Want More ‘Gentle Density?’ Process Matters as Much as Zoning
You can pass all the zoning reforms you want, but they won’t make a dent in the housing crisis. Local officials still have too many ways to delay or stop projects.
SJC Dismisses Marshfield’s MBTA Zoning Lawsuit
The highest court in Massachusetts shot down the town of Marshfield’s search for an exemption from the MBTA Communities Act Friday afternoon.
Report Identifies Mass. Permitting ‘Pain Points’
Fragmented local bureaucracies and archaic permitting frameworks remain roadblocks to housing production in Massachusetts, according to developers and consultants.
Why Beacon Hill’s Housing Moves Pass Boston By
Boston’s zoning independence sets it apart as lawmakers upzone the rest of the state. That means some of the state’s most impactful reforms haven’t occurred there, yet.
What We’ve Learned from Cambridge’s Citywide Zoning
Good zoning is only part of the equation. Housing production must strike a balance between affordability, density and urban character.
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.
Senate Eyes Vote on Economic Development Bill, Housing Components Unknown
Senate leaders are working to finalize their economic development package, seen as the last chance to pass meaningful housing reforms this legislative session.
Faced with Crippling Housing Crisis, Beacon Hill Nibbles at the Edges
Despite promises of a “bold” housing bill this year, with less than a month left to go, state legislators look like they’re going for singles and doubles, not home runs when it comes to the housing crisis.
How GOP Guv Candidate Brian Shortsleeve Would Attack Barriers to Housing
Shortsleeve, one of two Republican candidates for governor in Massachusetts, says “we should not force a one-size-fits-all standard on communities.”
Lost Opportunities for Scaling ADU Construction
Massachusetts leaders hoped for a river of new, small-scale rental units after they legalized ADUs. But local red tape is constraining that flow to a stream.
An Essential Housing Tool Is Hiding in Plain Sight: Massachusetts’ Redevelopment Authorities
Redevelopment authorities have special powers that would let them build or enable new, self-sustaining social housing. But they need Beacon Hill’s help to do so.
Fixing ADU Failings Could Pave Way for More Homebuilding
By standardizing rules for things like septic systems and setbacks, state legislators could also help revive our anemic single-family construction industry.
Building More Housing Means Making Hard Choices. Momentum Zones Are a Start
Massachusetts permits some of the fewest numbers of homes in the nation, in part because we ask projects to do too much. Limited relief would get construction moving again.
It’s High Time Mass. Reforms Site Plan Review
Site plan reviews don’t have state guardrails in Massachusetts. Gov. Maura Healey’s reforms would fix that, and protect good housing developments.
Senate Tucks Small Zoning Reforms into Budget Proposal
Senate budget writers on Tuesday rolled out a $63.3 billion fiscal year 2027 spending plan that also advances modest housing reforms.
Attorneys Cheer Proposed Reforms to Site Plan Review
The bill would codify a process known as “site plan review” that housing advocates and real estate attorneys say has become the “Wild West” of land-use law.
Want Better Parking in Greater Boston? Stop Requiring It, and Stop Making It Free
A four-pronged approach to parking demand management would better ensure the sustainability of car-based travel in Massachusetts’ urban areas.
Top Dem: Senate Ready to Make Run at ‘Bold’ Housing Policies
Senators are mulling over potential zoning and permitting reforms to incorporate into housing legislation this session.
2025 Was a Landmark Year for Housing Reform
What once seemed politically impossible is now happening across red, blue and purple states alike, in ways that should inspire us here in Massachusetts.
Single-Stair Can Unlock New Housing Without Compromising Safety
State legislators are considering a commission to study an idea that could create 130,000 new homes in Greater Boston. Towns and cities could be moving even faster.
