As we all nervously look toward Tuesday’s election, we want to take a moment to thank everyone who has put the work in this election season – folks who traveled to swing states to knock on doors, called and texted voters, sent tons of postcards, volunteered for races big and small, and otherwise engaged in so many important ways.
Sign the Petition to Show Your Support for Legislation to Create More Homes in Brookline
As most of us know, Brookline is facing a dire housing shortage that is driving up both rents and purchase prices. This November, Brookline’s Town Meeting will consider several new pieces of legislation (Warrant Articles) that can increase housing supply without making drastic changes to our neighborhoods. It’s important that we let Town Meeting and Select Board Members know the wide ranging support that increasing housing supply has throughout Town. The petition will be delivered to elected representatives on Town Meeting, and express support for 3 important articles:
- Article 9, which allows a third home in existing two-family zones, with no other changes to height, setbacks, or FAR,
- Article 8, which allows owners of smaller lot homes to add a second home by special permit, and
- Article 15, which strengthens Brookline’s Accessory Dwelling Unit regulations and aligns them with new Massachusetts requirements.
This Week’s Brookline Meetings of Note
The Select Board will be meeting on Monday, November 4 at 5:30pm and will continue their discussions (with possible votes) on various Warrant Articles, including all 3 outlined above. While these are not public hearings, we encourage anyone interested to attend the public comment period and let them know you hope they vote in favor of Articles 8, 9, and 15, and support more homes in Brookline. You can also share this simple message with them via email, by sending a message to kmacgillivray@brooklinema.gov. Agenda and meeting registration here.
The Economic Development Advisory Board will be meeting on Monday, November 4 at 7pm. Their agenda this week includes an updated presentation on the Chestnut Hill Commercial Area Study, and the possibilities this part of town holds. The agenda, meeting files, and link to register here.
The Housing Advisory Board will meet on Wednesday, November 6th at 5:30-7:30pm. On their agenda will be a discussion and likely vote on Warrant Article 9, allowing a 3rd home in our two-family districts, and Warrant Article 15, which strengthens Brookline’s ADU bylaw making it easier to create accessory dwelling units. B4E strongly supports both, and we hope you do too. The meeting Zoom link hasn’t been posted yet, but you should be able to find it here by the end of the day Monday.
What We’ve Been Reading and Watching
Boston Indicators recently held a public conversation about what could be a key piece of addressing our housing challenge in Greater Boston – stairways. In partnership with the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies and Utile, Boston Indicators released a report on the impact of legalizing single-stair housing, as opposed to two separate stairways in moderate sized multifamily buildings. They concluded that there are significant benefits to legalizing single-stair buildings of up to 6 stories for a variety of reasons. We’re intrigued by this seemingly arcane code change, and encourage folks to learn more. Read the summary and full study here; and watch the public conversation here.
Senator Will Brownsberger, who represents neighboring communities in Allston, Brighton, Watertown, Cambridge, and Belmont, gave a speech at Belmont’s May Town Meeting recounting his evolution from housing skeptic to recognizing the crucial ways more housing is vital to his hometown, his district, and the broader Boston area. We found it worth our time to understand both the thinking of many who view housing as a threat and how they attempt to stop it (as Senator Brownsberger tried), and the arguments that can resonate with folks on a journey to understand the importance of housing abundance for a vibrant community and region. Watch his speech via YouTube here.