Prescriptions for the 'Broken' Massachusetts Multi-Family Market

The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) addresses the state of multi-family housing around the state, calling the situation a housing crisis, with an article and collection of media resources on its website.  

Elise Harmon writes the article, which promotes a call to action to support zoning that allows and encourages multi-family housing development. Harmon writes in support of state bills, the Governor’s Housing Choice bill (coverage from Planetizen here) and the Great Neighborhoods bill. Taken together, argues Harmon, the bills "offer meaningful reform and help us meet today’s needs and tomorrow’s demand."

According to Harmon, the Great Neighborhoods bill outlines two possible approaches:

The first would simply direct municipalities to designate a district where multi-family construction would be allowed. This leaves the details up to the individual municipality for how to accommodate the new homes. The second approach would set a sliding scale of density targets for the multi-family zone, but allow for exemptions in places where the housing demand is not as strong.

MAPC's "Broken Zoning, Unaffordable Homes: What Can Be Done" series includes additional articles on Accessory Dwelling Units and a platform it has dubbed "Housing Choice Plus."