Reposted by Amy Dain
I love Amy's thinking (as always) but in my view her proposed solution is not nearly strong enough or fast enough. More here: www.linkedin.com/posts/clarkz...
Amy Dain on data gaps in MA housing permits: a call for action | Clark Ziegler posted on the topic | LinkedIn
Great post today by Amy Dain at Boston Indicators about the extreme data gaps on local permitting for new housing in Massachusetts. In my opinion Amy's "what to do about it" doesn't go quite far enou...
www.linkedin.com
November 3, 2025 at 12:42 PM
I love Amy's thinking (as always) but in my view her proposed solution is not nearly strong enough or fast enough. More here: www.linkedin.com/posts/clarkz...
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...
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.
www.bostonindicators.org
November 1, 2025 at 4:12 AM
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...
Reposted by Amy Dain
"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
June 20, 2025 at 4:56 PM
"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...
I write these in an easy tone to make it possible to read about serious regulatory policy.
www.bostonindicators.org/upzone_updat...
Upzone Update: How the Permit Process Broke Homebuilding
A web of required housing permits that vary from town to town serve to slow housing development across Massachusetts.
www.bostonindicators.org
June 19, 2025 at 12:29 AM
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...
I write these in an easy tone to make it possible to read about serious regulatory policy.
www.bostonindicators.org/upzone_updat...
MA EOHLC filed emergency regs for MBTA Communities zoning. Key deadline extended to July 14. Screenshot of EOHLC email announcement.
January 14, 2025 at 9:34 PM
MA EOHLC filed emergency regs for MBTA Communities zoning. Key deadline extended to July 14. Screenshot of EOHLC email announcement.
End-of-the-year Upzone Update: mbtacommunities.bostonindicators.org/end-of-year-...
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...
mbtacommunities.bostonindicators.org
December 19, 2024 at 4:11 PM
End-of-the-year Upzone Update: mbtacommunities.bostonindicators.org/end-of-year-...
Reposted by Amy Dain
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
December 19, 2024 at 2:05 PM
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
Reposted by Amy Dain
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.”
“A regional housing shortage is not an acceptable policy solution to protect schools, manage municipal budgets, minimize traffic, or maintain the charm of places.”
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...
mbtacommunities.bostonindicators.org
December 19, 2024 at 1:30 PM
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.”
“A regional housing shortage is not an acceptable policy solution to protect schools, manage municipal budgets, minimize traffic, or maintain the charm of places.”
Reposted by Amy Dain
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? 🙏
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...
mbtacommunities.bostonindicators.org
December 6, 2024 at 2:25 PM
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? 🙏
Reposted by Amy Dain
"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...
www.remainplaces.com/post/mbta-co...
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...
www.remainplaces.com
November 27, 2024 at 5:50 PM
"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...
www.remainplaces.com/post/mbta-co...
Reposted by Amy Dain
Welcome to the MBTA Communities Club Ashland! 🎉
November 20, 2024 at 1:47 PM
Welcome to the MBTA Communities Club Ashland! 🎉
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! 🎉
November 20, 2024 at 2:23 AM
Belmont makes 99 MBTA Communities. Which will be 100?
Reposted by Amy Dain
Following a 213-8 blowout at this evening’s Town Meeting, welcome to the MBTA Communities Club Belmont! 🎉
November 20, 2024 at 1:55 AM
Following a 213-8 blowout at this evening’s Town Meeting, welcome to the MBTA Communities Club Belmont! 🎉
Reposted by Amy Dain
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
📍Watertown, MA
November 15, 2024 at 3:43 PM
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
📍Watertown, MA