Boston: Mayor Wu Appoints Kairos Shen New Chief of Planning

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~ Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has announced the appointment of Kairos Shen as the city's new Chief of Planning. Shen will take on this role with the goal of leading the City of Boston Planning Department, which was established by Mayor Wu in July 2024 to restore planning as a core function of City government.

Shen will be building on the work initiated by former Chief Arthur Jemison, who laid the foundation for consistent and modernized zoning codes, comprehensive short and long-term planning, inclusive design standards, and streamlined development review processes. With his extensive experience in both public and private sectors, Shen is well-equipped to take on this important role.

"I am thrilled to welcome Kairos as the leader of Boston's Planning Department," said Mayor Michelle Wu. "His unparalleled knowledge and expertise in this field, along with his strong relationships within our communities, make him an ideal candidate for this position. I have known Kairos for many years and have always valued his mentorship and advice. I am confident that he will help us advance our ambitious plans to make Boston a more affordable, equitable, and resilient city."

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Over the past two years, Mayor Wu has taken significant steps towards improving the culture of planning and development in Boston. She has reformed the structure of the department and launched citywide rezoning and development review reforms – a first in many decades. Shen has been a trusted advisor to Mayor Wu since her early days working under the Menino administration 15 years ago. He has also served as a member of the Article 80 Modernization Steering Committee for the past two years.

"I am excited to return to City Hall with a fresh perspective after spending a decade teaching, researching, and mentoring future urban planners," said Kairos Shen. "Boston has undergone significant changes over the past ten years, and I am inspired by Mayor Wu's progress in just two and a half years. I look forward to building upon this work, including zoning reform and making development review more transparent and predictable."

Shen will begin transitioning into his new role in early October and officially take on the position of Chief of Planning on October 15. He will maintain his affiliation with MIT while working for the City. Shen currently teaches "City Making" at the MIT Center for Real Estate, where he draws upon his extensive knowledge and experience in planning, design, public policy, finance, and real estate.

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Prior to his career in academia, Shen worked in various roles in planning and design at City Hall for two decades under Mayor Thomas Menino and Mayor Martin Walsh. During this time, he played a significant role in shaping some of the city's most pivotal planning initiatives and development projects. Shen is a graduate of Swarthmore College and holds a Master of Architecture from MIT.

Devin Quirk, who has been serving as Interim Chief of Planning, will resume his role as Deputy Chief of the Planning Department. Quirk brings 14 years of experience working in the City of Boston to this position. He has previously led efforts to create and launch the City's Planning Department and has held roles overseeing real estate development, affordable housing creation, and community planning across multiple cabinets within City Hall.

"Kairos brings a unique set of skills to this role – extensive professional experience in all aspects of our work, deep knowledge of Boston's neighborhoods, and strong relationships within the real estate industry and community," said Deputy Chief Devin Quirk. "He is the right leader to advance Mayor Wu's agenda for a more transparent and predictable development environment, and I am excited to work with him in this new capacity."

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