How the 53,000-home target was described
A February 2015 article discussed “Housing a Changing City: Boston 2030” and a goal of 53,000 homes to accommodate approximately 91,000 additional residents. It divided that total into 44,000 homes for the workforce, 5,000 for seniors and a 4,000-home surplus.
The plan also sought 16,000 additional dormitory beds, which were expected to free roughly 5,000 homes for other households. Its 6,500 low-income homes were part of the broader housing effort, not an extra amount to add to the 53,000 total. The account anticipated approximately 10,000 additional low-income households.
Population and household assumptions
The article reported 3.1% population growth between July 2010 and July 2012. It used a national household-size illustration—2.54 people, potentially falling to 2.46—to explain how household size affects housing demand. Dividing 91,000 by 2.46 yields roughly 36,992 households, but that illustration is not a demonstrated Boston forecasting method.
The approvals discussed in the report
The account described December 18, 2014 approvals for 178 homes: 32 in Hyde Park, including four affordable units; 124 in Jamaica Plain across rental, townhouse and condominium types; and 22 Dorchester condominiums, including three affordable homes, above a planned 250-seat restaurant. Approval counts do not establish that those homes were completed.
Tools and projected benefits
Tax incentives, zoning changes, city-owned land, inclusionary development and permitting were among the policy tools discussed. The report anticipated $21 billion in development spending, 51,000 construction jobs and $20 million in annual revenue. These were projected effects, not achieved results or current development rights. The plan’s housing categories should not be recast as 53,000 exclusively low- and middle-income homes.
Historical account attributed to the original Boston City Properties article. Underlying records and later outcomes have not been freshly verified.
