As the City of Boston reviews its planning and development process, let's protect good local jobs - and maintain the architectural character of Boston Using 'laid-in-place masonry' creates good paying jobs with benefits and job training in the City of Boston BOSTON LAID-IN-PLACE As the BPDA reevaluates its planning, development, and design standards MASONRY for future development BASED in the City, now is an opportune time to address an important economic and design issue. In recent years, developers in Boston have increased the use of prefabricated faux brick panels on a number of projects, in lieu of traditionally installed laid-in-place masonry. A prefabricated faux brick panel is an artificial brick façade used to "clad" the exterior of a building. These panels are manufactured outside the City of Boston, often outside of the United States, fall short of their intended goal of matching the existing architecture of Boston, and eliminate local construction jobs. By comparison, on-site, laid-in-place masonry creates a great number of community benefits. Local bricklayers and apprentices working on projects in the City of Boston create good paying, family sustaining wages and benefits. These types of wages and benefits allow Boston's shrinking middle class to own a home right here in the City of Boston. In fact, the apprenticeship and training opportunities available to local workers. training done right here in Dorchester, have provided generations of Bostonians the ability to learn a trade while earning family sustainable wages and benefits. When stakeholders, often unintentionally, approve the outsourcing of an entire building's exterior, they are eliminating these opportunities. Further, the City's own Boston Resident Jobs Policy an important policy developed to foster construction career opportunities for people of color, women, and Boston residents - is singularly left out of the equation when a considerable amount of work hours are outsourced to a manufacturing plant outside of the Boston, where the Boston Resident Jobs Policy does not apply. On-site construction workers also help to create an economic multiplier effect on the City's economy. These skilled craft workers patronize local businesses; restaurants, parking lots, and other small businesses that benefit from the five day a week in-person schedule that exists in the local construction industry. Beyond the economic community benefits, authentic laid-in-place masonry contributes greatly to the character and architectural appeal that's made brickwork the unofficial architectural material of Boston. Prefabricated faux brick panels are not less expensive than laid-in-place masonry, and produce more CO2 emissions than on-site laid-in-place brick installation. Now, as the City re-evaluates its planning and development process, we are asking Boston's elected officials, impact advisory groups, and other stakeholders to demand that developers stop outsourcing jobs to artificial, prefabricated faux brick panel factories outside of Boston. Instead, stakeholders should call on developers to utilize authentic laid- in-place masonry. By doing so, we are addressing a long-standing issue that has unnecessarily diminished Boston's architectural character, and its job prospects for Boston residents. Help protect good local jobs and keep Boston beautiful. Visit GoodJobsBoston.org to learn more and take action. Bricklayers & Allied Craftsmen Local 3 MA RIME H 550 Medford Street, Charlestown, 02129 Phone: (6242-5500 As the City of Boston reviews its planning and development process , let's protect good local jobs - and maintain the architectural character of Boston Using ' laid - in - place masonry ' creates good paying jobs with benefits and job training in the City of Boston BOSTON LAID - IN - PLACE As the BPDA reevaluates its planning , development , and design standards MASONRY for future development BASED in the City , now is an opportune time to address an important economic and design issue . In recent years , developers in Boston have increased the use of prefabricated faux brick panels on a number of projects , in lieu of traditionally installed laid - in - place masonry . A prefabricated faux brick panel is an artificial brick façade used to " clad " the exterior of a building . These panels are manufactured outside the City of Boston , often outside of the United States , fall short of their intended goal of matching the existing architecture of Boston , and eliminate local construction jobs . By comparison , on - site , laid - in - place masonry creates a great number of community benefits . Local bricklayers and apprentices working on projects in the City of Boston create good paying , family sustaining wages and benefits . These types of wages and benefits allow Boston's shrinking middle class to own a home right here in the City of Boston . In fact , the apprenticeship and training opportunities available to local workers . training done right here in Dorchester , have provided generations of Bostonians the ability to learn a trade while earning family sustainable wages and benefits . When stakeholders , often unintentionally , approve the outsourcing of an entire building's exterior , they are eliminating these opportunities . Further , the City's own Boston Resident Jobs Policy an important policy developed to foster construction career opportunities for people of color , women , and Boston residents - is singularly left out of the equation when a considerable amount of work hours are outsourced to a manufacturing plant outside of the Boston , where the Boston Resident Jobs Policy does not apply . On - site construction workers also help to create an economic multiplier effect on the City's economy . These skilled craft workers patronize local businesses ; restaurants , parking lots , and other small businesses that benefit from the five day a week in - person schedule that exists in the local construction industry . Beyond the economic community benefits , authentic laid - in - place masonry contributes greatly to the character and architectural appeal that's made brickwork the unofficial architectural material of Boston . Prefabricated faux brick panels are not less expensive than laid - in - place masonry , and produce more CO2 emissions than on - site laid - in - place brick installation . Now , as the City re - evaluates its planning and development process , we are asking Boston's elected officials , impact advisory groups , and other stakeholders to demand that developers stop outsourcing jobs to artificial , prefabricated faux brick panel factories outside of Boston . Instead , stakeholders should call on developers to utilize authentic laid- in - place masonry . By doing so , we are addressing a long - standing issue that has unnecessarily diminished Boston's architectural character , and its job prospects for Boston residents . Help protect good local jobs and keep Boston beautiful . Visit GoodJobsBoston.org to learn more and take action . Bricklayers & Allied Craftsmen Local 3 MA RIME H 550 Medford Street , Charlestown , 02129 Phone : ( 6242-5500