The Boston Zoning Commission approved the elimination of parking standards for many affordable housing developments.
The ruling applies to new buildings where at least 60% of apartments are set aside at below-market rents. The measure is expected to lower the cost of building affordable housing by clearing a common legal roadblock.
In most sections of the city, new residential buildings are required to have a certain number of parking spaces per unit based partly on proximity to a public transportation station. Eligible projects would be exempt from rules mandating a minimum number of parking spaces per unit in many parts of the city.
Developers often seek exemptions to parking rules, noting that garage parking can add tens of thousands of dollars per unit to the project cost. Neighbors sometimes resist those exemptions, concerned that residents of the new building will raise competition for scarce street parking.
The disputes sometimes land in court, further driving up costs.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Dec 14, 2016
Cities must invest $375 billion to avoid catastrophic global climate change
C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group advocates low carbon infrastructure.
Codes and Standards | Dec 14, 2016
Resilient construction techniques pay for themselves over lifetime of buildings
Spending $340,000 for resiliency would pay for itself over the lifetime of a $10 million structure.
Codes and Standards | Dec 12, 2016
Dept. of Energy launches program to advance zero energy school design
Six school districts and two states are among the first to mainstream zero energy schools.
Codes and Standards | Dec 9, 2016
California city’s plan for net zero building includes net zero water usage
Santa Monica city services building aims for highest level of sustainability.
Codes and Standards | Dec 8, 2016
WELL and BREEAM to align standards
The goal is to make it easier for projects pursuing both standards.
Codes and Standards | Dec 7, 2016
U.S. lumber industry pushes for import duties on Canadian softwood
The industry claims the product is being sold below fair market value.
Codes and Standards | Dec 5, 2016
International Construction Measurement Standards draft released
The goal is to improve consistency for calculating costs and reducing risk.
Codes and Standards | Dec 2, 2016
D.C. Council passes bill to reduce number of blighted properties
The new legislation reduces the amount of time a vacant property can qualify for a lower tax rate.
Codes and Standards | Dec 1, 2016
Passive House standard gaining influence in commercial sector
Some industry watchers predict it will become the base building code.
Codes and Standards | Nov 30, 2016
Researchers finding solutions to bird/building collisions
Glass facades pose a serious risk to birds and cause millions of avian deaths each year.
