Housing

Housing is a key component of a community’s resources and of local and regional planning. High quality housing, affordable to people with a broad range of incomes, is essential to the region's economy and its ability to attract and retain a diverse and talented workforce. Housing location, density, and proximity to jobs affect mobility and transportation choices. Housing development patterns may contribute to or ease sprawl.

In all of MAPC's planning efforts, the Council seeks to incorporate recognition and awareness of the need to plan for housing that is adequate, decent, and affordable to people with a broad range of incomes, and concentrated near jobs and transportation networks. MAPC's recent housing activities include:

• Creating and disseminating housing data;
• Drafting housing-related publications and articles, e.g.,
  Responding to the Housing Problem: Think Regionally, Act Locally--A Local Housing Program Checklist; and
  
• Addressing housing needs through the production
  of planning documents, including MetroFuture, local comprehensive and community development plans, as well as model bylaws.

Click below for additional housing information:

Commonwealth Housing Task Force
United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Massachusetts Dept. of Housing and Community Development (DHCD)
Housing Appeals Committee (HAC)
Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP)
MassHousing
Greater Boston Real Estate Board (GBREB)
Citizens' Housing & Planning Association (CHAPA)
Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies
The Warren Group Town Housing Statistics

What's New

The Use of Chapter 40R in Massachusetts as a Tool for Smart Growth and Affordable Housing Production (November 2009)

The Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA) and Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) released The Use of Chapter 40R in Massachusetts as a Tool for Smart Growth and Affordable Housing Production report in November 2009.

The report demonstrates that the law enacted five years ago is effective in meeting affordable housing goals. The report’s preliminary findings indicate that, most projects have been project-driven and that many districts involve projects that were underway before the 40R District was created. Additionally, the reasons municipalities created 40R districts were varied, though Chapter 40B appears to have played a more prominent role in the creation of many suburban 40R Districts. Findings also showed that most 40R Districts are not “transit” or “concentrated development” locations, but rather considered “highly suitable locations” allowable under the law.

Questions?

Please direct inquiries about MAPC's housing activities to Chief Housing Planner Jennifer Raitt at (617) 451-2770, ext. 2056 or at jraitt@mapc.org.