A housing shortage that one mayor called “an emergency” has spurred a regional initiative in the Boston area to build more residential units.
The mayors of 15 cities and towns close to the Bay State capitol pledged to sharply accelerate the pace of home construction. The goal is to add 185,000 new homes by 2030 in the 15 communities.
Since 2010, just 32,500 housing units have been permitted in the same municipalities, so the goal represents a pace of housing construction that is three times as fast as the region has built over this decade. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh recently increased his city’s new-housing target by 30% to 69,000 additional units by 2030.
The goal of the suburban cities and towns may be difficult to achieve because of resistance from residents worried about the effects on traffic, schools, and quality of life. A bill proposed by Gov. Charlie Baker that would have allowed communities to lower the threshold for zoning changes from a two-thirds approval vote by a local government council to a simple majority failed to get through the state legislature this year. That is an indicator of how tough it is to create new housing in the densely populated municipalities surrounding Boston.
Related Stories
| Mar 19, 2013
Senate bill would reform EPA’s lead renovation, repair, and painting rules
A bill to reform the EPA’s Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule (LRRP) was recently introduced in the U.S. Senate.
| Mar 19, 2013
Boston mayor’s energy efficiency disclosure rule under fire
A proposed ordinance in Boston mandating energy audits is coming under criticism from the Greater Boston Real Estate Board and others as being too costly and intrusive.
| Mar 18, 2013
USGBC to GAO: 'Schools need over $271 billion in maintenance fixes'
The Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has released its first “State of our Schools” report, highlighting the critical need to modernize school facilities to meet current health, safety and educational standards.
| Mar 14, 2013
Survey: Market demand now key driver for green construction
Construction firms across the world expect 60% of their projects to be environmentally friendly by 2015, according to the SmartMarket Report of McGraw-Hill Construction.
| Mar 14, 2013
Possible tax code changes prompt action from various industries, including construction
With Congress potentially tackling tax reform, businesses, trade groups and others are jockeying to get their voices heard.
| Mar 14, 2013
Concrete Polishing Association of America releases new standards
The Concrete Polishing Association of America(CPAA) Standards Committee, which reflects a cross-section of the concrete polishing industry, has created terminology to define the products and processes used to produce insitu polished concrete.
| Mar 14, 2013
World Green Building Council: Green buildings help mitigate real estate risk
Green buildings can offer benefits to a wide array of stakeholders throughout their life cycle, according to a report released by the World Green Building Council.
| Mar 14, 2013
Sustainability index aims to evaluate REITs on the greenness of their properties
FTSE Group, the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, and the U.S. Green Building Council are working on a sustainability index that measures the portfolios of real estate investment trusts to provide transparency about LEED certification and Energy Star ratings.
| Mar 6, 2013
OSHA: Employers must post injury and illness summaries
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is reminding employers to post OSHA Form 300A, which lists a summary of the total number of job-related injuries and illnesses that occurred during 2012.
| Mar 6, 2013
Study provides guidance to states on linking utility efficiency programs with energy codes
As states increasingly look to utilities to play an active role in supporting building energy codes, a new report from a coalition of energy efficiency advocates, has been issued to provide guidance for how state regulatory commissions and energy offices can best develop and evaluate such efforts.
