The weather is changing and so is our state housing policy (hopefully). Here’s what we’re watching in housing and local news this month.
Beacon Hill: Lobby Day with Abundant Housing MA on May 27 at 1 PM
Join Abundant Housing Massachusetts (AHMA) and fellow pro-housing advocates from across the state to meet with legislators and rally support for the YIMBY Bill – a comprehensive housing proposal that updates outdated zoning laws, creates more abundant homes, and tackles our housing shortage head-on. Not sure how to prepare for Lobby Day? AHMA recorded a 30 minute training session!
Volunteer: Gather Signatures for “Legalize Starter Homes” Ballot Initiative
A Better Cambridge is also supporting Abundant Housing Massachusetts in collecting signatures for the ballot initiative to “Legalize Starter Homes” (i.e., lower minimum lot sizes statewide). This effort is the second round of signature gathering after the Massachusetts Legislature failed to act on the petition.
Volunteers will stand near high traffic areas and ask passers-by to sign in support of putting the initiative on the ballot. We hope to pair everyone with at least one other volunteer for 1-2 hour shifts. Potential locations include theTrader Joe's on Memorial Drive, Whole Foods on River Street, Porter Square Shopping Center, and Harvard Square MayFair (11 AM - 6 PM on Sunday, May 31). Additional instructions and tips will be provided, if this is your first time collecting signatures.
AHO: Public Meeting for 350 Rindge Avenue Affordable Housing Project
Boston Communities and Affordable Housing & Services Collaborative (AHSC) is hosting an AHO community meeting on June 3, 2026 at 6 PM via Zoom to discuss their proposed development at 350 Rindge Avenue. The project will create 92 fully income-restricted affordable and workforce housing units whilepreserving Ferro’s Foodtown supermarket through a special permit application. The location is amenity rich, providing convenient access to transportation and services while also adding needed density. The meeting will offer residents an opportunity to learn more about the proposal and provide feedback.
News Next Door: Davis Square Tower Proposal Gets New Designs
The developer behind a proposed apartment tower in Davis Square released a new set of designs for the project. While the revised proposals make changes to the building’s appearance and pedestrian experience, they still envision 500 units with substantial affordable housing near transit. The debate has centered on height and “neighborhood character,” even as Davis Square remains an obvious location for dense, affordable, transit-oriented housing. At ABC, we like to say characters make the neighborhood character! This building will enable many more of them to live in Davis Square.
Local Legend: “Are We Kind of Being Pricks?”
Early this month, Marblehead resident David Modica went viral for his comments at a town meeting related to the MBTA Communities Act: “Are we kind of being pricks?” He was reacting to a town proposal that technically complies with state housing requirements by placing most of their multifamily zoning on a private, member-owned golf course. In interviews afterward, Modica said he was most bothered by the town pretending to support housingwhile designing a plan intended to avoid actual change. The story captures a broader frustration across Massachusetts: whether local communities are genuinely interested in building more homes and helping those who need housing they can afford.
Housing Research: New Apartments Are Safer Than Older Housing
A new analysis from Pew Charitable Trusts finds that modern apartment buildings are significantly safer from fires than older housing types. They show that apartment buildings built since 2000 have fire death rates roughly six timeslower than older homes, largely because of updated building codes, sprinkler systems, and modern fire-resistant materials. The report pushes back on the idea that denser housing is inherently less safe and argues that newer multifamily housing can improve both affordability and public safety.
Events & Opportunities to Get Involved
Monthly ABC Social
- May 28, 6:00 PM at BRED (730 Main St between Central Square and Kendall Square)
Somerville YIMBY Happy Hour
- June 5, 6:00 PM at Remnant Brewing (2 Bow Market Way)
ABC Events Committee Meeting
- June 9, 6:00 PM on Zoom (email [email protected] for the link)
ABC Member Meeting
- June 10, 7:00 PM at Central Square Library (join ABC as a Member to get the details)