Boston's Housing Dilemma: A Call for Bold Action

There's a quiet crisis unfolding in Boston, a relentless pressure cooker that affects just about everyone, from young grads dreaming of a start to the seasoned professionals who've called this city home for decades. We're talking, of course, about housing. The simple truth is, if you want to live here, you're going to pay – and pay handsomely. It’s reached a point where it's not just unaffordable; for many, it's downright impossible.

Think about it: the nurses, teachers, firefighters, and small business owners – the very backbone of our community – are being priced out. They're forced to commute for hours or leave the metro area altogether, simply because a modest apartment or a starter home feels like an unattainable luxury. This isn't just an economic issue; it's slowly but surely eroding the very vibrancy and diversity that makes Boston, well, Boston.

The problem, fundamentally, boils down to a classic case of supply and demand, utterly out of whack. We simply haven't built enough homes – not nearly enough – to keep pace with the influx of jobs, students, and people who want to be part of this incredible city. And while there are undoubtedly good intentions behind many of the policies meant to address this, some are, frankly, making matters worse, or at least not helping fast enough.

Take, for instance, Mayor Wu's recent push to increase the percentage of affordable units mandated in new developments through the Inclusionary Development Policy. On the surface, it sounds fantastic, right? More affordable housing is precisely what we need. But here's the rub: demanding a higher percentage of "affordable" units from developers can, perversely, make entire projects financially unfeasible. When the numbers don't pencil out, the project doesn't get built. And when projects don't get built, we end up with fewer units overall – both market-rate and affordable. It's a classic example of letting the perfect be the enemy of the good, or in this case, the enemy of any progress at all.

We've also got to look squarely at the tangled web of zoning laws and building requirements that have, over time, choked off development. Things like excessive parking minimums, which force developers to dedicate precious space and significant capital to garages even when residents might prefer public transit. Or height restrictions that prevent us from building upwards in areas crying out for density, especially near transit hubs. Then there are the glacial permitting processes, the endless bureaucratic hurdles, and the fees that pile up, adding astronomical costs before a single shovel even hits the dirt.

It’s time for a radical shift in thinking. Instead of tweaking around the edges, we need to fundamentally roll back these burdensome restrictions. Let's get rid of those parking minimums entirely in many areas. Let's allow for taller buildings, especially along transit corridors, where density makes the most sense. Let's streamline the permitting process so it's predictable and efficient, not a decade-long saga. And yes, we need to re-evaluate those affordable housing mandates on every single development. Not because we don't care about affordability – quite the opposite – but because the current approach is actively hindering the creation of any housing, which is the foundational problem.

The argument is straightforward: build, build, build. If we dramatically increase the overall supply of housing, including market-rate units, it creates a "filtering" effect. Newer, higher-end units draw people out of older units, which then become available at more moderate price points. It's not a magic bullet, but it's a proven economic principle. We need to create an environment where building new homes, apartments, and condos is not just possible, but actively encouraged.

This isn't about abandoning our commitment to creating an inclusive city. Far from it. This is about being pragmatic, about recognizing that a city where no one can afford to live is a city that will inevitably wither. We need brave leadership willing to make tough choices, to challenge long-held assumptions, and to prioritize the fundamental need for shelter over endless layers of red tape. The time for incremental changes is long past. Boston deserves a bold, immediate plan to unlock its housing potential and ensure a vibrant, accessible future for everyone.