Skip to main content
Menu

MBTA Brings in Top Talent to Help Manage its Real Estate Assets

Posted on August 29, 2016

BOSTON - The MBTA has hired Janelle Chan as the Authority's new real estate manager. Chan, who holds advanced degrees from both Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), will oversee management of the T's real estate interests.

In line with Governor Charlie Baker's Open for Business Program, Chan will seek to maximize the MBTA's real estate interests in support of transit oriented development efforts.

Since 2010, Chan has served as executive director of Boston's Asian Community Development Corporation. Early in her tenure, she reduced costs by 50 percent and oversaw the doubling of the Corporation's annual revenue.

In 2014 Chan was named by Bisnow Media as one of the top 50 power women in commercial real estate. Boston Business Journal also named her to its "16 to watch in 2016" list.

"We are delighted that Janelle has joined us at the T," said MBTA General Manager Brian Shortsleeve. "Her knowledge of the region and experience with large real estate projects will enhance the MBTA's efforts to optimize the revenue potential of our properties and work with local municipalities and property owners to assure efficient infrastructure investments, coordinate land usage, and enhance economic development."

With Chan's appointment, Mark Boyle, Assistant General Manager in charge of real estate and asset development at the MBTA, will no longer be responsible for overseeing both the MBTA and MassDOT real estate, which he has been doing for the past 18 months. It will allow Boyle to focus solely on MassDOT real estate interests. Boyle managed MBTA real estate for 13 years, and was then asked to manage both MBTA and MassDOT real estate. With the addition of Chan to manage the MBTA and Bryan Gubbins to manage MassDOT, this will result in a stronger real estate management team.

"I am pleased that two additional experienced professionals will join me in managing the MassDOT/MBTA real estate portfolio, particularly with the substantial amount of projects currently underway and planned," said Boyle. "These new individuals will help us fulfill our mission of generating revenue for MassDOT/MBTA, and utilize our vast real estate assets to create economic development opportunities for the Commonwealth."

The Real Estate Department at the MBTA has a dual function: overseeing the agency's real estate holdings, and managing its office and warehouse spaces. The MBTA's real estate division works cooperatively with the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs to identify and realize opportunities for transit-oriented development (TOD) on surplus MBTA land and air rights.

For more information on transit-oriented development visit: http://www.mbta.com/about_the_mbta/t_projects/projects_tod/

 

More Information

Media Contact Information

For all queries and comments, please contact:

MassDOT Press Office