The Complete History of GBREB - Greater Boston Real Estate Board

G R E A T E R B O S T O N R E A L E S T A T E B O A R DA Look Back in TimeHistory of the Greater Boston Real Estate Board • Established 1889

GBREB HistoryIn the spring of 1889, a small group of businessmen, headed by Frederic H. Viaux, cametogether because of their mutual interest in a growing real estate market and its impacton the industry and the community. Thus was born the Real Estate Exchange and AuctionBoard. At the Board’s first meeting in 1890, presided over by Henry M. Whitney, theman responsible for the first electric trolley car in Boston, the organization already hada membership of more than 100, “including the best know real estate men of the city,”according to a newspaper account of the time.Transcript Buidling , School St.- Board’s first office In less than 25 years, the Board had achieved such prominence that the Boston Post, in a1914 article, called it “second to none in the United States with regard to the influence of its membership.” In 1917, the name waschanged to the Boston Real Estate Exchange, in 1944 to the Boston Real Estate Board, and finally, in 1960 to the Greater BostonReal Estate Board.The Board has undergone many changes, but the principles on which it was founded a century ago remain intact. The Boardcontinues to foster and promote high ethical standards in all real estate transactions, monitor and comment upon legislativemeasures affecting real estate, protect private property rights, administer an arbitration process for settling business disputes,and provide outstanding continuing education for its membership.GBREB StructureThe Greater Boston Real Estate Board is the oldest real estate trade association in America, with over 7,000 members engagedin all sectors of the real estate industry. GBREB is considered unique nationally due to its varied membership base. The Board ismade up of five divisions:BOMA- Building Owners and Managers Association, provides owners and managers of commercial real estate,other industry members and the companies who support them the best professional knowledge and networkingopportunities in the market.CBA- Commercial Brokers Association, represents over 300 members in the commercial brokerage communitythroughout Massachusetts. CBA is deeply committed to educating, promoting professionalism and encouraging thesharing of ideas and knowledge.REFA- The Real Estate Finance Association, is the industry leader in bringing together the best people and informationin real estate finance. REFA provides quality education programs and networking opportunities for real estateprofessionals throughout the Greater Boston area.RHA- Rental Housing Association, is an affiliate of the National Apartment Association, and consists of over 525members who own, manage, develop or supply goods and services to multi-family properties in Massachusetts. RHAis the industry leading trade association, providing effective advocacy, education and networking opportunities for itsmembers.GBAR- Greater Boston Association of REALTORS®, represents over 5,000 residential real estate professionals throughoutthe Greater Boston and Eastern Massachusetts area and is one of the local boards of the National Association ofREALTORS® – the largest trade association in America. GBAR provides professional development courses, standardforms, legal reports and updates, brokerage counseling, legislative and regulatory representation, ethics, mediationand arbitration services, as well as recognition awards. REALTORS® subscribe to the strict Code of Ethics of the NationalAssociation of REALTORS®

GBREB HighlightsMarch 22, 1889The Real Estate Exchange and Auction Board is incorporated,received its charter from Oliver Ames, Governor of theCommonwealth.May 29, 1889The first meeting of the organization’s incorporators in held atthe Equitable Building in Boston and is adjourned due to thelack of a quorum.1890The Exchange establishes the Arbitration Committee to settlebusiness disputes. This Committee is still recognized as one ofthe most important services provided to members by the Board.1903At the request of William Lincoln, then president of the BostonChamber of Commerce, the Exchange takes part in high-levelconferences regarding reforms in Boston City Government.May 24, 1914The Boston Sunday Post says the Exchange is “ the mostinfluential real estate organization in the country,” and notes,“As real estate in Boston pays over four-fifths of the city’sincome from taxes, it may be fairly said that the interests of realestate are paramount and that no commercial or other propertyinterests stand in greater need of a strong alliance throughassociation for betterment and defense than the manifold andvaried land interests…Real estate deserves and requires a strongand virile alliance for the general welfare.”January 1915The Exchange joins the National Association of Real EstateBoards, now the National Association of Realtors.1917The Exchange in renamed the Boston Real Estate Exchange.The World War I YearsThe Exchange raises an ambulance fund. Supports Liberty LoanDrives, and is extremely active in efforts to alleviate the effectsof the tremendous coal and oil shortages caused by the war.The Early 1920sThe Exchange is active in manners of the state’s new zoningcode, statewide height limitations of new buildings, tax ratesand tax limitations, street widening, education, and traffic andplanning problems.February 1924After having been in six different locations in 35 years, theexchange moves to Water Street, where it is to remain for morethan 40 years, until moving to 24 School Street.April 1, 1925Charles Lee becomes the organization’s first full time executivesecretary.1932An innovation at the Annual Banquet in the admittance ofwomen for the first time, but they are only allowed to sit in thebalcony and are not invited to eat dinner.1934Due to the effects of the Great Depression, membership figuresof the Exchange sink to an all-time low of 471, from the 1926peak of nearly 700 members. It is not until 1946 that membershiplevels will again reach the 1926 mark.1944The Exchange is re-named the Boston Real Estate Board,and during this year the Board registers a strong protestagainst staggering increases in assessments of commercialand apartment property in Boston, since the incomes fromapartments have been frozen under rent control for two years.Post World War IIOne of the Board’s first efforts after the war is to seek removal ofwar-time restrictions on home building.1945Ray Hofford is named Executive Officer for both the Board and theMassachusetts Association of Realtors (MAR). In these positions,he unified loose federation of rental housing professionals intothe Rental Housing Association, one of the Board’s present fivedivisions., and developed a national reputation as a man ofvision for the industry.1952Joseph Lund becomes the first Boston Realtor to serve aspresident of the National Association of Real Estate Boards. Lundwas the 1948-1949 president of the Boston Board.August 1955The Board’s Multiple Listing Service(MLS) is established by a small group ofmembers.

1960The Boston Real Estate Board is given its present name, theGreater Boston Real Estate Board.Early 1960sLucy Davenport Boyd, founder of the Weston Firm, L.Davenport Boyd, becomes the Board’s first woman director.Early 1960sGBREB leads a successful effort to reform City of Bostonassessing practices1962Arthur Wilcox, another past president of the Board ( 1949-1951), is elected president of NAREB- National Association ofReal Estate Boards1964GBREB provides the bulk of the funds for the “Paint-up Project”in the Washington Park urban renewal area of Boston. GBREBrecords also note “intense activity in the field of Civil Rightsand Fair Housing” during this year.Don Dolben (right) presents a meritaward to Thomas Horan for his work on1965GBREB plays prominent role in the“New Boston” promotion.the growth of the “New Boston.”1967GBREB and MAR Executive Officer Ray Hofford, who served inthat capacity for 22 years, resigns. He is replaced by AndrewHickey at GBREB and by former GBREB President Milton Shawat MAR.1968Massachusetts Governor, John Volpe signs the first bill inthe country to provide home-ownership opportunities tolow-income families. The bill was a direct result of an articlewritten for GBREB’s Realtor Magazine.1976GBREB becomes the first Realtor Board in the state and oneof the first in the nation to sign the Voluntary AffirmativeMarketing Agreement with the U.S. Department of Housingand Urban Development, an agreement to extend equalhousing opportunity.1977Margaret “peg” Carlson becomes the first woman president ofthe Board, and in so doing, is the first woman to sit on the BostonCoordinating Committee, better know as “The Vault.” In 1982,she becomes the first woman elected president of MAR.April 1978GBREB Multiple Listing Services (MLS) is computerized.1979GBREB MLS members are given the ability to access on-line MLS.July 1982GBREB opens suburban office in Wellesley.1984GBREB establishes an independent Government AffairsDepartment.1988The Real Estate Finance Division is incorporated as the Board’sfifth division, joining the Building Owners and ManagersAssociation, the Marketing Institute, the Multiple Listing Service,and the Rental Housing Association.1989GBREB announces completion of mandatory fair housingeducation of its more than 5200 Realtors1990GBREB Housing Production Task Force announces the winnerof its Boston Homes for “Boston Neighborhoods” affordablehousing design competition: CityDesign Collaborative, Inc.1991Commercial Leasing Committee of BOMA Boston was created tosupport the need for representation of the commercial broker’scommunity.May 1991Beloved CEO, Andy F. Hickey retires after 30 years of service toGBREB.1994GBREB Foundation is established as a way to help those in needthroughout Massachusetts by contributing donations to localcharities.• A ballot question repealing rent control is approvedby voters.

1995GBREB’s Center for Professional Development is granted itslicense to be recognized as a Real Estate School, allowing GBREBto be a one stop shop for education and membership benefits.1998The Multiple Listing Service merges with the Bay State MultipleListing Service as a result breaking away from GBREB to becomean independent participant owned system.2000The Commercial Leasing & Investment Committee is establishedas a free standing division of GBREB and shortly after the divisionchanges its name to the Commercial Brokers Association.2001GBREB launches www.formsforrealestate.com website, allowingmembers to have online access to real estate forms and beingthe first online forms website in the state.2004GBREB is selected as a member of Governor Mitt Romney’s40B Task Force to further explore the development of moreaffordable housing in the Commonwealth.• GBREB defeats rent control in Boston.• As a direct result of GBREB’s efforts, legislation grantingresidential landlords the ability to sub-meter water and sewerbecomes law. The historic achievement was a great benefit notonly to property owners but ultimately the environment in theform of water conservation.2006The permit streamlining and judicial reform act, allowingdevelopers to expeditiously obtain permits, prevent frivolousabutter lawsuits, and provide a special permit section of theLand Court focused entirely on land use and environmentalappeals becomes law.GBREB negotiates sweeping new regulations governing theinstallation of carbon monoxide detectors, after supporting thepassage of Nicole’s Law in 2005 which mandated their installationafter the tragic death of a 7-year old Nicole Garofalo.2007GBREB defeats rent control in Boston once again.2008BOMA launched a Green Committee to encourage sustainablebuilding operations, including the first TOBY Earth Award.BOMA also wins the BOMA International Best Practices Award inMarketing and Communications.• REFA introduced a new class of membership for full timeundergraduate and graduate students, a first at the Board.• GBREB supports an abandoned and foreclosed propertyordinance in Boston.2009After many years of contentious debate, GBREB introduceslegislation giving owners the right of first refusal on so called“expiring use” government subsidized rental properties. Majorcomponents of the GBREB bill are incorporated into a law passedon November 23, 2009, MGL C. 40T.GBREB CEO, Greg Vasil, testifiesbefore the joint committee onhousing regarding 40B2010A ballot question to repeal MGL 40B, thestate Affordable Housing Law, is defeatedby a 20% margin.2011The Greater Boston Real Estate Board establishes a ScholarshipProgram to serve college bound students of high academic abilityand in financial need. The Scholarship is established through theGBREB Foundation.2012GBREB walks with Battered womens groups to support theDomestic Violence Preservation Bill. GBREB awards30 scholarships to urban/suburban students to attend college2013GBREB commissions a study with noted environmental economistRobert Staivins of the Kennedy School at Harvard University toevaluate the effectivness of building Energy Efficency Ordinancesin commercial and residential buildings.• REFA celebrates it’s 25th anniversary.• GBREB is selected as a member of Governor Patrick’s ZoningReform Task Force.

greater boston real estate boardChairman1889-20142014Gordon Pulsifer2013Robert M. Brierley2012Robert Shortsleeve Jr.2011James A. Canfield2010Thomas N. O’Brien2009Eleanor G. White2008William M. McLaughlin2007Richard J. Loughlin Jr.2006Lawernce H. Curtis2005Leonard C. Owens2004Brian Kavoogian2003Dean Stratouly2002Mahmood Malihi2001Lisa Campoli2000Ronald M. Druker1999David Wluka1998John H. Spurr Jr.1997Jerome L. Rappaport Jr.1996Theodore F. Parker1995Frances B. Shifman1992Ronald R. Dion1991Richard W. Reynolds1990Nora F. Moran1989Michael A. Manzo1988Joseph L. Delaney III1987Rosalind E. Gorin1986Wilmot Whitney Jr.1985J. Thomas Marquis1984Thomas J. Hynes Jr.1983Richard J. Lundgren1982Richard B. DeWolfe1980-1981George Slye1978-1979Robert L. Beal1977Margaret C. Carlson1976Donald C. Dolben1975David Bradley1974Shepard Brown1972-1973William F. McCall1971-1972Geroge M. Lovejoy1969-1970Gerald W. Blakeley Jr.1967-1969Richard A. Hallet1966-1967Robert A. Philcrantz1965-1966S. Maxwell Beal Jr.1962-1963Milton H. Shaw1961-1962George I. Breen

1960-1961William H. Dolben Jr.1959-1960Richard B. Fowler1958-1959L.F. Niles1957-1958Frances W. Perry1956-1957Bertram A. Druker1955-1956Roy E. Connor1953-1954H. Kingsley Durant1952-1953Robert M. Morgan1951-1952Harold L. Niles1949-1951Arthur P. Wilcox1948-1949Joseph W. Lund1947-1948Robert C. Nordblom1946-1947Harry A. Gilbert1939-1941Carlton Hunneman1938-1939Benjamin C. Tower1936-1938James M. Rothwell1932-1934Edwin D. Brooks1923-1924Henry Whitmore1896-1897J. Morris Meredtih1894-1895Alexander S. Porter1889-1890Henry M. WhitneyGBREB ChairmanNot Pictured1994 William W. Austin Jr.1993 Dana G. Pope1970-1971 Sylvan A. Goodman1964-1965 James H. Henderson1963-1964 Myron C. Roberts1954-1955 Arthur J. Dolben1945-1946 Frank Ross1943-1945 Robert S. Wayland1941-1943 Henry W. Merrill1934-1936 George S. Parker1930-1932 Walter Channing1929-1930 Harold F. Mason1927-1928 Stephen W. Sleeper1925-1926 Arthur N. Maddison1921-1922 Frank H. Purington1917-1920 Mark Temple Dowling1915-1916 Francis R. Bangs1913-1914 J. Sumner Draper1911-1912 Charles Francis Adams1909-1910 Joseph B. Russell1905-1908 William A. Gaston1903-1904 Henry Parkman1901-1902 Francis Peabody Jr.1898-1900 John Mason Little1892-1893 Moses Williams1891 Francis A. Osborn

One Center Plaza,Mezzanine SuiteBoston, MA 02108617 423 8700 | www.gbreb.com