Amy Dain

The Surprising Lack of Good Permitting Data and What to Do about It Homes in the construction pipeline should be readily countable, unlike, for example, grains of sand in Salisbury Beach.

Homes in the construction pipeline should be readily countable, unlike, for example, grains of sand in Salisbury Beach. But try and figure out how many homes Massachusetts municipalities permitted last decade. The numbers slip through your fingers like sand.

www.bostonindicators.org/upzone_updat...

www.bostonindicators.org/upzone_updat...

"It does not make sense for 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts to have so many unique regulations—and unique interpretations of regulations—for land use and building... We are dragging down the viability of firms that should be building us the homes we need, at scale." @amydain.bsky.social

Latest Upzone Update. I got one reply saying my tone about the salamanders was sarcastic. I didn’t mean it to be. I do appreciate feedback on tone and content.

I write these in an easy tone to make it possible to read about serious regulatory policy.

www.bostonindicators.org/upzone_updat...

Oh wow. I am interested in the details, if you have more info to share on the projects, politics, and policy.

Supply Skepticism Revisited: What New Research Shows About the Impact of Supply on Affordability Furman Center faculty directors Vicki Been, Ingrid Gould Ellen, and Kathy O’Regan recently released “Supply Skepticism Revisited”, highlighting the latest rigorous research that draws out the nuanced ...

furmancenter.org/thestoop/ent...
Chris, this a 2023 Furman Center review of studies that look at that question, an update of an earlier review.

MA EOHLC filed emergency regs for MBTA Communities zoning. Key deadline extended to July 14. Screenshot of EOHLC email announcement.

Have you looked at the details of it? I haven’t yet. From the article, it sounds like it does create capacity for growth, although the “capacity number” way overstates it.

Waltham, long a job growth center, may finally build the housing to match - The Boston Globe The City Council is poised to approve a plan that would allow 4,000 units of housing to be constructed near two commuter rail stations.

www.bostonglobe.com/2024/12/27/b...

End-of-year grab bag: Fair housing, implementation to-date, mixed-use development, and more! Happy holidays to our readers! This is the final biweekly issue of the Upzone Update. In 2025, the newsletter will come out less frequently as we pivot toward more in-depth analysis. BY AMY DAIN Fa...

End-of-the-year Upzone Update: mbtacommunities.bostonindicators.org/end-of-year-...

Thank you @amydain.bsky.social for this amazing public resource and thank you #MarkSideris (my hero of the day) @watertowngov.bsky.social for embracing spirit of #MBTACommunities #MaPoli #BosPoli #MAYIMBY

End-of-year grab bag: Fair housing, implementation to-date, mixed-use development, and more! Happy holidays to our readers! This is the final biweekly issue of the Upzone Update. In 2025, the newsletter will come out less frequently as we pivot toward more in-depth analysis. BY AMY DAIN Fa...

Today’s Upzone Update by @amydain.bsky.social is 🔥🔥🔥

“A regional housing shortage is not an acceptable policy solution to protect schools, manage municipal budgets, minimize traffic, or maintain the charm of places.”

Guest post: A survey of ambitious state policies from across the country Upzone Update offers analysis of MBTA-C compliance efforts, produced by zoning expert Amy Dain and the staff of Boston Indicators. Scroll to the bottom for a listing of news coverage and upcoming even...

My heroes of the day - @amydain.bsky.social @johninfranca.bsky.social - If you don’t already subscribe to #UpzoneUpdate you should! mbtacommunities.bostonindicators.org/guest-post-a... - Can folks in #Lexington talk to their friends in #Weston? 🙏

MBTA Communities Gold Star: Watertown In November, Massachusetts reached a major milestone in the MBTA Communities implementation process, providing an opportunity to celebrate and reflect on the legislation's successes. This past week, t...

"In what may be one of the brightest stories from the MBTA Communities compliance plans produced, Watertown took this opportunity to not only rezone for new housing, but to "reclaim" the Square from through traffic & reclaim The Square's sense of place."
www.remainplaces.com/post/mbta-co...

Welcome to the MBTA Communities Club Ashland! 🎉

Yes!

Belmont makes 99 MBTA Communities. Which will be 100?

Following a 213-8 blowout at this evening’s Town Meeting, welcome to the MBTA Communities Club Belmont! 🎉

Thank you for the intro here!

Last night, Watertown passed an ambitious plan to not only add needed housing in Watertown Square, complying with MBTA Communities, but to also revitalize the Square, reclaiming 3.3 acres of vehicle space for new green space and wider pedestrian areas.

📍Watertown, MA