Showing posts with label housing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label housing. Show all posts

Thursday, August 27, 2026

Morning conference in Boston on "Housing, Land Use, and Building Reform" - Sept 15


Monring conference in Boston on "Housing, Land Use, and Building Reform" - Sept 15
"On September 15th, TBF and Boston Indicators with Boston Society for Architecture are hosting a morning conference on Housing, Land Use, and Building Reform.

Regulatory barriers have been blocking the construction of homes that Massachusetts needs, especially small multifamily buildings like triple-deckers and townhouses. For generations, these were the homes that gave families a first foothold, a place to raise kids, save money, and lay down roots in our region. Please join Boston Indicators for a morning forum on how today’s regulatory problems evolved over time, and what to do about it.

MA has no shortage of people working to fix these systems and policymakers have been making progress in recent years, and we hope you'll join us to hear from leading experts making the case for reform. The morning conference will include time for discussion and networking with policymakers, advocates, architects, builders, planners, real estate professionals, and academics working toward better rules for small multifamily housing construction."

"The leading experts who will speak at the event are: • Jonathan Berk, who will provide a briefing on his new Boston Indicators report, “Delayed by Design: How the Permitting Process Stalls Housing in Massachusetts, which will be released at the event. • Sam Naylor, who will speak on building code reform and share his recommendations for small multifamily housing in Massachusetts, drawn from two Boston Indicators reports that he authored, and • Amy Dain, who will discuss comprehensive regulatory reform, including comparison of state reform efforts across time. There will also be time for discussion and networking with policymakers, advocates, architects, builders, planners, real estate professionals, and academics. Breakfast will be available at 8:30 AM

And lunch will be available at 12:00 PM"


Thursday, August 6, 2026

What does “affordable housing” actually mean?

What does “affordable housing” actually mean?
"Affordable housing is one of the most misunderstood categories in real estate.

People hear the label and often picture a stereotype.

But affordable housing is not one building type, one resident profile or one government program.

It’s a real estate product shaped by income levels, financing, design, public-private partnerships and real community needs.

Part 1 with @evanholladay of Holladay Ventures looks at what “affordable housing” actually means and why the conversation changes when people see the actual project.

All project images shown are real affordable housing projects by Holladay Ventures."

View Part 1 of the story in pictures - https://www.instagram.com/p/DbbYODXm-RR/

Part 2 is not yet available.

Thursday, July 9, 2026

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Thursday, July 9, 2026 ???

Thursday, July 9


6:00pm Falmouth Race Team Fund Raiser (La Cantina Winery)

6:30pm LGBTQ Alliance ice cream social (Franklin TV and Radio)




For additional details on Library events -> https://www.franklinma.gov/942/Calendar-of-Events


For additional details on Library events -> https://www.franklinma.gov/942/Calendar-of-Events

For additional details on Senior Center events ->    https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/9890

For additional details on Senior Center events ->   


***  Town Meetings today ***

Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Meeting

Thursday, July 9 Time: 2:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07092026-2400


Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School Meeting

Thursday, July 9 Time: 7:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/Benjamin-Franklin-Classical-Charter-Publ-40/?#_07012026-2396


Cultural District Committee Meeting

Thursday, July 9 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07092026-2395


Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Meeting

Thursday, July 9 Time: 7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07092026-2392


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Find the full Community event calendar https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication: https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

The Town meeting calendar is found https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx


Thursday, April 23, 2026

Join this year's Jane's Walk for conversation and reflection with neighbors! - May 2 at 10 AM

Join Building Equitable Neighborhoods (BEN) for Franklin on Saturday, May 2nd for our fourth annual walking discussion of downtown Franklin! The event is part of an international series in memory of social activist and placemaker Jane Jacobs.

Join this year's Jane's Walk for conversation and reflection with neighbors! - May 2
Join this year's Jane's Walk for conversation and reflection with neighbors! - May 2

The ~1.5 hour tour will begin at 10:30 AM from the Franklin TV studio (43 Hutchinson St, Franklin, MA). Parking available.

map of the walk, heading clockwise
map of the walk, heading clockwise

All are welcome, including pets and wheels!
Join us for refreshments and continued discussion after the walk!
This year, we will be joined by regional planning professionals from Congress for a New Urbanism (CNU) New England!

Wednesday, April 22, 2026

Town of Franklin Designated as a 2026 Housing Choice Community


TOWN OF FRANKLIN | 355 E. Central St, Franklin, MA 02038

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


April 21, 2026


Media Contact:

Elizabeth Kalaijian

Communications Director

Town of Franklin

(508) 553-4886

ekalaijian@franklinma.gov

Town of Franklin Designated as a 2026

Housing Choice Community

FRANKLIN, Mass.The Town of Franklin has been designated as a 2026 Housing Choice Community by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, recognizing the Town’s ongoing efforts to support housing growth and expand access to housing opportunities.


On Monday, April 13, the Town was recognized by the Healey-Driscoll Administration, along with 28 other communities, for taking concrete steps to support housing production. This designation reflects Franklin’s commitment to planning for sustainable growth and meeting the evolving housing needs of its residents.


As a Housing Choice Community, Franklin is eligible to apply for the Commonwealth’s Housing Choice Grant Program. The designation also provides additional consideration in several state funding opportunities, including the MassWorks Infrastructure Program, Seaport Economic Council Grant Program, Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Complete Streets Funding Program, MassDOT Capital Projects Program, and the LAND and PARC Grant Programs.


The Housing Choice Initiative encourages municipalities to adopt best practices and policies that promote responsible housing development, support economic growth and increase access to opportunity across the state.


“This designation reflects Franklin’s proactive approach to supporting housing opportunities that serve residents at all stages of life,” said Town Administrator Jamie Hellen. “We appreciate the Commonwealth’s recognition and look forward to continuing our work to advance thoughtful and sustainable development in our community.”


Visit the Town of Franklin website for news and community updates:

News and Announcements

—Stay informed and connected with the Town of Franklin—

Facebook  Instagram  X  LinkedIn  YouTube

Town of Franklin | 355 E Central St, | Franklin, MA 02038 US


Constant Contact

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Sunday, February 15, 2026

A housing idea returns in Vermont: "state officials are reviving the idea of the catalog home"

A housing idea returns in Vermont: "state officials are reviving the idea of the catalog home"
A housing idea returns in Vermont: "state officials
are reviving the idea of the catalog home"
"In order to build the housing of the future, Vermont is hearkening back to a tool from the past.

A century ago, companies like Sears sold mail-order blueprints for modest homes that proliferated across the country and in some corners of Vermont. Now, state officials are reviving the idea of the catalog home in a bid to smooth the construction process and boost Vermont’s housing stock.

While cities such as South Bend, Indiana, and Kalamazoo, Michigan, have taken on similar initiatives in recent years, Vermont is the first state to do so, officials say.

“We want to give folks easy access to open-source construction plans,” said Alex Farrell, commissioner of the Department of Housing and Community Development. And, he added, “We’re wanting to give these people … some assurance that as long as you’re choosing one of these designs, you’re going to get your permit.”

The state does not have a target for how much the home designs will cost to construct, but officials are trying to make them “as efficient and affordable as possible,” Farrell said.

Read the full story from @vermontpublic/@vtdigger housing reporter Carly Berlin at the link in our bio. Photos by Glenn Russell/VTDigger"





Friday, February 13, 2026

End to homelessness possible but not with this administration

"'Deeply illogical': this man's life work could end homelessness – and Trump is doing all he can to stop it "

After four decades of research and over a decade of federal support, Housing First’s Sam Tsemberis is ‘back to being an outlaw’ in the US
After four decades of research and over a
decade of federal support, Housing First’s
Sam Tsemberis is ‘back to being an outlaw’ in the US
"Now in his fourth decade of spreading the word across most of the world’s continents about “Housing First”, an approach to helping homeless people that has convinced governments and non-profits alike to see housing as a human right, Sam Tsemberis experienced a first.

He was censored by the US government.

In the 1990s, Tsemberis began developing a simple idea: people living on the street want, and should have, safe housing with no strings attached. When you add accessible mental health and addiction services and caring, consistent case management, most stay housed. His research would bear out the idea, showing that Housing First results in at least 85% of people staying housed 12 or 24 months later, depending on the study. These are higher rates than any other approach that’s been studied.

The idea was and still is not easy to implement because it depends on all the components being present: the apartments, the services and the committed case workers. It also requires believing that unhoused people “deserve” a place to live – a belief abhorrent to the Trump administration and most Maga conservatives."

Continue reading the article with this 'shared' link -

Wednesday, February 11, 2026

Fair Housing listening session schedule

Fair Housing listening session schedule
Fair Housing listening session schedule
"If you’ve encountered barriers to fair housing — or you’re working to remove them — we want to learn from you. These sessions help us move from stories to solutions and inform practical recommendations statewide.


North Shore/Merrimack Valley — Thursday, Feb. 12






Friday, February 6, 2026

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Friday, February 6, 2026 ???

Friday, February 6

10:00am Knitting Group (Franklin Public Library)

1:00pm Thrifty Threads (Franklin Federated Church)

1:30pm Franklin Ridge Info Session (Franklin Senior Center)

6:00pm Ken Barney (live music) (Lafayette House)

Library & Senior Center events
Library & Senior Center events


For additional details on Library events -> 
For additional details on Senior Center events ->   

Note: Senior Center checking on why their events are suddenly being shown as "All Day". You can use the monthly newsletter for specific program/event times



***  NO  Town Meetings today   ***



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Find the full Community event calendar  https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

MBTA community progress report

"Adopted in 2021, the MBTA Communities Act required cities and towns served by the MBTA to allow multifamily housing "as of right" in reasonably sized districts, near transit where feasible, and without restrictions that exclude families with children.

An Early Look at the MBTA Communities Permitting Pipeline
An Early Look at the MBTA
Communities Permitting Pipeline
After five years of planning, discussion, local meetings and implementation, "An Early Look at the MBTA Communities Permitting Pipeline", examines a state-compiled list of more than 100 developments, totaling almost 7,000 homes, that have entered the permitting pipeline in these new zones. One potentially surprising finding - despite its transit-oriented name, the majority of housing inspired by the Act is happening outside of walking distance from transit stations. 

The report looks at how many of these projects are likely to move from permitting into construction and eventual occupancy; where housing is being built relative to transit and walkable centers; how effectively as-of-right zoning is reducing permitting risk and delay; and what these early signals imply about the law’s likely long-term contribution to housing production in Massachusetts.

The report page on Boston Indicators also features an interactive map of MBTA Communities-related projects to date."



Friday, January 30, 2026

Mass. AG: Why I filed a lawsuit to enforce housing law — and why it’s personal for me

Andrea Campbell is attorney general of Massachusetts.

Mass. AG: Why I filed a lawsuit to enforce housing law — and why it’s personal for me
Mass. AG: Why I filed a lawsuit to enforce
housing law — and why it’s personal for me
"Massachusetts has a housing crisis. People across the state are struggling to pay rent and find an affordable place to live. Seniors are struggling to keep their homes, and good luck to anyone attempting to buy one. Young people want to stay in the communities where they grew up, but they can’t make the math work. Rents and home prices are rising faster than wages. Employers can’t fill jobs because workers can’t afford to live anywhere near them.

Every elected official has a responsibility to use the tools at their disposal to address the crisis head on. That’s why I filed a lawsuit Thursday to enforce the MBTA Communities law, which requires communities served by public transit to allow multifamily housing to be built as of right. It’s not the only solution, but it helps to get more housing built in the Commonwealth.

I understand what having a home means and the stability it creates for families. Stable housing is not a luxury — it’s an essential need."


Thursday, January 22, 2026

Boston Globe: "Here are the 12 communities that haven’t passed a new state-approved housing plan yet"

"Five years after it began, the fight over a controversial state housing law is nearly over.

The final compliance deadline for the MBTA Communities Act — the 2021 law that requires cities and towns served by the T make room for more multifamily housing — came and went at the end of 2025. And after a series of sometimes-bruising local fights, 165 of the 177 cities and towns the law covers have passed zoning intended to comply with it.

The remaining noncompliant towns are: Carver, Dracut, East Bridgewater, Freetown, Halifax, Holden, Marblehead, Middleton, Rehoboth, Tewksbury, Wilmington, and Winthrop.

That just 12 communities are considered out of compliance represents significant progress for Governor Maura Healey’s administration, which embraced the nearly-passed law when Healey took office in 2022."

Continue reading the article online with this 'sharing' link ->

Note: the map is 'inaccurate' at least as far as Franklin is concerned. While we have made zoning changes, there are a couple of technical changes out for Planning Board approval to come back to the Town Council for approval to bring us into full compliance. We were almost there when the whole MBTA community thing started due to the work we had already begun with Franklin For All.  Prior maps usually were shown as compliant, or pending, or not. We were in the pending status previously.