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📅 Today's Story: Boston is considering eliminating minimum parking requirements citywide—a move that could reduce housing construction costs and realign development with actual transportation needs.
ZONING REFORM
Boston May End Parking Mandates, Lower Housing Costs |
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đź“° What Happened: The Boston City Council held a hearing on removing parking minimums from its zoning code. While no vote is imminent, the discussion signals momentum toward policies that cut costly parking mandates. These requirements often force developers to build more parking than needed, inflating project costs and limiting housing supply.
🔍 A Closer Look: In 2023, Boston approved 69 large developments that included over 8,000 new parking spaces, often exceeding the number of housing units built. This overbuilding of parking adds congestion, raises rents, and misallocates land in a city facing a persistent housing shortage. The city previously eased affordable housing requirements in 2021.
🧠Why It Matters: Eliminating parking minimums would align Boston with cities like San Francisco and Minneapolis that have already adopted similar reforms. For developers, the change could unlock more housing opportunities, especially in transit-rich areas. For the city, it’s a chance to support affordability, sustainability, and more innovative land use.
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