BXP Brings Ray of Hope to Suburban Boston Housing Production
Between office parks it owns in Waltham, Weston and Lexington, the office mega-landlord now has plans to add around 2,300 new homes in the western Route 128 corridor.
MBTA Communities Will Fall Short. But Without It, Bigger Reforms Couldn’t Happen
My research shows the MBTA Communities zoning law will fall short of what’s needed to build enough homes in Massachusetts. But it’s set the stage for further reforms.
Mass. AG Sues Nine Towns for Defying MBTA Communities Law
Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s office is asking a judge to force nine towns to comply with the MBTA Communities zoning law.
Lab Developers Seek Swap for 935 Housing Units
Owners of stalled lab development sites in Burlington and Woburn are seeking zone changes enabling them to build up to 935 housing units instead.
524 Apartments to Replace Former KISS-108 Studio, Kappy’s Store
Two commercial properties near Wellington Circle in Medford will be redeveloped as 524 apartments following the city’s MBTA Communities rezoning.
Mass. Can Overcome Local Control Arguments with Permitting Reforms
Permitting reforms can still accelerate housing production in Massachusetts this year, while avoiding much of the controversy surrounding state-driven zoning reforms.
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.
Court Case to Settle ‘Unfunded Mandate’ Claims Against MBTA Zoning
MBTA Communities Act opponents deride it as an “unfunded mandate” even though academic studies show multifamily housing usually pays more than the services it consumes.
What Comes Next After MBTA Communities?
We all agree Massachusetts needs more housing. To get there, do we need a shinier, more tempting carrot, a bigger stick or something in between?
Housing Report Card Gives Mass. ‘Incomplete’ Grade
Massachusetts is unlikely to meet the Healey administration’s goal for 220,000 new housing units’ completion by 2035, according to a new report analyzing the state of the residential real estate market.
Realtor-Supported Housing Policies Beginning to Show Results
The Massachusetts Association of Realtors has stood on the frontlines of this crisis, seeking to be a key partner as Gov. Maura Healey and Legislature work to fix it.
MBTA Communities Law ‘Was Too Effing Complicated’
Housing advocates say the design of Massachusetts’ highest-profile housing reform to date hobbled it from being able to create housing at scale – and might have hurt future moves.
Healey’s Housing Production Stats Don’t Always Add Up
Gov. Maura Healey claims we’re already almost halfway to hitting our 2035 housing goal. Is it real progress, or just happy talk from a governor facing reelection?
A Call for New Housing in New Bedford
Joshua Amaral is steeped in efforts to make New Bedford better. Now, he’s leading the city’s drive to recruit more housing, including market-rate development.
Rate Cut Could Spur Suburban Housing Starts
Suburban multifamily development is likely to benefit the most from potential interest rate cuts, brokers and developers predict, with MBTA Communities districts in the lead.
Watertown Rezoning Gets Traction with Two Development Proposals
Multifamily housing proposals are starting to gain traction following the rezoning of Watertown Square to attract higher density development.
The Biggest Mass. Real Estate Stories You Missed from Summer 2025
From a developer facing a $25 million lawsuit from its lender, to some hopeful signs in MBTA Communities districts, here are the top stories you might have missed this summer.
TCR Plans 752 Apartments in Braintree MBTA Communities District
Trammell Crow Residential is seeking to build 752 apartments after signing a purchase-and-sale agreement for a property at 10 Plain St.
312 Apartments Coming to Lexington Office Park
A 312-unit apartment complex is under construction in a Lexington office park where town officials have sought to reinvigorate development activity including multifamily housing.
First MBTA Communities Projects Surface in Medford, Needham
Developers are planning the first two proposals under MBTA Communities law districts in Medford and Needham, which could create 437 new apartments steps from transit stations.
