Update, July 30, 2014, 8:31 a.m.: According to a Boston Globe report , Ted Landsmark had been fired from Boston Architectural College last week, a fact that was unknown to Boston Mayor Marty Walsh until notified by the Globe.
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh named Boston Architectural College president Ted Landsmark to the board of directors for the Boston Redevelopment Agency on Tuesday.
Landsmark will fill a currently vacant position. The city said the five-member board will meet monthly and will oversee planning studies, rezoning initiatives and project permitting.
Landsmark is a celebrated architect and civil rights activist. He has been president of the Boston Architectural College for 17 years, and has served as the president of the National Architectural Accrediting Board. He holds degrees in environmental design and law.
Landsmark joined Walsh Boston Public Radio on Tuesday afternoon (listen to the full interview here ).
"It's about economic redistribution in a way that enables working people, middle class people, to stay in Boston," told hosts Jim Braude and Margery Eagan about his position on the BRA board.
"I grew up in the projects in East Harlem in New York," he said. "It wasn't until I got to see what middle class people looked like that my own aspirations changed."
Landsmark entertained some development ideas from callers, like "tiny apartments." He said zoning would need to change, but thought it would be "terrific," creating architectural and interior design opportunities with limited space.
"I think the city is quite ready for that," he said.
Landsmark also cited bikesharing program Hubway and livery-marketplace app Uber as ways to make the city less dependent on cars.
"We all need to get away from the car," he said. "It makes the city more enjoyable."
