Thinking Bigger, Thinking Statewide

New State Housing Targets Announced

Author

Aaron Weber
February 09, 2025

The Healey administration has released its first ever housing plan, calling for a minimum of 222,000 new homes statewide by 2035. That’s a big number, but it’s also a minimum needed to stop the housing crisis from getting worse. If we want housing to actually get more affordable, we need closer to 549,000 new homes in the next decade. We know it’s possible — it’s been done in Austin, among other places — but it won’t be easy.

Calling for about a half million new homes in ten years sounds ambitious, and that’s because it is. But it’s also necessary if we are going to face the housing shortage and all its related problems, including the fact that people from elsewhere in the US and the world are finding themselves under threat from political and climate-driven upheaval, and seeking a welcoming and stable place like Massachusetts to call home.

Unfortunately, statewide housing production has been stalled for decades, and 2023 saw barely 10,000 permits issued.

That’s why we need to think bigger than ever. In particular, we need places like Somerville, with more transit access and greater affordability standards, to take the lead on boosting housing production.

Accessory Dwelling Units — call them in-law apartments, casitas, or whatever you like — are now legal statewide. Learn more from Abundant Housing MA. There are still a number of obstacles to building them in quite a few places, and they aren’t going to be the best choice for most of Somerville, but they’re still an important tool in the housing toolbox, and we’re thrilled to see them become more available.

Upcoming events

February 12: Somerville YIMBY general meeting. 6:00 pm, Online via Zoom. We’ll be discussing our upcoming zoning amendments and election endorsement process. If you’re not here, we recommend attending the other meeting happening at the same time…

February 12: 231-249 Elm Street/Copper Mill development meeting: Developers will present updated sketches and the latest information about the proposed apartment building on Elm Street. In particular, we’re looking forward to learning about how accessibility might intersect with affordability in the completed building. Opponents have recently been encouraging people to interrupt and intimidate presenters and housing advocates at these meeting, so please be prepared to be extremely polite, patient, and respectful. 6:00 pm, in person at Somerville Community Baptist Church.

February 13: Office of Housing Stability info session for landlords and realtors. Learn about how OHS can work with landlords, realtors, and tenants, including info on incentives for renting to voucher holders. 5:30 pm, Central Library, advance registration recommended.

February 24: Davis Square Neighborhood Council regular meeting. Follow linktr.ee/davissquarenc for details.

February 26: Streetwise x Somerville YIMBY: Steering Committee member Jeff Byrnes will present an overview of land use and street safety at the monthly Streetwise talk, co-sponsored by the Somerville Bicycle Advisory Committee, Cambridge Bike Safety, Somerville PTAC, and the Somerville Alliance for Safe Streets. 6:00 pm, in-person at Aeronaut Brewing.

February 27: Abundant Housing MA Happy Hour. In-person social meetup at Dorchester Brewing Company, 1250 Mass Ave, Boston.

Further Reading/Watching

Green vs. Gray Environmentalism: Justine Underhill video on conflicts between urban and pastoral environmentalism and ways that cities are environmentally sustainable.

Rat Populations on the Rise: Atlas Obscura covers the fact that rats seem to be benefiting from climate change and rising temperatures.