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I am in the @BankerTradesman this morning on the need for Boston's next mayor to deliver more housing, thread below:
https://www.bankerandtradesman.com/bostons-next-mayor-must-deliver-homes-for-all/
(1/10)
https://www.bankerandtradesman.com/bostons-next-mayor-must-deliver-homes-for-all/
(1/10)
Mayor Walsh delivered dramatically more housing growth than either of his predecessors without fundamental reform. By replacing key leaders at the BPDA and ZBA, he bent our archaic permitting and approval system to growth, delivering 3-6x more homes annually than Menino
(2/10)
(2/10)
We can see the fruits of this all over Boston from towers downtown, to infill in the neighborhoods. Yet, rents keep rising.
In many ways, this is due to Walsh's lack of desire to change the fundamental form of housing approval in Boston.
(3/10)
In many ways, this is due to Walsh's lack of desire to change the fundamental form of housing approval in Boston.
(3/10)
Neighborhoods are allowed to grow, but the rules aren't codified. NIMBYs are tolerated more or less depending on who they know and how much the administration wants to allow.
This is a recipe for exclusion: of residents, of newcomers, of potential builders.
(4/10)
This is a recipe for exclusion: of residents, of newcomers, of potential builders.
(4/10)
Key win-win projects can be placed on indefinite hiatus.
One Charlestown (1010 units of permanent affordable housing completely rebuilt by allowing ~1600 market rate units on site) was delayed by 5 years by local, wealthier gadflies (and not the BHA residents themselves)
(5/10)
One Charlestown (1010 units of permanent affordable housing completely rebuilt by allowing ~1600 market rate units on site) was delayed by 5 years by local, wealthier gadflies (and not the BHA residents themselves)
(5/10)
Among others, Councillor Michelle Wu has identified the need for wholesale reform and clear guidelines about what should be allowed to build.
The question is: how can we insure that we *build even more housing* as we put those reforms into place.
(6/10)
The question is: how can we insure that we *build even more housing* as we put those reforms into place.
(6/10)
Not only do we need more homes to lower rents and provide housing for those who want to live here, simpler approvals benefit affordable housing too, and building at higher price points funds it.
(7/10)
(7/10)
Building housing in dense cities is the alternative to building it in exurban sprawl and in places highly vulnerable to climate change (eg Arizona and Florida).
It is a moral imperative that the next mayor deliver on more housing while reforming the system.
(8/10)
It is a moral imperative that the next mayor deliver on more housing while reforming the system.
(8/10)
How can we triple permitting above the Walsh years to match the growth of lower rent cities like Seattle and Houston?
How can we make affordable housing easier to build and reduce or eliminate the subsidy needed? @KenzieBok and @MattOMalley have a good plan to start.
(9/10)
How can we make affordable housing easier to build and reduce or eliminate the subsidy needed? @KenzieBok and @MattOMalley have a good plan to start.
(9/10)
How do we ensure that in the next decade, one of America's most prosperous cities, the center of a biotechnological revolution, is growing faster than its peers?
Without enough homes, the benefits will be eaten up by landlords and we will not ensure opportunity for all.
(10/10)
Without enough homes, the benefits will be eaten up by landlords and we will not ensure opportunity for all.
(10/10)
Want to be part of making this happen?
Join us at @AbundantHomesMA to work to ensure that people of all incomes can choose to live where they wish.
Join us at @AbundantHomesMA to work to ensure that people of all incomes can choose to live where they wish.
