Newton Councilors Float 4-Unit Zoning to Cut Down on Teardowns
Two Newton city councilors bent on curbing teardowns are suggesting something unusual for The City of Homes: liberalizing residential zoning to encourage adaptive reuse projects.
356 Apartments Proposed Under Healey Fast-Track Review
The nation’s 11th most active multifamily developer proposes a 356-unit apartment complex in an office park near Route 3 in Pembroke that was upzoned under the MBTA Communities Act.
Campbell Warns 12 Towns Still Not Complying with MBTA-C Five Years On
Attorney General Andrea Campbell is preparing to “take action as appropriate” against any of the 12 towns that still have not complied with the multifamily zoning requirements of the MBTA Communities Act.
Watertown’s Third MBTA Communities Project Includes 153 Apartments
The third and largest development proposed in Watertown under MBTA Communities zoning would replace a cluster of commercial and residential buildings with 153 apartments.
BXP Plans 480 Homes in New Weston MBTA District
After rejecting an initial plan in 2024, Weston voters approved a rezoning plan to create four new multifamily housing districts under the MBTA Communities law.
Maine Leads the Way on Housing Reform in New England
Massachusetts could learn some lessons from Maine’s housing reform approach, particularly from a new law that removes barriers to housing while preserving some local control.
Healey Sets Goal of 222K New Housing Units
The MBTA Communities law is just the starting point. That’s the message in the Healey administration’s comprehensive housing plan, which concludes Massachusetts communities need to further expand multifamily zoning to achieve a state of “housing abundance.”
SJC Upholds MBTA Zoning Law, Orders New Regulations
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court upheld the state’s power to sue communities that fail to comply with the MBTA Communities act, but ordered the state to draw up new regulations because of a procedural error.
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.
160-Unit MBTA Communities Development Breaks Ground in Westwood
The project, funded by Dedham Savings and South Shore Bank, is Westwood’s first project to be submitted to the state for certification under a housing production plan designed to comply with the MBTA Communities law.
Cottage-Style Housing Fills a Neglected Niche in Suburbia
Massachusetts suburban housing development is dominated by large single-family homes and mid-rise apartment construction, with little new inventory of modest-sized homes and price tags to match.
