Weekly digestBostonWeek of May 18, 2026

Boston building permits — week of May 18, 2026

A single permit at 421 Park Drive accounts for $438 million — nearly three-quarters of Boston's entire declared construction value this week, and it's filed as a new erection, not a renovation. That kind of valuation on a ground-up build is rare enough to anchor the whole conversation. Elsewhere, the Seaport and Back Bay are seeing serious interior overhaul money move through the system, with five renovations across the top ten clearing a combined $68 million.

719

PERMITS FILED

$592.1M

DECLARED VALUE

-8%

VS PRIOR WEEK

227

SHORT FORM BLDG PERMIT

Top permits this week

421 Park DR

$437,981,077

Certificate of Occupancy

A ground-up construction permit at 421 Park Drive in the Fenway carrying a staggering $438M declared value — the dominant story in Boston this week.

ZIP 02215

700 Commonwealth AV

$30,085,206

Amendment to a Long Form

Boston University's 700 Commonwealth Avenue is getting a $30M interior gut — significant scope for one of the city's most prominent academic corridors.

ZIP 02215

380 Ruggles ST

$13,426,250

Foundation Permit

Foundation permit for a new build at 380 Ruggles Street in Roxbury, signaling early-stage vertical construction with $13.4M committed before walls go up.

ZIP 02120