Is this the fix for Massachusetts' housing crisis?
TODAY'S STARTING POINT
It's become common to see housing in the US described as a crisis. Across much of the country —
But in recent years, advocates for more housing at lower cost have seen a shift. ' There's so many more people speaking up,' said Rachel Heller, who leads the
Change has happened at both the state and local levels. Legislators on Beacon Hill have passed new laws, communities have changed zoning rules, and developers have moved to convert underused buildings. The issue's political profile has risen, too, with housing affordability
Today's newsletter explains what Massachusetts is doing to make housing more plentiful and less costly — and the limits of those efforts so far.
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More, more, more
Communities across the state have taken steps to expand the housing supply. The MBTA Communities Act, which Governor Charlie Baker signed into law in 2021, requires cities and towns served by public transit to revise their zoning rules to make it easier to create more multifamily housing. Of the 177 communities required to make changes,
Accessory dwelling units, known as 'granny flats,' are another recent change. A provision in
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Some local communities have gone further. The Cambridge City Council voted this month
Developers have also taken new steps. Some have proposed renovating
Cutting costs
Some communities are also moving to lower housing costs.
In December, Boston
More expensive construction materials and higher interest rates have also made it costlier for developers to build new homes. The Affordable Homes Act includes a $50 million fund to jump-start construction on thousands of projects paused because of financial challenges.
The big picture
These changes are important steps, experts say, but they are probably not enough.
Governor Healey has set a goal of 222,000 new homes in the state over the next decade. Meeting it would require significantly increasing the number of homes the state permits each year, which was less than 12,000 in 2023. If you've been doing the math, you can already see that it doesn't add up.
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'Those policies will certainly make a dent,' my colleague Andrew Brinker, who covers housing, told me. 'But not a huge one.'
One reason is that policy changes can take time to take effect. Another is local opposition. Last year, Milton voters
Closing the housing gap will likely require other changes, advocates say. Some suggest eliminating parking lot size requirements or allowing triplexes, quadplexes, or townhomes by right on lots. And still other measures may be needed to address adjacent problems,
As Heller puts it, 'There's been a lot of good policies that have been put in place over the last few years. And we need more.'
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9 Across:
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POINTS OF INTEREST
Nicholas Portillo (center left), a fifth grader at Dever Elementary School, was among those protesting the proposed closure.
JOSH REYNOLDS FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE/Josh Reynolds for The Boston Globe
Boston and Massachusetts
Accusation:
A Norfolk Superior Court judge
'We have no voice':
The Boston City Council is once again pushing to
Tug of war:
In a Boston courtroom, ICE and local prosecutors are
Inside successor:
Boston College chose the Rev. John T. 'Jack' Butler, S.J.,
Trouble at Fenway?
Rafael Devers doesn't want to move from third base even though the Red Sox just signed an All-Star corner infielder in Alex Bregman. Now his teammates
New England
Drive away:
Herb Chambers is selling his New England
Why'd he cross the road?
A baby seal that somehow
The Trump administration
Backwards:
Trump criticized President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine after US and Russian officials met to talk about ending the war, falsely accusing Zelensky of having 'started it.' (
No emergency ... yet:
A judge declined to immediately stop Elon Musk and his DOGE staff from accessing federal data or firing government workers, but said that Massachusetts and 13 other states' case against Musk's status is 'strong.' (
Justice departure:
A top federal prosecutor quit after refusing to launch what she called a politically driven investigation into Biden-era climate spending. (
Cabinet makers:
Senate Republicans confirmed Howard Lutnick, a billionaire investor who has defended Trump's tariff agenda, to be commerce secretary. (
Downer:
Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. plan to investigate what they call the 'threat' of prescribing antidepressants, stimulants, and weight-loss drugs to children. (
Nation and World
Gaza hostages:
Hamas said it would release the bodies of four dead hostages, including infant and toddler siblings, tomorrow. (
Not guilty:
A jury in Los Angeles acquitted the rapper A$AP Rocky in the 2021 shooting of his former friend. (
Zizian update:
The police arrested three members of a cult-like Bay Area fringe group after they allegedly trespassed in Maryland. One of them
Walk the walk:
About 40 percent of Americans — mostly Democrats, Black shoppers, and Gen Zers — refuse to patronize certain businesses because of their political stances. (
Checkup:
Pope Francis has pneumonia in both lungs, the Vatican said, and he remains hospitalized 'in good spirits.' (
BESIDE THE POINT
🚲 Bike fight:
Bring up bike lanes in Boston and watch the arguments explode. Which led the Globe's
🖍️
Sketchy royals:
Kensington Palace released four portraits drawn by Catherine, Princess of Wales, and her three children. You have to guess who drew which. (
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⚠️
America's deadliest workplace:
Why didn't safety regulators shut it down? (
👮 Step by step:
Boston native Donnie Wahlberg, actor and New Kids on the Block alum, is returning to the 'Blue Bloods' franchise for
👰
The Big Day:
By their second date, they each
🏠
Trading spaces:
Would you ever swap your home? More and more people are saying, 'Mais bien sûr!' (
🍸 No more vodka shots:
As women age, they can't hold their liquor nearly as well as when they were younger. The culprit could be menopause. (
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Read this:
The US used to be able to do big things. A new book
🖐️ Are fingerprints really unique?
Here's a video guide to how to read those black smudges. (
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Judge turns back challenge to MBTA housing law
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Yahoo
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Judge turns back challenge to MBTA housing law; Holden among plaintiffs
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