Studios are fine, actually. Plus Lobby Day.

Policy newsletter Pencilling Out recently tackled a question that comes up constantly in Somerville: does building more studios and one-bedrooms actually help families find larger apartments, even if families aren't moving into those new units?

Readers won’t be surprised to hear that the answer is yes: people who live in those studios would otherwise split larger apartments, so new studios free up larger units in other buildings. In places like Somerville, there are a lot of families with kids who want more space, a lot of roommates who’d rather have studios of their own, and a lot of seniors who’d like to downsize without leaving town. A lot of those people would be happier if they could swap, but low vacancy rates make it expensive and difficult.

For a huge range of reasons, including building code, a lot of new construction is heavier on small apartments, but this analysis shows us that’s not a major problem: all new development, even studios, helps families too.

Thank you to all who showed up the AHMA Lobby Day on May 27th! It was great to see a lot of housing advocates excited to engage with our representatives to get more housing statewide.

June 5: Somerville YIMBY Monthly Social — We’d love to meet you in person! We’ll be at Remnant Brewing in Bow Market starting at 6 pm.

June 9: 297 Medford Street Design Meeting — Just a Start and Somerville Community Land Trust are presenting an initial design for the site and collecting feedback. 6 pm at Somerville High School

June 10: Somerville YIMBY Monthly Meeting — 6 pm, online via Zoom.

June 17: Good Intentions, Bad Outcomes — Join Newton for Everyone for a deep dive into the city’s current permitting pipeline and the new zoning approaches. Urban designers and planners from Utile will discuss work on recent zoning reforms and innovative zoning initiatives across New England. 7 pm, hybrid via Zoom and Congregation Dorshei Tzedek at 60 Highland Street, West Newton, MA

June 18: State Senate Candidates Forum — A forum is being run in Somerville candidates of the competitive Second Middlesex Senate District. 6:15 pm at Somerville Library Central Branch

Affordable units in Denver more vacant than market-rate apartments: Denver has built so much new market-rate housing that more subsidized and low-income housing has become available. It could happen here if we had courage.

Inclusionary Zoning Analysis for Portland, ME: In 2020, Portland increased affordability requirements for new construction. Combined with a worsening financial outlook, it has resulted in a dramatic collapse in construction. From 2015 to 2020, new construction had brought in 326 affordable homes and $8.3 million in affordable housing funding. From 2020 to 2025, the new policy produced just 43 affordable homes and $0 in new funding.

Building More Housing Creates 'Moving Chains' of Affordability: Pew has come out with a new video exploring how new housing allows everyone to move to better housing.

ADUs Turn One: Regulatory Barriers to production in Massachusetts and Ideas for Further Reform: Boston Indicator’s report on how ADUs have been faring statewide since they were legalized. It also dives into the many struggles that still exist to truly unlock this form of housing state-wide.

Building Homes Near Jobs, Stores, and Transit Saves Public Dollars: Pew reviews nationwide data that shows that dense urban housing is not just good for our wallets, but our government’s as well.

In our last newsletter we congratulated the Davis Square Neighborhood Council on holding their first election. It was their second election.