Aaron v. Boston Redevelopment Authority

The question presented in this appeal is whether the provisions of G. L. c. 260, § 31, in effect, insulate against an adverse possession claim land held by the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) for the purposes of effectuating an urban renewal plan.2 We hold that, under G. L. c. 260, § 31, land so *805held for urban renewal purposes by the Commonwealth, or one of its political subdivisions (here, by and through the BRA),3 is held for “a public purpose” within the meaning of this statute. Therefore, under G. L. c. 260, § 31, the superior land recovery rights of the Commonwealth preclude the…