The Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) is a Massachusetts public agency that serves as the municipal planning and development agency for Boston, working on both housing and commercial developments. Officially a "public body politic and corporate," the BRA was established by the Massachusetts General Court and the Boston City Council in 1957, superseding the authority of the Boston Housing Authority. Its primary goal is to work with Boston businesses and developers in order to provide direction for development in the city of Boston.