iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

At our “Conference on Housing Land Use and Building Reform,” buff.ly/0Rd539c Amy Dain explained how a long, local history of exclusionary policies has shaped today’s housing landscape.

142

Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

In our new report, “Delayed by Design: How Discretionary Permitting Stalls Housing in Massachusetts,” buff.ly/iy3Hs2c we look at how challenging it can be to secure a building permit.

100

Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Highlights from our recent “Conference on Housing Land Use and Building Reform” buff.ly/0NfmErn include: • an overview of the zoning and regulatory barriers that are making it hard to build housing

100

Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

How much does it cost when housing projects face delays? A three-month delay for a hypothetical 20-unit infill project can raise costs by $57,000, according to our new report, “Delayed by Design: How Discretionary Permitting Stalls Housing in Massachusetts.” buff.ly/2RQB4fc

110

Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

The central lesson of our new report, “Delayed by Design: How Discretionary Permitting Stalls Housing in Massachusetts” buff.ly/2RQB4fc is that permissive zoning codes that look good on paper do not guarantee an actual right to build housing.

110

Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Learn more in our report, “Delayed by Design: How Discretionary Permitting Stalls Housing in Massachusetts.” buff.ly/VrboRp2

000

Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

To learn more, check out our new report, “Delayed by Design: How Discretionary Permitting Stalls Housing in Massachusetts.” buff.ly/VrboRp2

000

Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Panelists at our conference—"Housing, Land Use and Building Reform"—discuss an agenda for reform.

110

Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

To learn more, check out our housing reports. buff.ly/cpwFeBo

000

Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Spain typically builds small multifamily low-rise and mid-rise with a lot more elevators, so that every unit—townhouses, three-story buildings—everyone has an elevator.

100

Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

And "Delayed by Design: How Discretionary Permitting Stalls Housing in Massachusetts.” buff.ly/VrboRp2

000

Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

"Unlocking Small Multifamily Housing through Building Code Reform" buff.ly/7QEa0yj

110

Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Legalizing Mid-Rise Single Stair Housing in Massachusetts buff.ly/uVWWRkl

110

Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Addressing the permitting delays—including discretionary reviews and lawsuits—that make housing construction take months or years longer will take a multipronged approach, as we explain in our report, “Delayed by Design: How Discretionary Permitting Stalls Housing in Massachusetts.” buff.ly/VrboRp2

110

Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

100

Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Learn more in our report, “Delayed by Design: How Discretionary Permitting Stalls Housing in Massachusetts.” buff.ly/VrboRp2

021

Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Lexington has been successful in limiting housing construction delays. By-right zoning via Lexington’s MBTA Communities plan led two commercial buildings and a parking lot to be transformed into 25 apartments, three of which are permanently affordable.

120

Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

One way that cities and towns slow down housing production is by subjecting construction projects to excessive permitting reviews, as explained in our report, “Delayed by Design: How Discretionary Permitting Stalls Housing in Massachusetts.” buff.ly/VrboRp2

100

Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Case studies show the range of delays that slow down housing construction in our new report, “Delayed by Design: How Discretionary Permitting Stalls Housing in Massachusetts.” buff.ly/VrboRp2

100

Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Securing a building permit to construct housing requires patience and the ability to navigate city, state, and federal requirements, as we note in “Delayed by Design: How Discretionary Permitting Stalls Housing in Massachusetts.” buff.ly/VrboRp2

100

Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

"It's important to look at the fact that we are building housing and we're building housing at a pace that we haven't seen in a while. But we need to be better at this and recognize some of the additional reforms beyond just zoning reforms that can be a part of this process." — Jonathan Berk

100

Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

This morning we’re hosting our conference, “Housing, Land Use and Building Reform,” at The Boston Foundation, and releasing our new report, “Delayed by Design: How Discretionary Permitting Stalls Housing in Massachusetts.” buff.ly/VrboRp2

100

Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Deed restrictions promote housing affordability by limiting a property’s sale price. That’s good news for buyers, but sellers of deed-restricted homes earn less on the sale, which limits their ability to build wealth.

100

Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

To keep up with all of our latest research and analysis, sign up for the Boston Indicators newsletter. buff.ly/1IzJX2w

000

Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Please join us in person at The Boston Foundation for our Morning Conference on Housing, Land Use, and Building Reform, on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. You can register here: buff.ly/2iMryyK RSVPs are required as space is limited.

100

Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

In the news: Our staff and two of our recent reports have been featured in local publications. A Globe article about Haitians in Massachusetts losing their Temporary Protected Status buff.ly/8THyUm9 and being subject to deportation explains that 10,000 Haitians who work in Massachusetts could...

100

Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

One expense that older homeowners in Massachusetts struggle with is property taxes. There is some policy relief, but not enough, as we explain in our report, “Wealth Gaps in the Golden Years: Economic Insecurity for Older Adults in a High-Cost State.” buff.ly/rQIiLGo

100

Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Renters searching for apartments in the Greater Boston suburbs are likely to run into rental deserts, cities and towns with nice amenities but very few rental properties.

110

Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

100

Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

A new study from the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston—"Family Wealth in Massachusetts: Findings from the 2025 Massachusetts Economic Conditions and Household Opportunity Survey (Mass ECHOS)” buff.ly/Ja6GDXE%E2%8... finds that Massachusetts families have a median household wealth of roughly $374,000...

100

Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

A new study—"Family Wealth in Massachusetts: Findings from the 2025 Massachusetts Economic Conditions and Household Opportunity Survey (Mass ECHOS)” buff.ly/lOQ8kpz%E2%8... to persistent wealth gaps that hinder some families’ economic prospects, including their ability to own homes...

241

Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

How can Massachusetts reform building codes in ways that would encourage the construction of small multifamily housing (SMH) that would fit well on the small lots in many of this state’s cities?

100

Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Building more small multifamily housing (SMH) in Boston and Massachusetts is one important way to improve residents’ quality of life. As we explain in our report, “Unlocking Small Multifamily Housing through Building Code Reform,” buff.ly/0yUj13D, policymakers could change the building code...

110

Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

In our report, “Unlocking Small Multifamily Housing through Building Code Reform,” buff.ly/6FONbR5 we include images of the many kinds of homes that could be built if housing codes were reformed.

100

Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Which areas in Greater Boston could become sites for more small, multifamily housing? In our report, “Unlocking Small Multifamily Housing through Building Code Reform,” buff.ly/6FONbR5 we point to Natick Station, Hersey Station in Needham, and Roslindale Station.

100

Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

In our report, “Unlocking Small Multifamily Housing through Building Code Reform,” buff.ly/6FONbR5 we explore how new, affordable, family-friendly housing could fit into three existing Greater Boston communities, using prototypical and underutilized streets.

100

Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Building code requirements make it extremely expensive or virtually impossible to build “missing middle” housing that would address the housing shortage in Boston and Massachusetts, as we explain in our report, “Unlocking Small Multifamily Housing through Building Code Reform.” buff.ly/6FONbR5

100

Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Building codes can make it prohibitively expensive to build affordable, family-friendly housing, as we explain in our report, “Unlocking Small Multifamily Housing through Building Code Reform.” buff.ly/2EwDHgg

100

Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

In our new report, “Unlocking Small Multifamily Housing through Building Code Reform,” buff.ly/2EwDHgg produced with Sam Naylor of Nominal, we look at how changes in local building codes could lead to the construction of more affordable, family-friendly housing...

100

Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

"Appendices are common in both model codes, and are a natural place to situate a particular set of rules for one category of building, while allowing all elements not addressed in the appendix to default to the general code."

000

Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

"One path forward would be to modify the state’s commercial code incrementally. That could prove unwieldy, due to its complexity. A more feasible path forward would be to create an appendix to the residential code to address SMH [small multifamily housing] in particular.

100

Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

How can building codes be reformed to encourage the construction of more housing? We suggest one approach in our new report, “Unlocking Small Multifamily Housing through Building Code Reform.” buff.ly/2EwDHgg

100

Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Two codes govern nearly all residential construction in Massachusetts. The first is the International Residential Code (IRC), which applies to single-family homes, duplexes, and townhomes, as we explain in our report, “Unlocking Small Multifamily Housing through Building Code Reform” buff.ly/2EwDHgg

100

Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Learn more in our new report, “Unlocking Small Multifamily Housing through Building Code Reform” buff.ly/2EwDHgg

001

Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

"Sprinklers, which the state does not require for very large houses and duplexes, are, however, required for all multifamily [housing], regardless of whether it is built out of wood or concrete."

100

Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

"Our research found that sprinklers are the most important element to revisit for smaller buildings.

100

Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

One way to modernize building codes and produce more housing in Massachusetts would be to allow single-staircase construction, instead of requiring two staircases, as we explain in our report, “Unlocking Small Multifamily Housing through Building Code Reform.” buff.ly/2EwDHgg

100

Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Learn more in our new report, “Unlocking Small Multifamily Housing through Building Code Reform.” buff.ly/2EwDHgg

000

Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Other cities and states are revising their building codes to encourage the construction of more housing.

100

Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

"This would allow it to invest in research and development of a state-amended code, could better respond to housing priorities developed by the legislature or other executive agencies.

100