Mass. Should Say: ‘Yes in God’s Backyard’
Significant drops in religious affiliation have left many shrinking congregations struggling to maintain large buildings and surplus land. A new bill makes it easier to help them with affordable housing.
Cambridge Legalized Multifamily Housing Citywide. Just as Remarkable: How They Got There
Just as significant as the ordinance itself: It was adopted by an almost unprecedented 8-1 City Council vote. Achieving that consensus took time.
Housing Bill’s Momentum Fund Has Potential for Outsized Impact
Designed to provide flexible financing to invest directly in market-driven, mixed-income housing projects that are currently stalled, this innovative fund holds significant promise.
Municipalities Will Not Lead on Housing
As passions around the MBTA Communities law rise, it’s time to take a fact-based look at the law, put it in context with what other states are doing and plan accordingly.
Rampant Insurance Increases Are Stifling Housing Production
There’s a new threat to affordability that is jolting the rental apartment real estate industry, especially those in market-rate and affordable multifamily housing: insurance premiums.
A Workhorse Affordable Housing Program Is Expanding Significantly
The need for more affordable housing in the Greater Boston area is at an all-time high, but construction is headed for a record low. Fortunately, Gov. Maura Healey has proposed tools that can help fix this.
ADUs Are No Longer a Fringe Housing Solution
There’s rarely a silver bullet solution to such a crisis, but state action to allow accessory dwelling units by right would clearly narrow the gap between supply and demand, and reduce housing costs.
‘Buy American’ Would Have Exacerbated Housing Shortage
The $1.2 trillion federal infrastructure law had an unintended consequence: Forcing affordable housing developments to abide by expensive and potentially unavailable U.S.-produced materials. Now there’s relief.
Multifamily Housing Law Puts Responsibilities on MBTA Communities
Communities with concerns about Massachusetts’ new transit-oriented zoning reform were heard. We need to engage in our communities to ensure that this law achieves its promise.
Accessory Dwelling Units Are One Obvious Way to Create Homes
One of the most unfortunate casualties of the end-of-session scramble on Beacon Hill was a failure to legalize the creation of accessory dwelling units on many single-family lots statewide.
It’s Time to Take Notice of Growing Single-Family Rental Sector
The need to expand Massachusetts’ stock of...Congress Must Move to Unlock Pandemic Aid’s Housing Potential
A grant given to fund an affordable housing project reduces the cost basis for developers and thereby reduces the amount that can be raised in private funds through the LIHTC program.
The Time is Ripe for a Real Estate Transfer Tax
The solution is to create new housing supply, and the optimal time to raise necessary resources is when the market is strong and robust. And major employers are getting on board with the idea, too.
Family Self-Sufficiency Program Helps Families Build Wealth
Addressing the racial wealth gap will take a variety of approaches. And for many, the key to building assets is to have the opportunity to build equity in homes that they own.
Life Sciences Boom Creates Challenges, Opportunities for Housing Needs
Companies with lab needs can pay higher land costs than housing developers, and a combination of factors has intensified the competition for developable land in the Greater Boston area.
To Close the Racial Wealth Gap, Scale Up CommonWealth Builder
Massachusetts’ CommonWealth Builder program effectively reduces the price of new housing units by subsidizing developers up to $150,000 per home. And unlike traditional affordable housing, it allows homeowners to realize the full market appreciation of their unit if they live there for at least 15 years.
Lesson from the Pandemic: Broadband Is Infrastructure
The pandemic has laid bare the extent of the digital divide that exists – reliable broadband access is essential to modern work and life. And finally, legislation proposed by both parties recognizes it.
More Support for First-Generation Homebuyers Will Help Close Homeownership Gaps
Homeownership rates among nonwhite Massachusetts residents are much lower than those of white families. This creates dire implications for generating wealth in communities of color.
Abutter Appeal Reform Has the Potential to Reduce Costly Claims
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.
The COVID Apartment Market Offers Few Silver Linings for Renters
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?
