Reimagining Public Land: Municipal Land Use to Ease Housing Crisis in Boston

Abstract

Boston is in the midst of a severe housing crisis, driven by decades of underproduction, rising construction costs, restrictive zoning, and an inelastic real estate market that has resulted in persistent affordability challenges. This thesis explores the untapped potential of city-owned land as a powerful tool to increase housing supply and affordability in Boston. Using Boston’s 2022 Citywide Land Audit and detailed development assumptions, the analysis estimates that between 19,000 and 31,000 new housing units could be constructed across city-controlled parcels, including between 3,200 and 6,100 affordable units under the current Inclusionary Development Policy. The research draws on case studies from peer cities such as Chicago and Atlanta where municipal land has been successfully leveraged through transparent disposition processes, fast-tracked entitlements, and flexible affordability models. It argues for a policy shift in Boston toward a more streamlined, market-aware, and scalable land release strategy that prioritizes speed, cross-subsidization, and financial feasibility. Key recommendations include expanding the Welcome Home, Boston program to include mixed-income and rental housing, implementing predictable RFP cycles, offering tax abatements, and expediting the entitlement process.