Zoning Reform Not Enough to Allow Small Multifamily, Report Argues
Advocates and elected officials should look beyond zoning reform as they try to get more “missing middle” housing built, a new report argues.
Mixed Results for Housing-Endorsed Candidates in Mass. Primaries
A co-founder of the state’s biggest housing advocacy group lost his race for state Senate in Tuesday’s primary elections, but other candidates took home wins.
We’ll Never Have Enough Affordable Housing Until Government Starts Paying for It
Everyone needs housing they can afford. But why do politicians insist developers pay for it, ignoring the basic economics of construction?
2026 Is Potentially a Landmark Year for Housing Production Policy
This is shaping up to be the year that Massachusetts adopts a wide-ranging set of policies aimed directly at increasing housing production – if the Legislature comes together to pass what’s on the table.
Can the Rest of New England Offer Mass. New Housing Reform Ideas?
No state has found a single solution, but each is testing tools to address the same challenge: Traditional zoning and permitting systems have not produced enough housing.
The Throughline Between Sewer Lines and Housing Projects’ Bottom Lines
In some communities, the sewers are already operating at capacity, seemingly preventing new development from providing fiscal relief. It doesn’t have to be this way.
How Mass. Should Refocus Pro-Housing Efforts, Post-Rent Control
Together, we must decisively pivot away from the rent control ballot question and redirect our energy towards passing more housing reforms on Beacon Hill.
One Year Without Multifamily Parking Minimums: Salem’s Lesson for Mass.
Parking still gets built. And so does more housing and retail space serving the community. This should give the Legislature confidence to act statewide.
Bay State Rises to 15th for Businesses, Dragged Down by Costs
Massachusetts rose to 15th overall in CNBC’s top states for business ranking in 2026, though it still faces challenges due to how much it costs to do business here.
Federal Housing Law Includes Modest Help for Mass.
A new bipartisan housing law includes financing reforms and zoning incentives that could chip away at some of the many barriers to building in Massachusetts. But its flashiest provision won’t do much.
Canceling Out Zoning Reform
Do Massachusetts’ zoning fixes matter if the building code doesn’t allow most “missing middle” developments to pencil out? Welcome to the next frontier in housing reform.
Why Changes to Mass. Zoning Variance Rules Are Such a Big Deal
More flexible standards and a new requirement to weigh the public benefits of new housing should be a benefit to developers working with difficult sites or towns with outdated zoning.
Solving the Commonwealth’s Housing Crisis Takes Ideas, Big and Small
The state’s 2027 budget included four important changes to how zoning works in Massachusetts – changes that should make permitting housing more straightforward.
Rent Control Proposal Should Be Wake-Up Call to Real Estate Industry
Real estate declared victory over rent control far too quickly. It’s time to get ahead of an expected 2028 fight with alternatives that speak to supporters’ motivations.
Beacon Hill Won’t Go Big on Housing. But That’s Not the End of the Story
Hoping Beacon Hill will demolish NIMBY zoning in one grand bill? Consider the saying that insanity is doing the same thing over and over but expecting different results.
Taxing Home Sales Won’t Solve Massachusetts’ Housing Crisis
A transfer tax would make it harder to buy, sell and build housing while doing little to address the root cause of our housing affordability crisis.
What It Takes to Build with Faith
Nonprofit developer Bill Grogan is an expert in working with faith groups to build housing on their land, something the state could legalize this summer with “YIGBY” legislation.
Senate Hopes to Legalize Duplexes Statewide in Toned-Down Reform Push
Senate leaders folded major housing policies into an economic development bill, but signaled there would be no standalone housing bill this year.
What Social Media is Saying About Massachusetts’ Housing Debate
Researchers found some surprising trends after analyzing more than 800,000 recent social media posts: sentiment generally supported more housing production.
Tenant Right to Purchase Resurfaces in House Economic Bill
After getting cut out of the Legislature’s last major housing bill, the so-called Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act found new life in the House’s policy-dense $561 million economic development bill alongside housing production-focused measures.
