Housing Abundance Amendment
We strongly believe these key tenets will provide a pathway for a variety of housing options for all. We have created a Housing Abundance Amendment, which outlines a set of policies that will lead to more accessible housing for all Boston residents.
Boston-based AHMA members are invited to join our Boston Committee to advance our policy agenda in the City of Boston. To join our Boston Committee please email elvira@abundanthousingma.org.
READ MORE ABOUT OUR HOUSING ABUNDANCE AMENDMENT HERE.
Policy Priorities
Accessory Dwelling Units
In her 2024 State of the City Address, Mayor Michelle Wu announced that it was a priority of her administration to make it easier to build an ADU in Boston. Since then, the State Legislature took separate action and legalized ADUs by-right statewide in the landmark Affordable Homes Act. However, that part of the bill DOES NOT apply to the City of Boston. This means that the broad legalization and liberalization of ADU regulations that is being rolled out over the next year will not impact Boston. Instead, most Boston residents are still subject to the rules promulgated in a 2019 zoning amendment that only allow for ADUs in narrowly defined circumstances. To learn more about AHMA’s ADU campaign click here.
Parking Minimums
Eliminate parking minimums for residential uses citywide
Reduce rents and home prices by eliminating parking minimums for all housing projects within the City of Boston. Following the lead of cities like Buffalo, Minneapolis, San Francisco, Sacramento, San Jose, Austin, South Bend, Richmond, Raleigh, and Cambridge, we propose the elimination of parking minimums citywide to reduce housing costs and promote low-carbon lifestyles.
Squares and Streets
When housing is scarce, we are all forced into bidding wars for the few homes available–for rent, or for sale. Due to the income inequality in the City of Boston, rising rent costs are forcing longtime BIPOC residents to be displaced out of the city and move into more affordable cities and towns. The impacts of housing scarcity are plain to see in the City of Boston: homeowner vacancy below 1% and rental vacancy of approximately 2%, high rents, and ever-escalating shares of Bostonians paying more than 30% of their income in rent.
We applaud the Mayor and the City of Boston for launching the Squares and Streets zoning effort. Modernizing our zoning code with reforms that reduce the need for variances while enhancing simplicity and predictability are long overdue and should be implemented without delay. To read more about AHMA’s initiatives with Squares and Streets click here.
Article 80 Modernization
Development review in the city of Boston is currently a lengthy and unpredictable process. Additionally, when paired with an outdated and broken zoning code, it actively creates barriers for a more abundant city.
Article 80 of the Boston Zoning Code, which sets guidelines for larger development projects across the city, has not been updated since 1996. The Article 80 Modernization process is the Planning Department’s effort to update the developmental review process into a process that is transparent, accessible and predictable.
As the Article 80 Modernization process is ongoing, we’re counting on AHMA’s Boston based members to ensure pro-housing voices are heard. To learn more click here.
