There seemed to be a mixed reception to the arguments on Monday, with some justices inclined to parse legal minutiae that could support a narrow ruling on technical grounds. Others appeared compelled by a broader public policy argument that could allow wide latitude for the state to enforce laws designed to address the crippling housing shortage.
Housing
Posted inOpinion
Mortgage discrimination, which leads to segregation, needs to be addressed
The consequences are devasting for first-time buyers, as thousands of sellers, advised by their agents, make the same decision to pick cash or conventional offers over the perceived hassle of working with an FHA buyer – a decision too often based on misperceptions rather than underlying truths.
Posted inHousing
75 municipalities now on board with MBTA Communities law
The event came after the town of Southborough, a Worcester County community that has a stop on the Framingham/Worcester commuter rail line, narrowly voted to approve its multifamily zoning plan, making it a total of 75 communities “acting in good faith to follow the law,” according to Campbell.
Posted inHousing
Milton developing contingency MBTA rezoning plans
According to scenarios outlined in the slides, the primary goal of the new rezoning effort is to reduce the impact on East Milton and an adjacent area bordering Granite Avenue and increase the number of housing units that could be built in the area of Eliot Street, which borders the trolley line.
Posted inHousing
20 groups weigh in on MBTA Communities Act case
The key issue in the case is whether Campbell can compel compliance when the MBTA Communities Act statute itself is silent on her enforcement power and specifically mentions the loss of grant funds as the penalty for noncompliance.
Posted inOpinion
Some hopeful signs amid daunting homelessness challenge
While homelessness remains an enormous challenge in Massachusetts, we have developed very effective strategies for addressing unsheltered homelessness for individuals.
Posted inOpinion
Let’s get real, the new housing bond law is just a start
Since 2010, landlords have raised rent by 55 percent on average for a two-bedroom apartment in Massachusetts, making our state one of the most expensive in the nation.
Posted inOpinion
Why is state spending precious resources on high-end housing?
The state should devise a meaningfully competitive framework for HDIP awards based on factors including affordability and the municipal affordable housing track record. It should prioritize weak market and distressed areas along with a range of bedroom sizes and benefits to local residents.
Posted inHousing
Could Harris make a dent in housing crisis?
Kamala Harris’s plan for tackling the nation’s housing crisis could help, say experts, but only if it strikes the right balance of incentives to increase both housing demand and supply.
Posted inHousing
Milton makes interesting case on MBTA Communities Act
“This is a case about the separation of powers and the rule of law—about who sets the rules that govern the Commonwealth and how they do so,” says the Milton brief.