one of several slides in the reel
"Why is housing so expensive?
We break it down in 60 seconds and show three things the Healey-Driscoll Administration is doing about it right now."
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| another one of several slides in the reel |
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| Where can we build? |
"It’s no secret that homeownership is out of reach for many people in Massachusetts. The average sale price of a single-family home is $642,000, the third highest in the nation. Renting instead is cold comfort; the average Greater Boston apartment costs $3,058. Although the state and local communities have taken steps to increase the housing supply, more housing still needs to be built.Massachusetts achieved its notorious reputation for unaffordability by layering barrier upon barrier to new housing. In new research published by the Pioneer Institute, we lay out what we learned about the arduous and uncertain homebuilding process by interviewing builders, planners, lawyers, and scholars from across the state."
"Single-family neighborhoods are synonymous with the American Dream. Their driveways and grassy yards define the communities of suburban America, including Greater Boston.But are they also compounding Massachusetts' deep housing crisis?A state-appointed commission focused on the state’s worsening housing shortage in fact identified single-family-only zoning — the land-use rules that created suburban single-family neighborhoods — as a primary obstacle blocking the surge of construction Massachusetts desperately needs to address its housing problem.And so the commission proposes a seemingly profound idea: get rid of single-family zoning — everywhere in Massachusetts."
Continue reading the article online -> https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/02/21/business/massachusetts-housing-affordability/
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| MA housing crisis and possible solutions |
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| historical view on annual permits for housing |
"Massachusetts new Housing Plan has set a housing production goal of 222,000 units by 2035. A 22,000 unit average would require us to build at a pace not seen since the 1980s, with annual permits likely needing to exceed 22,000.
Mass issued 11,600 permits in all of 2023."
"Extra, Extra 📰: Our latest data tool is now live. It allows for parcel analyses anywhere in MA. That's 2.16M parcels in the database.
We hope #Residensity will help communities envision how to effectively address their housing needs.
This thread outlines what it can do.⬇️"Shared from Twitter -> https://twitter.com/mhphousing/status/1626326817568169988
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| Mass Housing Project has released #Residensity, a cool tool for the Franklin zoning & housing discussion |
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"In part 5 of our series, "More than Compliance," DHCD's Nathan Carlucci explains what's needed for interim compliance with the state's new zoning requirement.
Missed it? Watch the video & sign up for session 6, Exploring Housing at Different Densities."
Register for webinar -> https://t.co/LWsxNQ31jm
The series was scheduled to run for nine consecutive Wednesdays, from 12 to 1:30 p.m., through Nov. 16. A new session on affordability has been added for Nov. 30.
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| Mass Housing Partnership: video webinar series on housing (video) |
"Missed session 1 of our 9-part series on how cities & towns can use MBTA zoning law as springboard to create neighborhoods that address housing, climate & equity? Watch video.
Hear our panel discuss benefits of centering housing near transit. bit.ly/3T7Mfiz @berkie1"
Shared from Twitter -> https://twitter.com/mhphousing/status/1573311406904049664
This provided terrific context for our downtown zoning improvements! Only have 15 minutes? Be sure to watch @MadoreChristine's fantastic overview (@ 7:14) of the case for "complete neighborhoods."
Shared from Cobi Frongillo's Twitter -> https://twitter.com/CobiFrongillo/status/1573405752089522176
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| Massachusetts Housing Partnership: MBTA community webinar series kicks off (video) |
Via the Massachusetts Housing Partnership @mhphousing:
"Our webinar series on new MBTA community guidelines features experts on topics ranging from infrastructure basics to community engagement to messaging strategies. Sept. 21 kickoff: 9 consecutive Wednesdays.
Registration is open. bit.ly/3T7Mfiz #HousingCrisis #housing"
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| Massachusetts Housing Partnership schedules webinar series on MBTA community housing guidelines |
"Worcester is looking at inclusionary zoning to add affordable homes. This chart shows how slow housing development has been last +10 yrs, even as city's population grew.
For more graphics like this, check out mhp.net/datatown"
Worcester data:
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| housing development has been last +10 yrs in Worcester, MA |
What does Franklin's data look like?
Note: please be careful with the visual comparison. The volume scale for Franklin (300-200-100) is significantly less than Worcester's (600-400-200).
The chart depicts how many new housing permits that Franklin has issued for each year of the data collection (net of demolitions), broken out by type of building
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| Franklin and Worcester data together to see the info on the same scale |
Sparked by the MHP tweet - https://twitter.com/mhpdata/status/1551662361110630401
"The goal of the Climate Ready Housing Program is to support projects that dramatically reduce carbon emissions. We seek to transform affordable housing to be super energy efficient, all-electric, powered by clean renewable energy, and renovated with low-embodied carbon materials.
Such work prioritizes the health of residents through better ventilation and the removal of combustion appliances; reduces long-term operating costs; ensures building durability; improves resiliency; and positions affordable housing to comply with new carbon regulations that are already in place or anticipated in the future.
MassHousing and Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP) are administering the program on behalf of the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). MassHousing and MHP have engaged with LISC to further assist with program administration."
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| Housing Up's Weinberg Commons, the first apartment building retrofit to Passive House standards in the United States. Once a derelict complex with mold issues, Weinberg Commons now provides healthy, luminous, and comfortable residences for 36 families in need of affordable, quality housing (Photo Credit: LISC). |
Tip of hat to Karen Kelleher for sharing the link via Twitter -> https://twitter.com/kkelleher76/status/1508629783793618947
