A common NIMBY practice involves filing lawsuits against developments with no real substantial claims, in order to string the process out so developers give up. But just recently, something emerged to address this problem.
Is it possible this situation might at least temporarily create housing opportunities that would be accessible to moderate or middle-income families, who could now afford to save money on housing?
While the governor’s plan is not particularly bold, it is one that promises to bring real relief to thousands of Massachusetts families. But it is imperative that public pressure be applied to ensure that sufficient resources are made available to meet the challenge.
The withdrawal of AFFH policies at the national level and the stumbling approach to Housing Choice – a good vehicle, if an imperfect one – both limit housing opportunity in favor of the status quo.
The coronavirus shutdown has escalated Massachusetts’ housing challenges to a critical level and puts at risk the successes that we have achieved in providing high quality affordable housing.
Subsidized housing funding comes with extremely strict deadlines for performance. If an project is delayed not only can costs increase, as prices for materials rise, but project funds can actually disappear.
IDP does not successfully address the more systemic, underlying issues of destabilized neighborhoods. But what it can do and has done is create needed affordable housing that would not otherwise be built.
Providing sufficient housing – particularly housing that is affordable – is a tremendous challenge. And while the need is particularly urgent right now, this problem is not new. Two new books show how we’ve struggled with it before.
How can affordable housing be built to operate to high efficiency standards, enduring into an uncertain climate future? Currently, the resources available to achieve these goals are falling short of the costs to meet them.
The Low Income Housing Tax Credit program has been remarkably effective. Across the country, the lion’s share of below-market-rate housing has utilized these tax credits. Now, there is a broad-based effort in Congress to expand the credit significantly to make a good thing even better.
No one has a comprehensive grasp of what rules apply to multifamily construction where and what the results have been. That’s about to change with the Massachusetts Smart Growth Alliance’s new study.
Often cities and towns have the will to produce more housing but are ill-equipped to determine what will work. Technical support is needed to evaluate the projected impact, coupled with the resources to reach out to and educate the public
Urban areas across the country are fighting the problem of prohibitively high housing prices and lack of supply. With cities becoming people magnets in the 21st century, even middle-sized communities like Minneapolis, Minnesota, are facing the problem.
It is no badge of honor that Boston continues to be the third-most expensive rental market in the country. In our area, home values have little relationship to area wages and employers and entrepreneurs are hamstrung in attracting workers who have choices to move to attractive and less costly housing markets.
Homeownership is more common in the United States than in most other developed countries. Not only does owning a home provide shelter and stability but also it has become a way to save and build wealth.
It is not news that the Trump Administration was successful in getting the controversial Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 passed late last year.
A little over 100 years ago, Model T cars began rolling off assembly lines, and, though he didn’t invent the process, Henry Ford is often credited with mass production that made cars more affordable – to address a need.
“Housing ‘crunch’ now a crisis,” the Boston Globe headline read. “Massachusetts legislators have an answer.”
We all look forward to the fall. Except when everything’s back in full swing and you are trying to get anywhere. Traffic is on everybody’s mind, and system solutions are needed to serve our region’s growth plan.
For one week last month, while many Americans were on vacation, thousands of people across the country mobilized around a cause that most people seldom think about but that affects millions of people – having a safe and affordable place to call home.
