The NRA meets monthly on the 4th Wednesday of the month at 7 pm in City Council Chamber.

The NRA was established in 1960 to address revitalization of the downtown central business district. Newburyport set an example across the country as the first municipality to use urban renewal funds for historic preservation. As part of this effort, the NRA implements mandatory design standards for the portion of downtown that is within the urban renewal area.

From: M.G.L. Chapter 121B: Section 4 Redevelopment authorities; creation; dissolution
Section 4. There is hereby created, in each city and town in the commonwealth, a public body politic and corporate to be known as the ""Redevelopment authority'' of such city or town; provided, that no such authority shall transact any business or exercise any powers until the need for such an authority has been determined and a certificate of organization has been issued to it by the state secretary, both as hereinafter provided.

Whenever the municipal officers of a city, or the voters at an annual or special town meeting determine that there is a need for a redevelopment authority in such city or town for the purpose of engaging in urban renewal projects or other work under this chapter and that it is in the public interest that such an authority be organized in such city or town, a redevelopment authority shall be organized in such city or town.

Whenever a redevelopment authority determines that there is no further need for its existence, and that all outstanding obligations of the authority have been satisfied, it may by a majority vote of the five members submit the question of its dissolution, in a town, to the voters at an annual town meeting or, in a city, to the municipal officers. If a city or town votes for such dissolution in accordance herewith and the department is satisfied of the existence of the facts required herein, it shall so certify to the state secretary and said redevelopment authority shall be dissolved forthwith subject to the applicable provisions of section fifty-one of chapter one hundred and fifty-five.