possible to make those changes through progress, teamwork, and enhancements to the environment around us.”

Kelly Taylor, Associate VP of Investments at Accordia Partners and 2018 CREST intern

Accordia is proud to see the impact programs like CREST have had on the Commercial Real Estate industry in the Boston area. With over 190 interns hired and now engaged in full-time roles within CRE, this impact is evident.

Notably, Accordia celebrates the achievements of its own Kelly Taylor, who began her journey as a CREST intern in 2018 and has since been promoted to the position of Associate VP of Investments at Accordia.

Empowering Tomorrow's Real Estate Leaders: Kirk Sykes and the REEX Jumpstart Program Bridging Students to Commercial Real Estate Opportunities

To expose rising scholars to opportunities in the commercial real estate industry, Dorchester Bay City's Managing Partner, Kirk Sykes, joined MIT and Harvard students for this year's REEX Jumpstart Program.

Sykes, one of the founders of REEX in 2016, established the program with the goal of connecting African American and Latino students to universities and career opportunities in the commercial real estate (CRE) industry.

“Real estate, especially in Boston, doesn’t get a lot of daylight in terms of possibilities,” Sykes said. “It’s important to give students access to the industry, offering them a chance to decide whether or not it’s a field they’d like to pursue.”

This year, REEX students have been assigned a capstone project with the task of designing a building. To provide students with some ideas on the type of building they might choose to design and the amenities it could entail, Sykes shared the site plans for Dorchester Bay City. The site includes a mix of buildings where people can work, live, and play.

Sykes also emphasized other factors that are essential in designing a building and site like DBC, such as resiliency, community benefits, and accessibility.

“All of these components are critical to getting your project approved,” said Sykes. “It’s important to take into account how a building and all facets of the neighborhood it will be placed in as an ecosystem.”

Senior Vice President, Development of Accordia Canan Safar joins this year's REEX students at MIT.

With an increasing number of students participating in REEX JumpStart each summer, the program continues to advance its mission and expand in the coming years. Having already engaged more than 600 participants in summer sessions throughout the past 7 years, REEX’s reach continues to broaden. With a strategic focus on outreach to high school students, the REEX pipeline anticipates engaging over 1,000 students in the next year.

Dorchester Bay City: Exploring the Name's Significance and Unlocking the Potential of this Transformative Site

Creating a name for a new project – especially when the goal is to transform more than 35 acres of currently underused space at the nexus of two neighborhoods – is no small task.  For “Dorchester Bay City” the starting point for that discussion was simple: the location is the project’s biggest asset and would be a key factor in its success. Dorchester Bay City is located at the nexus of two historic neighborhoods – Dorchester and South Boston, adjacent to the shoreline, near public transit and cultural and academic institutions.

From the beginning, our goal has been to tie these neighborhoods together, creating improved access to the water, park, beach, and Harborwalk.

“The authentic places and textures that make amazing destinations are already here,” Accordia co-managing partner Kirk Sykes told the Boston Globe. “What we need to do is connect the dots and bring the community and the city to the place where all of these things happen.”

Although the shoreline adjacent to DBC, which includes existing public parks and beaches, is a major benefit, climate change, storm surges and rising sea level must be addressed.  Resiliency is top of mind for team members and our design elements protect both the project site and its surrounding neighborhoods. By elevating the overall site, connecting to existing resilient infrastructure, and creating more public open space, we aim to reduce the risk of sea level rise and decrease heat island effects.  

It has also been a priority from the outset to assure that the adjacent residential communities of Dorchester and South Boston benefit from these projects.  An extensive community engagement strategy has informed the overall design, public benefits and focus on nearby infrastructure. The Accordia team has also integrated strategies for maximizing employment opportunities for local and diverse talent. Dorchester Bay City is poised to generate thousands of construction and permanent jobs, accompanied by comprehensive training and educational programs to develop the skills necessary for nearby residents to work at the companies that will someday occupy these spaces.  With ground floor locations designed to encourage local and diverse entrepreneurial shops and restaurant owners to occupy these spaces, we hope to create both opportunity, affordability, and inclusivity.  

It's essential to emphasize that Dorchester Bay City is not about creating a city within a city; rather, it is about enhancing the existing fabric of Dorchester, our beloved home. Our endeavor embodies the ambition of the site and the multitude of benefits it can bring to the community and the city as a whole. Through local outreach efforts, transformative improvements, sustainability, and accessibility efforts, we envision a vibrant and resilient future for Dorchester Bay City and the residents of Greater Boston.

Dorchester Bay City's Vision for Restaurants & Retail

The Dorchester Bay City project has been designed to integrate with our neighbors in a way that not only gives them access to opportunity but connects them with local businesses.

“We want Dorchester Bay City to be seen as a place that has something for everyone,” said Jill Lacey Griffin, Vice President for DEI at Accordia Partners. “We’ve been so fortunate to receive insightful feedback from the community, and it’s helped us design a space meant to foster inclusivity and create economic opportunity for all.”

With nearly 200,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, 25,000 of which is dedicated to affordable, locally owned establishments, we seek to create a balanced neighborhood that offers a variety of benefits to the Greater Boston area. Up to 20,000 square feet will also be dedicated to traditional community and cultural spaces.

Our efforts could not be made without the help of our excellent community partners who have provided us with expert advice on how we can establish a diverse retail environment, including Chef Douglass Williams, Accordia Partner’s Restaurant and Retail Consultant, and a successful diverse retailer himself.

Owner of MIDA in the South End, Williams’ passion for food and teaching has taken him around the globe. From Paris and Thailand to New York and Boston, his experience makes him the perfect choice to help the project empower local and minority-owned businesses. 

“I am so thrilled to be working with members of the Dorchester Bay City team who strive to showcase the diverse talent here in Boston,” said Williams. “It’s very exciting to be able to impart my culinary and entrepreneurial insight to not only the developers, but to a new generation of chefs and business leaders.”

Another one of our partners, Hector Piña, owner, and operator of several diverse restaurants in the Boston area, including Merengue Restaurant in Roxbury, has given us a deep understanding of local retail.

With almost three decades in the business, Hector has been able to expand his restaurant presence across the city. He’s opened Vejigantes and Doña Habana, both located just a couple of miles from DBC in the South End. Piña says places like Dorchester Bay City can help broaden opportunities for those looking to get into the business.

“Most of these big upscale developments don’t have affordable retail space, and that is why you don’t see any neighborhood restaurants along the waterfront and other places,” says Hector. “Dorchester Bay City keeps local retailers in mind, and I think the project will showcase that and give the community a new place to shop, dine, and enjoy.”

Beyond retail, Dorchester Bay City will be built to include a wide array of benefits to our community, including residential housing options, publicly accessible open space, commercial office/research space, transportation improvements, and much more.

Dorchester Bay City Progress Report: Winter 2023

The start of 2023 has brought the Dorchester Bay City project one step closer to reality. Through public meetings and community engagement, we’ve continued our dialogue with the neighborhood about our vision and goals for DBC. We’ve received such incredible feedback from the community and it’s their input that has bolstered our efforts to provide a wide range of benefits to Greater Boston. Additionally, our engagement with the BPDA this year has been an excellent opportunity for us to highlight some of the great features the Project has to offer.

Dorchester Bay City Community Advisory Committee Meeting

In January, we were able to present our new site plans to the Morrissey area’s community advisory committee (CAC) and highlight some of the changes to our proposal which includes larger affordable housing commitments, expansion of resiliency efforts, off-site transportation improvements funding, and much more. Our revised plans were the focus of several public meetings throughout Q1 and were met with plaudits from community members.

Dorchester Bay City Public Meeting - Housing & Economic Development

As presented in the CAC meeting, affordable housing been boosted to 20% at DBC. Nearly 400 units will be affordable at 70% of the area median income (AMI) which is currently $98,150 for a family of four (4). Construction, operation, and occupancy not only for residents but also commercial office/research tenants ensure unprecedented levels of participation of minority, women, and local residents in project investment, business, jobs, and job training. That’s why more than $18 million has been dedicated to supporting economic development related programs.

Dorchester Bay City Public Meeting - Public Realm and Resilience

We were also able to inform the public about our efforts to maximize resiliency in a February meeting with the BPDA. The project site will be elevated to 21.5 +/- feet to protect against sea level rise and protect the surrounding neighborhood from potential flooding effects. We also plan to transform what is now asphalt parking lots into roughly 9 acres of publicly accessible green and open spaces which in turn reduces heat island effects by about 30 degrees. DBC will also invest approximately $18.5 million in off-site resiliency efforts that carefully considers the needs of our neighbors and community.

Dorchester Bay City Public Meeting - Transportation

In our final public meeting held in the first quarter, we presented our transportation mitigation plan. Nearly $37 million has been committed to off-site transportation improvements that will catalyze several multi-modal infrastructure projects prioritized by the community. Additionally, $170 million will go to publicly accessible onsite infrastructure which includes wide sidewalks, separated bike lanes, and much more. DBC will also build three BlueBike stations within the project sites.

The new site plans presented during these public meetings are a result of our engagement with the local community. Input from neighborhood groups including Dorchester Heights, Columbia-Savin Hill Civic Association, Andrew Square, and Harbor Point just to name a few has been so critical during this process. They’ve been able to provide us with the right feedback that enhances our vision of creating a space committed to benefitting the local community.

Dorchester Bay City and Resiliency

Plans for the Dorchester Bay City project have always been designed to not only enhance the local community, but to protect it against the effects of climate change. Throughout our project, public open space and other design elements serve dual purposes and enhance the resiliency of the site and the surrounding community.

Our new site plan aims to maximize resiliency:

• Planning for rising seas: By raising the Project Site to an elevation of 21.5-feet± BCB and creating a raised ridge at 22.7- feet BCB extending from the southern boundary of the site northward to Day Boulevard and Moakley Park, these resiliency improvements both assure that the Project can withstand future sea level rise and protect the surrounding neighborhood from potential flooding events. 

• Reducing heat island effects: The historic impervious asphalt parking lots that dominate the site today will be converted into roughly 9 acres of publicly accessible green and permeable open spaces, cooling the area and increasing stormwater capture.

• Investing in off-site resiliency: With $5,000,000 in funding for a flood protection on DCR Land adjacent to the Harbor Point Apartments as specified in the Climate Ready Dorchester Plan (provided during Phase One to DCR), the Project also carefully considers the needs of our neighbors and the community beyond our site boundaries.  This includes completing an evaluation of the connection between the Project, DCR's Dorchester Shores Reservation behind Carson Beach, and the future Moakley Park flood protection systems.  In total, approximately $18.5 will be invested in off-site resiliency efforts.

DBC employs sustainable design principles to reduce the project’s carbon footprint and contribute to the state and city’s 2050 carbon-free goals by converting 36 acres of asphalt park lots into urban mix-use developments near transit with various open and green spaces. These new open spaces with new stormwater management system with approximately 1,000 new trees will prevent the urban heat island effect while contributing to the city’s Urban Forest Plan and Heat Resilience Solutions for Boston Plan initiatives.

DBC’s site-level and building-level sustainability design principles will reduce energy demand generated by buildings and GHG emissions. At a site level, the developers committed to SITES Certification and LEED ND Gold Certification design standards. Building level commitments include all residential buildings to be designed at a minimum of LEED Gold and 25% of Commercial buildings to be designed at LEED Platinum, and 75% of Commercial buildings to be designed at minimum LEED Gold design standards. Furthermore the developers commit to building all Phase 1 residential buildings based on the Passive House design standards.

Additionally, the project will include approximately 3,700 indoor bicycle parking spaces for buildings and 476 outdoor public bicycle parking spaces to further encourage people to use sustainable transportation modes. The developers will also build three BlueBike stations within the project sites.

Our work with the Department of Conservation & Recreation, the City of Boston, and other agencies has been so critical during this process - not to mention the profound support from our community partners.

“Dorchester Bay City has a lot of potential to connect more people even more closely with our spectacular urban natural resources,” said Chris Mancini, Executive Director at Save the Harbor/Save the Bay. “We’re excited that this project is putting so much focus on inclusivity and equity when it comes to public access.”

For almost 40 years, Save the Harbor has maintained the same mission: restore and protect Boston Harbor, Massachusetts Bay, and the marine environment and share them with the public for everyone to enjoy. The organization was key in making Carson Beach among the clearest in the country. The beach can be found just minutes away from the parcel where Dorchester Bay City aims to be developed.

Mancini says DBC’s efforts align well with Save the Harbor’s – to create an inclusive, equitable, diverse, and accessible place for everyone and anyone.

“South Boston's beaches are already popular, and Dorchester Bay City can help create more space and make the area even more welcoming for people of color, people with disabilities and people who don't speak English,” said Mancini. “Maybe you don't have the time or resources to get to Cape Cod or Cape Ann - you can take the T to one of the country's cleanest urban beaches.”

For Jill Lacey Griffin, our Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, she says that the partnership was a “no-brainer.”

“We want everyone to know that Dorchester Bay City can act as an oasis for the neighborhood and knit together nearby communities separated by what is now just a site dedicated to parking,” said Griffin.

Save the Harbor is currently planning their 2023 Better Beaches Program - hundreds of free events and programs on public beaches from Nahant to Nantasket, including in South Boston and Dorchester. Through a four-step Participatory Budgeting process, the community decides which events to fund. Save the Harbor has so far collected ideas for beach events from the community and turned those into an online ballot. Voting is now open to decide which of the most popular ideas will happen on the beaches in the coming year. Get involved and vote today!

2022: Year in Review

Reflecting back on 2022, it was a year of continued relationship building with our community and important milestones in making the Dorchester Bay City (DBC) project – and its economic, environmental and equity benefits a reality.

Members of the Accordia team participate in the August Harbor Point meeting to provide an update to residents on the Dorchester Bay City Project.. 

From our earliest days of sharing an initial vision for DBC, we have prioritized engaging the community, listening to and learning from their feedback, and continuously improving the project. We continued that trend in 2022; to date we have held more than 500 meetings with residents, elected officials, non-profits and community members. We couldn’t be more grateful for the time and energy the community has invested in helping us create an outstanding project at this terrific site.

We’ve learned so much by listening to the neighborhood. Our new site plans reflects the input on the city, state, and community levels. 

Adjustments include:

• Affordable housing has now been boosted to 20%: 391 units will be affordable at 70% of the area median income (AMI).

• Open and green space has expanded: Nearly a quarter of the Project’s 36 acres will now be open green or open space designed to achieve several goals including inclusivity, accessibility, resiliency, and safety.

• Resiliency and sustainability improvements: By working with the Department of Conservation & Recreation, the city of Boston and other agencies, we’ve revised our plans to maximize resiliency; this includes raising the Project site to address the risk of sea level rise, planting more than 1000 trees to reduce heat island effects and investments in community resiliency projects. 

• Transportation improvements: Accordia has committed to providing nearly $37 million of offsite transportation contributions associated with DBC. The project will catalyze a number of multi-modal infrastructure projects prioritized by the community.

 “There aren’t many places like this in the city of Boston,” Accordia co-managing partner Kirk Sykes told the Boston Globe. The project reflects multiple careful decisions designed to maximize the location and its benefits in terms of economic opportunity, housing, open space and resiliency.

Look forward to continuing the dialogue with our community in 2023, with a goal of moving this project forward and bringing its benefits to the community. 

Dorchester Bay City Delivers a Host of Economic Benefits

At its core, the Dorchester Bay City Project has been designed to be a catalyst for the community. Unlocking the potential of this pivotal site will drive diversity and inclusion across all levels. 

Accordia Partners, LLC,  a certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), is focused on these priorities and has developed a strategy that will ensure unprecedented levels of participation of minority and women in Project investment, businesses, jobs, and job training. 

Dorchester Bay City will deliver a wide range of benefits to the neighborhood and to Greater Boston:

Construction Jobs

Up to 25,000 construction jobs, with a focus on maximizing participation by local and diverse individuals to the greatest degree possible.

Permanent Jobs

Dorchester Bay City is expected to create between 13,000 to 17,000 long-term employment opportunities, as well as training and other programs that will help create bridges between long-term tenants at the project and the local, diverse workforces of Dorchester and Boston.

New Affordable Housing

Expanded housing opportunities, including new affordable housing, are a key element of the joint venture’s vision.

They will include both on-site affordable rental housing and off-site opportunities for affordable homeownership for residents in the community. We’ve committed $10 million to the Massachusetts Affordable Housing Alliance (MAHA) to fund its Saving Towards Affordable & Sustainable Homeownership (STASH) program for first-time homebuyers, providing homebuyer education and matched savings for a down payment on a home.

Transportation Benefits

Nearly $27 million of transportation funding contributions are associated with the project for designing, permitting, funding, and constructing transportation improvements.

Empower Local and Diverse Businesses

This project is focused on expanding construction opportunities through a contracting model that prioritizes identifying local and minority owned businesses - as both leads and subcontractors. Dorchester Bay City will also seek to attract diverse business operators as tenants for retail, restaurant, and commercial spaces. The plan sets aside 25,000 square feet of retail space for affordable, locally-owned retail. 

The team plans to expand upon existing training and workforce development opportunities in order to improve the pipeline of diverse candidates for roles in the building trades, design, architecture, and engineering as well as other sectors of the CRE industry.

As a diverse team, Accordia is also focused on design and programming strategies in community, cultural, and other third spaces, in addition to the 15.2 acres of publicly accessible open space, which will reinforce that Dorchester Bay City is a diverse and multi-cultural place that is welcoming for all. 

Connecting to the Community

Dorchester Bay City’s developers have spent years listening to the community, and still meet regularly with neighborhood groups, including Harbor Point and close to a dozen other civic groups. Up to 20,000 square feet of the project will be dedicated to traditional community spaces and cultural space, available to the operators rent free and programmed in partnership with community organizations.

“I think the place will be amazing when it’s done. But I think the real story will be the inclusion of the community in the process that got us there, and the next story will be the degree to which we leverage the economic development opportunity that this site will create,” Accordia Managing director Kirk Sykes told the Boston Business Journal. “It will be a national model that other people will be trying to replicate.”

Accordia, Congressional Committee Discuss Union Jobs & Economic Mobility

Accordia Partners joined the U.S. House Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth last week during their visit to the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters (NASRCC) in Boston.

Members visited the NASRCC’s Dorchester Training Center and Regional HQ, just up I-93 from the Dorchester Bay City site, touring the facilities, workshops, and classroom spaces.

Following the tour, members and other guests participated in a roundtable discussion with NASRCC’s apprentices and instructors, highlighting examples of state and local agencies that have created successful policies that provide opportunity for all, including women, people of color, and veterans.

Jill Lacey Griffin, Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Accordia, spoke of how projects like Dorchester Bay City could provide opportunities for union tradespersons and could work to close the racial gap. 

“It’s always been a mission of the Dorchester Bay City team to ensure a local and diverse workforce,” said Griffin. “We're extremely honored and grateful to the NARSCC for giving us the opportunity to spotlight our initiative with them, as well as members of the Select Committee."

When Dorchester Bay City is underway, the team plans to advance several programs that assure a diverse pipeline of candidates for roles created by the project, including in life sciences, information technology, construction, as well as sectors of the commercial real estate industry.

Accordia Partners Takes Part in BECMA’s Mass Black Expo

Members of the Accordia team participated in this year’s Mass Black Expo hosted by the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts (BECMA), a nonprofit with a mission of advancing the economic well-being of people of color all across Massachusetts.

The two-day event took place September 23 (In-person) & September 24 (Virtual) at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. Hundreds of Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs came together to take part in workshops, panels, and discussions to help build a thriving and connected Black tech/life sciences ecosystem in Boston.

The Expo is an amazing opportunity to showcase the diversity, breadth, capacity, innovation, brilliance and resilience of Black businesses and professionals all across the Commonwealth.

Accordia Partners is a new member to BECMA, however, Co-Managing Partner, Kirk Sykes has had a long-standing relationship with the organization.

As a minority business enterprise, Accordia shares a similar mission with BECMA’s in prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels of project development.

“We were beyond thrilled to take part in this year’s Mass Black Expo at the BCEC,” said Jill Lacey Griffin, Vice President of DEI at Accordia. “Accordia has made it a priority to work with a diverse team of businesses, and it was an amazing opportunity to connect with other enterprises who share the same goals.” 

When Dorchester Bay City is fully built, there will be approximately 159,400 square feet of retail space. 25,000 square feet will be dedicated to affordable retail space. There will also be approximately 23,700 construction jobs where we are working with unions and pre-apprenticeship groups to hit City of Boston inclusion goals.

Key Factor in the President’s “Cancer Moonshot” Initiative: Inclusive Innovation

Just down the street from Dorchester Bay City, President Joe Biden highlighted his mission to cut cancer deaths in half over the next 25 years. At the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library last week, President Biden detailed a vision that included vaccines that could prevent cancer and molecular “zip codes” that could deliver drugs and gene therapies to the right place. He envisioned a blood test that could detect cancer early, and a single shot that could replace grueling chemotherapy treatments.

As part of the effort, President Biden announced that Dr. Renee Wegrzynwill be the inaugural director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), which will focus on innovation to push the limits of biomedical and health research. She’s currently the senior director of drug discovery at Ginkgo Bioworks, located in South Boston, just a mile north of the DBC site.

For organizations like ARPA-H to succeed in the President’s mission, it’s critical they incorporate voices who can bring new ideas to the table and consider practices like inclusive innovation, a national effort to increase the participation of minority business enterprises and minority-serving institutions.

Dorchester Bay City embodies the definition of inclusive innovation, ensuring unprecedented levels of participation by local residents as well as minority and women partners to help create a robust, ecologically sound, hub for businesses such as life sciences firms less than a mile from where President Biden delivered his “Cancer Moonshot” address.

“The DBC team is dedicated to bringing in exceptional local and diverse talent through the creation of innovative workforce training programs that can benefit the City, the Commonwealth and beyond,” said Jill Lacey Griffin, Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Accordia Partners.

Another factor driving DBC’s close connection to the life sciences community: Its proximity to UMass Boston, the most diverse research university in New England and the third most diverse university in the United States.

It was exciting, and a profound honor, to have the President visit our neighborhood, and it's inspiring for us to imagine how, over the next 25 years, Dorchester Bay City might be one of the places where the research and hard work happen to fulfill the vision of the Cancer Moonshot.

Dorchester Bay City Connects with Harbor Point Community

Members of the Accordia team participated in the August Harbor Point meeting to provide an update to residents on the Dorchester Bay City project. 

Nearly 50 Harbor Point residents of all ages attended. DBC updates included the state of the development process and early plans for connecting the Dorchester neighborhood to the job opportunities the project will create.

Much of the meeting focused on getting feedback from the Harbor Point community members, listening to their needs, as well as their hope and vision of the project. 

They asked questions about a range of topics from the arts, youth programming, job training, transportation, and resiliency.

Harbor Point is considered one of the most thriving mixed-income communities in the country. As DBC’s closest neighbor and abutter, it’s a priority for the Accordia team to address any concerns they might have.

Accordia Partners has met with Harbor Point several times and is planning additional meetings in the coming months. We’re planning a larger public meeting in September, as well as community focus groups about the project’s community space and potential partnership with the neighboring institutions.

Connecting a New Generation of Diverse Leaders Who’ll Build Boston’s Future

Underscoring Accordia’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the commercial real estate industry, Managing Partners Kirk Sykes and Dick Galvin joined rising scholars at this year’s Real Estate Exchange (REEX) Jumpstart Program. 

Held at MIT, Sykes and Galvin spoke to students about some of the core competencies within the REEX initiative, including leadership development, entrepreneurship, and social justice. 

Sykes was one of the founders of REEX in 2016. The program currently reaches about 650 students, connecting African American and Latino students to a variety of colleges and universities, and educating them about career opportunities in commercial real estate.

“REEX is about creating an ecosystem for diverse, young minds who would like to pursue a career in the commercial real estate industry,” said Sykes.

This year marks the reemergence of a hybrid/in-person program. The event had to go virtual the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The virtual program had the unexpected benefit of helping REEX reach out to more rising students across the country. But according to Sykes, the exposure for students being face-to-face with industry professionals is beyond compare.

“You can’t replicate the uniqueness of an in-person event,” said Sykes. “Students were ‘Zoomed-out’ by the pandemic. This hybrid model gives kids a more hands on approach and an opportunity to create significant connections with some of the best in real estate.”

REEX has an eye on expansion, hoping to expose 1,000 scholars to careers in commercial real estate by 2023.

Accordia welcomes commercial real estate intern Giuliana Iavarone of CREST program

Accordia Partners is pleased to welcome Giuliana Iavarone to the organization as a summer intern on behalf of the Commercial Real Estate Success Training (CREST) Program.

Giuliana is an upcoming senior at Bentley University where she studies Management with a concentration in supply chain. She’s also minoring in Finance and Marketing.

The CREST Program evolved from a prior internship called the CVP Career Academy launched in 2014 by Accordia Partners Co-Managing Partner, Dick Galvin. The initiative supports commercial real estate and related companies in their commitment to attract underrepresented students of color and women to the industry.

“When I was looking for an internship, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. A lot of opportunities included sitting at a desk for hours on end with no real educational value,” said Iavarone. “I consider myself a more dynamic person. So, when I found CREST, I discovered all the amazing projects I could immerse myself in.”

Giuliana’s supervisor, Accordia Development Associate, and former CREST intern Kelly Taylor says it’s been such a fulfilling experience mentoring the next generation of real estate professionals.

“Thinking of the impact CREST had on me, it’s so satisfying to have the opportunity to influence a new generation and show these students that they are more than qualified to be in this industry,” said Taylor. 

With the experience and skills Giuliana has gained from her internship, she says it will help guide her in the right direction as she looks for jobs after graduating. 

“I feel like I’m learning so much in such a short amount of time,” said Iavarone. “Once my internship is over with Accordia, I’ll be on the right path when it comes to pinpointing my professional career.

Accordia is proud to see the impact these programs have had on the Commercial Real Estate industry in the Boston area, with more than 110 students graduating from CVP Academy and CREST.

Dorchester Bay City Sponsors 116th Dorchester Day Parade

Reinforcing our commitment to Boston’s largest and most diverse neighborhood, Dorchester Bay City helped sponsor this year’s Dorchester Day Parade. The event traditionally takes place the first Sunday of every June, but it had to be canceled the past two years due to Covid-19.

The parade marks the day in 1630 when Puritans landed at what is now Columbia Point, founding Dorchester as one of the first settlements in Massachusetts Bay Colony, according to The Bay State Banner. 

Catherine O’Neill, Community Consultant and Dorchester native, attended the parade on behalf of the DBC team. She says this year’s event was better than it was pre-pandemic.

“To me, Dorchester Day came back even stronger. ” said O’Neill.  "We commend the parade's organizers, including committee chair Kelly Walsh for doing such a great job following a two-year hiatus.”

The parade is dedicated to bringing together local businesses, residents, among others. DBC’s contribution to helping put on this year’s event exemplifies our dedication and devotion to supporting the Dorchester community.

Kevin Galvin Joins The BASE Emerging Leaders Network

Kevin Galvin, our Vice President of Acquisitions & Development, has joined the non-profit athletic organization The BASE as part of its Emerging Leaders Network. The Network is made up of 22 rising leaders from diverse backgrounds and professions in the Boston area, and it will include several levels of mentorship and philanthropic opportunities for Galvin to support urban youth across the city.

Established in 2013, The BASE serves as a vehicle for boys and girls’ passion for sports, surrounding them in a culture of hard work and determination, while providing access to opportunities. BASE teams & programs serve more than 1,500 youth annually, and the organization has partnered with local colleges to secure more than $45 million in scholarships for BASE student-athletes.

With Dorchester Bay City so close to communities that The BASE services, Galvin plans to work with the student athletes to help them understand how they can participate in the development process, as well as how they can shape the built environment around them.

“I hope to serve as a role model and resource for BASE students, particularly after they begin college,” said Galvin, who played third base at the high school and college levels. “Using sports and The BASE as a cornerstone, I aim to expand their networks professionally.”

“The Emerging Leaders Network represents a new generation of leaders in Boston,’” said Stephanie Monteiro-Merritt, BASE Interim President. “At The BASE, we believe in the talent of urban youth and are committed to providing them with meaningful access and opportunity and we know representation in leadership matters to our young men and women. This group of emerging leaders will serve as role models for our student-athletes and inspire them as they begin to plan for their own futures.”

Fundraising Drive: Accordia Team Joins South Boston Charity Golf Tournament

Members of the Accordia Partners team hit the links and helped raise funds for the community last week in the annual Edgerley Family South Boston Club Golf Tournament. Part of the Boys and Girls Club of Boston, the Edgerly Family South Boston Club provides services to hundreds of at-risk youths every year.

The Accordia foursome included Vice President of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Jill Lacey Griffin; VP of Acquisitions & Development Kevin Galvin; Development Associate Kelly Taylor; and a South Boston resident.

The Tournament has been held for more than 30 years in an effort to support the Club. Accordia sponsored one of this year’s holes, helping to carry on the tradition of serving Club members and their families. 

“We all had a great time on the course and were so happy to help raise funds for the Edgerly Family South Boston Club,” said Jill, who recently joined Advisory Board at the Boys and Girls Club of Boston.

Jill Lacey Griffin Joins Boys and Girls Club of Boston Advisory Board

Deepening our connection with and commitment to the Boston community, Accordia Partners Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Jill Lacey Griffin has joined the Advisory Board at the Boys and Girls Club of Boston (BGCB). She’ll serve in a variety of roles for the organization, including event planning and fundraising efforts.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to benefit the community through the great connections I’ve built with Accordia,” Jill said. “It’s so humbling to have the chance to connect my professional career with my personal life and help the Boys and Girls Club of Boston.”

The BGCB provides services to thousands of people every year – not only at-risk youth but family and community members. Last year, 98% of BGCB’s graduating seniors were accepted to college or trade school, with the other 2% securing jobs or internships.

Jill says she’s very excited to serve the mission of the BGCB and help young people realize their full potential. She’ll also seek to connect the working professionals at Accordia’s largest project, Dorchester Bay City, with the Boys & Girls Club community.