Equitable Zoning by Design is a research project funded and directed through the Northeastern University Impact Engine Project. It seeks to propose a more flexible ‘third way’ for zoning in the region—one that enables as-of-right multifamily housing within contextual gently density frameworks.

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Greater Boston  is experiencing a housing crisis. Over-restriction of housing development has caused a shortage and fueled price escalations. Moreover, zoning laws have increased the environmental impacts of growth, undermined the viability of public transportation, and led to poor design of properties and neighborhoods. 

Boston’s suburbs have been over-restricting the development of multifamily housing for decades. In 2021, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts adopted the MBTA Communities Zoning Law to require cities and towns served by the MBTA to require transit-oriented multifamily housing on their zoning maps. Even with this mandate, local reform is politically challenging for many reasons. One major barrier to reform is that the vast majority of people do not understand what the zoning rules mean for the built environment, including the size and shape of future buildings and how they might look and feel on the street. This lack of understanding makes decision-makers hesitant to affirmatively support change.