Housing (Supply Crisis & Public Policy)

Stand-alone housing secretariat moves forward
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Senate approves Healey reorganization; House yet to act

“GOV. MAURA HEALEY’S plan to create a new Cabinet-level post on housing got the green light from the Senate on Thursday, bringing the administration one step closer to an adjustment it says will help address the state’s severe housing production and affordability crisis.

Splitting the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development in two has been an early priority for the new governor, who hits her 100th day in office on April 15. The administration has already started the search process for a housing secretary, Healey said.

Creating the new Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, and renaming the existing secretariat as the Executive Office of Economic Development, is a “first step in what I expect will be a continuing collaboration with the Legislature, municipal officials, and key stakeholders throughout the Commonwealth to increase the production of new housing over the long term,” Healey wrote in a letter accompanying the reorganization bill.

The pitch has been well-received by lawmakers and advocates alike over the past months. In remarks before the 39-0 vote approving the change, Sen. Lydia Edwards, who co-chairs the Joint Committee on Housing, said she hoped the separation would give the Healey administration a “tool” to create “integrated, equitable communities.”

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/housing/stand-alone-housing-secretariat-moves-forward/
 
^ This shouldn't be a surprise to anyone here. The local real estate market follows its own logic and this is probably the 4th time this has happened in the history of this forum. The high end is going to tank and it is going to be hard to sell at any price point. As long as you didn't get cocky and you covered your ass, you will be fine; this is just a bump in the road. If you bought with a plan to be here for the long haul, you put 20% down to avoid PMI, and if you can cover the note on one income, then you will be fine. Otherwise, you're fucked
 
www.abundanthousingma.org

2025-2026 Priorities

www.abundanthousingma.org www.abundanthousingma.org

Abundant Housing MA's three priorities are:

(H.1572 / S.962) – An Act to Promote Yes in My Backyard​

Sponsors: Rep. Andres Vargas (D) & Rep. Kevin Honan (D) / Sen. Brendan Crighton (D)​

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The “YIMBY” bill is a comprehensive zoning reform bill that creates several new tools for unlocking missing middle housing production, including:

  • Allowing 5 homes by-right on all lots served by water and sewer and 3 homes by-right on all other lots
  • Eliminating minimum parking requirements for new residential developments
  • Creating a new process through which a property owner can subdivide their lot into smaller lots, which can only be used for new housing
  • Eliminating minimum lot size requirements
  • Requiring executive agencies to submit a report identifying greyfield sites suitable for redevelopment
  • Prioritizing the disposition of state-owned land for affordable housing
  • Restricting the ability of municipalities to adopt overly burdensome septic regulations that limit housing development
  • Clarifying that ADUs can be built on the same lot as multi-family housing
  • Allowing the legislature to adopt the Housing Production Plan developed by Governor Healey’s Housing Advisory Council

(H.1482 / S.969) – An Act to Establish an Accessory Dwelling Unit Trust Fund​

Sponsors: Rep. Manny Cruz (D) & Rep. Orlando Ramos (D) / Sen. Sal DiDomenico (D)​

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Supports low- and moderate-income homeowners earning up to 110% of the area median income who want to build an ADU by creating a trust fund that will:

  • Provide reimbursement or an initial outlay of funds to cover pre-development and non-recurring closing costs; or
  • Finance low and no interest loans, grants, subsidies, credit enhancements and other financial assistance for the purpose of supporting the construction and development of ADUs

(H.1542 / S.964) – An Act to Study Single-Stair Residential Buildings​

Sponsors: Rep. Meghan Kilcoyne (D) / Sen. John Cronin (D)​

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Creates a commission to study how we can make mid-sized residential buildings easier and more affordable to build by eliminating the outdated requirement for a second staircase. Specifically it:

  • Orders the commission to study and define conditions under which Single-Stair Multi-Family Residential buildings up to six stories shall be legalized in Massachusetts and produce a building code amendment that implements those recommendations
  • Establishes that members of the following organizations be represented on the commission: Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts, American Institute of Architects, National Fire Protection Association, Board of Building Regulations and Standards, American Planning Association Massachusetts Chapter, Home Builders and Remodelers Association, NAIOP, Center for Building in North America, a building official employed by a municipality with a Class 1 Fire Department, and Abundant Housing MA
  • Allocates $250,000 to support the commission’s work
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