Opinion
Massachusetts’ Approach to Federal Infrastructure Money Is Working
It’s no accident the commonwealth is winning an outsized share of federal grants. Understanding what’s behind these victories is essential as we plan for the future.
Cash Buyers Can Get Their Money Back
Cash is king when it comes to buying a house. Always has been, and always will be. And these days, individual cash buyers – as opposed to cash-laden investors – have an even better shot of scoring the house of their dreams.
Muted Reaction to Wu’s $100M Housing Fund, Return of Top Planner
Developers and real estate executives weren’t tapping furiously at their keyboards and burning up my phone line in praise of the mayor’s announcement of a $100 million “Housing Acceleration Fund.”
We Must Rebrand Housing as a Benefit, Not a Burden
I’m often asked by area business owners and residents, “What can we do to support solutions to our housing issues in our own communities?” The answer sometimes surprises people in its simplicity.
Serving Up a Smorgasbord of Housing Incentives
How much new and rehabilitated housing can $5.16 billion and a number of Zoning Act changes buy? We will find out over the next five years.
Laying the Groundwork for a Biotech Rebound
Despite the spring’s bad headlines, this summer ended with a pile of venture capital deals and two more Bay State biotech IPOs. It’s time for Beacon Hill to do its part to keep that momentum going.
Allston’s Western Ave. Poised to be Next Hub for Life Sciences
We believe the projects most likely to succeed are those situated in dynamic ecosystems that already exist and can help foster innovation and collaboration.
Breaking Through the Noise on Office-to-Residential Conversions
Converting an office space to housing has big benefits, but can be even more expensive than building housing from scratch. Political and business leaders must come together to find feasible solutions.
New Factors Give Occupiers Even Stronger Hand in Lab Market
The life sciences and lab market across the Boston metro area has been in a state of flux for some time, but a new factors have added extra pressure on landlords and owners.
A Homeowner’s Playbook for the Day After Disaster
These days, disasters like wildfires, tornadoes, floods and hurricanes are more powerful than ever. It’s increasingly likely your home will be hit one way or another.
Banks Can Win by Leading the Low-Carbon Transition. Here’s How
The global transition to a low-carbon economy is not just about managing risk – it’s a massive commercial opportunity for banks.
States Are Taking the Fight to Squatters
Some states are taking long-overdue legislative steps to deal with squatters: people who take over others’ properties without their consent, sometimes dumping the owner’s stuff and trashing their homes.
Progressive Leader Misses the Mark with Housing Plan
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez rose to national prominence with her Green New Deal. Now, she’s turning her attention to the nation’s housing crisis with similar fanciful thinking.
Mass. Doesn’t Need a Hammer to Get More Housing Production
What if we could solve the affordable housing problem of Massachusetts towns with a few strokes of a (free) lawyer’s pen? A pro-business legal group has a new idea and an offer that Bay State local governments cannot refuse.
How Inclusive CRE Ownership Can Empower Boston Communities
It can give long-time Black residents an equity stake in the vibrancy, safety and prosperity of their neighborhoods. A new guide I and my fellow scholars and developers wrote shows how to do it..
How Homeowners Can Save on Rising Insurance Premiums
Homeowners may be able to find some relief from rising property taxes and insurance premiums – without doing much work in the process.
Project Labor Agreements Help Raise Housing Costs. Why Are They Prioritized?
A recent BU study revealed an alarming increase in the number of residents fleeing Massachusetts thanks to housing costs. But lawmakers are overlooking a key way to fix that.
The Fed’s Cuts Come Too Late for Housing
The Fed’s long-awaited cut comes too late to save the housing market, which is now mired in what is likely to be a prolonged slump that could take years to climb out of.
End Parking Minimums and Legalize Single-Stair Buildings: Ideas for the Next Wave of Housing Reforms
It’s sad that middle-class Bay Staters weren’t paying attention to unaffordability as it swamped the working poor, then the working class. But it’s still coming for their own children despite recent legislative wins.
YIMBYs Should Fear Trojan Horse Accusations
If huge housing complexes next to transit hubs are allowed to become the de facto symbol of YIMBYism, the cause is all but doomed in our politically polarized country.
This Week’s Newspaper
