Massachusetts
Massachusetts Governor Says Safety Funds Won’t be Tied to MBTA Communities Compliance
Gov. Healey faced backlash for requiring local fire departments to confirm compliance with the zoning law to receive state funds.
Massachusetts Zoning Reform Sparks ADU Surge
A 2024 law and a 2025 assistance program have spurred a flurry of ADU projects across the state.
Report: MBTA Communities Act has Created Just 7,000 New Housing Units
The Massachusetts law requires cities to rezone appropriate neighborhoods for denser housing.
MBTA Rail Car Builder to Furlough 161 Workers, Delay Fleet Upgrade
Key components are stuck in customs as the Chinese-based producer works to certify that the parts were not produced with forced labor.
How Cambridge Restored its Public Housing
In Cambridge, Massachusetts, residents speak positively of the renovations to their public housing stock. The housing authority attributes its success to an innovative mix of RAD with other funding sources.
Over 90% of Massachusetts Towns Have Changed Zoning to Comply With MBTA Communities Law
Massachusetts municipalities have until December 31 to adjust their zoning codes or face the potential loss of state funding.
Boston Considers Eliminating Parking Requirements
Boston could join other major cities in eliminating outdated parking regulations that drive up the cost of housing.
HUD Investigating Boston for “Redlining Against White People”
The agency says the city is breaking the law by prioritizing people of color in its affordable housing strategy.
Boston to Top City Libraries With Affordable Housing
Three public libraries will be rebuilt or renovated to include hundreds of affordable housing units.
Boston’s Free Buses are Also its Slowest
Two fare-free bus lines have seen a sharp increase in travel times.
Consumer Protection Advocates Raise Alarms About Climate Insurance Discrimination That “Mimics Redlining”
As homeowners’ insurance companies and lenders increasingly factor climate risk into their business strategies, communities may see a resurgence of racial and economic exclusion that mimics redlining. But our hands aren’t tied.
Boston Approves 700 ft Tall Buildings Downtown
A new rezoning plan raises height limits in some areas for buildings that are mostly residential.
In Missouri, Oklahoma, Colorado and Beyond, a Surprising new Housing Model is Making Gentrification Pay Back
Each Mixed-Income Neighborhood Trust focuses on preventing displacement and capturing the benefits of rising property values for neighborhood residents.
Newton, Massachusetts Buys an Apartment Building to Keep it Affordable
The city chose to buy an existing building, slashing the cost of bringing new affordable housing units onto the market.
The Rise of Crowdfunded Real Estate
Enabled by provisions in the JOBS Act of 2012 that allow smaller scale investing, community members are becoming co-owners of local real estate projects.
Salem, Massachusetts Eliminates Parking Minimums
An analysis found that the city’s real parking demand is around 0.85 spots per housing unit, far less than the 1.5 spaces required under the old zoning code.
Boston Train Station Gets ‘Stunning’ Makeover
The historic South Station got some much-needed upgrades as part of a massive redevelopment project that will bring luxury condos and offices to the neighborhood.
Harvard Report Cites Zoning, Construction Costs as Obstacles to New Housing
Zoning restrictions and onerous building codes make mid-sized multifamily housing prohibitively expensive or illegal to build.
USDOT Threatens to Pull Chicago, Boston Transit Funding
The Trump administration is using isolated incidents on public transit systems to call for tighter security.
Boston Upzoning Proposal Moves Forward
The Boston Planning Department approved a proposal that would raise allowable building heights in downtown and streamline permitting for small businesses.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
