June 11, 2019 - Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley Appoints New President of the Planning Office

William H. Grogan to Lead the office and continue POUA’s mission-critical work in affordable housing and community development 

Boston, MA – Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley, Archbishop of Boston, announced today that William Grogan has been appointed as the new President of the Planning Office for Urban Affairs. Mr. Grogan has been involved in affordable housing, economic development and community revitalization work for 25 years. Since joining the Planning Office in 2005 as its Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel, Mr. Grogan has been responsible for overseeing POUA’s operations, legal work, and all aspects of its development efforts including the acquisition, financing, construction and property management of its affordable and mixed-income housing and mixed-use developments.

Cardinal Seán said, ““Bill Grogan’s long-standing commitment to the mission of developing affordable housing and his extensive experience in guiding the collaboration needed for this important work are a blessing for the individuals and families so greatly in need of affordable housing. Bill’s highly developed skills will provide the Archdiocese the opportunity to advance the projects currently in the planning stages and to develop new opportunities under his leadership.”

Mr. Grogan said, “It is a privilege and an honor to be the next President of POUA. I am thankful to Cardinal Seán for this appointment and for his commitment to serving and helping those in need. We have an obligation to ensure that the housing needs of all are met and given the shortage of affordable housing across the Commonwealth, our work is more important than ever. For 50 years, the Planning Office has developed innovative approaches to create permanent affordable housing and integrated, vibrant communities. We look forward to building on this history by expanding our relationships with existing partners and creating new and innovative approaches to meet the needs of those who lack adequate housing.”

John J. Noone, Chair of the Board, Executive Vice President of the Northeast for Lincoln Property Company, said, “The Planning Office has accomplished a great deal, but there is much work left to be done as so many people in our communities still do not have access to decent, safe affordable housing, and Bill is the perfect person to lead POUA’s efforts going forward. In addition to his strong commitment, he has very significant technical skills, great respect in the affordable housing development community and a real concern for our residents. The Board is very grateful that he will become the next President”. 

Planning Office for Urban Affairs

Since 1969, POUA has completed close to 40 developments with nearly 3,000 units of affordable and mixed-income housing. This has impacted more than 12,000 people and channeled in excess of $625M of investment into neighborhoods and towns throughout metropolitan Boston. Additionally, at least 25% of all rental housing developed by POUA is for the benefit of those at risk of or transitioning from homelessness.

While at the Planning Office, Mr. Grogan has had a particular focus on structuring complex legal and financial transactions that ensure a high mission outcome, and he has worked on projects that range in size from $5 million to $70 million. In addition to his significant development work, he has been responsible for managing the operations of the Office including all corporate and project accounting and financial aspects; asset management efforts; work with corporate entities; legal work at both the corporate and development project levels; and new initiatives such as development in Gateway Cities and POUA’s emerging work in housing as a social determinant of health.

Prior to joining the Planning Office, Mr. Grogan was an attorney at Goulston & Storrs, P.C., a nationally known real estate firm, where he specialized in the areas of affordable housing development and finance. Previously, Mr. Grogan had worked in the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program at the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development, and as a consultant at Fairmont Ventures in Philadelphia. As a result, he has extensive experience utilizing a wide range of federal, state and local sources of financing for affordable housing developments. Mr. Grogan received his Juris Doctor degree from Suffolk University Law School, a Masters in Government Administration degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Trinity College.

Mr. Grogan has been active in the affordable housing industry, having spoken at conferences sponsored by the American Bar Association Forum on Affordable Housing, the National Association of Affordable Housing Lenders and the National Housing and Rehabilitation Association.