Beyond MBTA Zoning: What It Will Take to Meet Our Housing Goals

Rachel Heller, CEO of Citizens’ Housing & Planning Association (CHAPA), argues that Massachusetts needs more tools to meet its housing goals. Some are already in use: the MBTA Communities Act, which led Andover to pass a multifamily overlay district in 2024, and Chapter 40B, which ACT has leveraged successfully to build affordable single-family homes in town. But as Heller notes, these alone aren’t enough. New proposals—including YIMBY, YIGBY, and the Mass Ready Act—would help unlock even more housing opportunities across the state. Andover’s progress shows what’s possible, but the bigger question is whether Massachusetts will go further. Read Heller’s full piece in Banker & Tradesman to see what’s at stake—and how it could shape Andover’s future.