Boston is experiencing a period of brisk residential construction—most of which will enter the luxury market. New Mayor Martin Walsh has set the creation of middle class housing as a top priority for the city.
"Mayor Martin J. Walsh, in his first major real estate development initiative, is seeking to dramatically increase production of middle-income housing in Boston as the region’s red-hot property market pushes prices beyond the reach of most average wage earners," reports Casey Ross.
Although there are 6,600 rental and ownership units currently under construction in Boston, only "about 22 percent are considered affordable to households earning between $50,000 and $100,000 a year," writes Ross.
"In downtown Boston, for example, prospective buyers with household incomes of $80,000 could have afforded just 1.7 percent of the homes sold. In the South End, about 2.9 percent of transactions would have been within the reach of those house hunters."
A working group has been assembled, working with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, to create recommendations for the problem, which should be available in coming weeks. For a preview of what to expect from those recommendations, "Walsh administration officials said they will seek to spur more middle-income housing production in outlying neighborhoods such as Allston, Brighton, Dorchester, Roxbury, East Boston, Hyde Park, and Roslindale."
FULL STORY: Walsh pushes for middle-income housing
Boston Affordable Housing Program Meets 1,000-Unit Goal
The program offers zero-interest loans to developers that keep rental units affordable for at least 50 years.
Boston Zoning Commission to Consider ‘Squares and Streets’ Plan
The proposal would reduce barriers to the development of denser housing.
U.S. Housing Least Affordable in History
American households are spending more of their income on housing than at any other point in recorded history.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
USDOT Revokes Approval for NYC Congestion Pricing
Despite the administration’s stated concern for the “working class,” 85 percent of Manhattan commuters use public transit to enter the city.
Tiny House Villages for Addressing Homelessness: An Interview with Yetimoni Kpeebi
One researcher's perspective on the potential of tiny homes and owner-built housing as one tool to fight the housing crisis.
Preserving Altadena’s Trees: A Community Effort to Save a Fire-Damaged Landscape
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena Green is working to preserve fire-damaged but recoverable trees, advocating for better assessment processes, educating homeowners, and protecting the community’s urban canopy from unnecessary removal.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Investigation Reveals Just How Badly California’s Homeless Shelters are Failing
Fraud, violence, death, and chaos follow a billion dollar investment in a temporary solution that is proving ineffective.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Economic & Planning Systems, Inc.
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research