A growing movement of grassroots organizing to support new housing construction is having an impact in city halls across the country.
Fed up with high housing costs and the commonly hostile reception to new housing proposals, advocacy groups have sprung up in many communities to attend public meetings to speak in support of developments. A Boston University housing researcher quoted in a Boston Globe article says these groups are having a notable impact on housing politics in Massachusetts.
The nationwide YIMBY (Yes in My Backyard) movement has helped to prompt zoning changes in many states, both red and blue. While some states including Massachusetts, which recently implemented a rezoning mandate in communities served by the Boston area’s public transportation service, are taking action on the state level; much of the work to spur more housing construction has to be done on the local level.
That’s where these pro-housing groups can have a real impact. If local officials hear positive takes on new development as well as opposing voices, they will be more likely to support new housing construction in their communities.
Lack of housing is an urgent problem in many communities around Boston, the Globe reported. For example, over the last decade, Waltham, a Boston suburb, has added more than 10,000 jobs, but only 1,600 housing units.
Related Stories
Multifamily Housing | Apr 20, 2021
Two new residential towers set to rise in Nashville
Goettsch Partners is designing the buildings.
Multifamily Housing | Apr 14, 2021
Miami's Adela at MiMo Bay combines a residential building with an American Legion facility
The five-story residential building features 236 units and a new American Legions Facility for military veterans.
Multifamily Housing | Apr 12, 2021
103 income-restricted residential units under construction in Downtown Denver
KTGY is designing the project.
Multifamily Housing | Apr 2, 2021
250-unit rental building opens in Brooklyn
CetraRuddy designed the project.
Multifamily Housing | Mar 30, 2021
Bipartisan ‘YIMBY’ bill would provide $1.5B in grants to spur new housing
Resources for local leaders to overcome obstacles such as density-unfriendly or discriminatory zoning.
Multifamily Housing | Mar 30, 2021
ProCONNECT Multifamily, ProCONNECT Single-Family open for Developers, Builders, Architects
Sponsors and Attendees can still sign up for ProCONNECT Multifamily April 21-22, ProCONNECT Single-Family for May 18-19
Multifamily Housing | Mar 28, 2021
Smart home technology 101 for multifamily housing communities
Bulk-services Wi-Fi leads to better connectivity, products, and services to help multifamily developers create greater value for residents–and their own bottom line.
Multifamily Housing | Mar 27, 2021
Designing multifamily housing today for the post-Covid world of tomorrow
The multifamily market has changed dramatically due to the Covid pandemic. Here's how one architecture firm has accommodate their designs to what tenants are now demanding.
Multifamily Housing | Mar 23, 2021
One Hundred Above the Park completes in St. Louis
Studio Gang designed the building.
