Exploring Housing at Different Densities

This interactive visual resource features drone and street-level photos and videos, maps, and descriptions of high-quality multi-family housing. It seeks to demonstrate that well-designed housing densities can help communities comply with Section 3A while also complementing other community development goals.

The StoryMap below contains:

• A brief introduction to the new Section 3A of MGL c. 40A and the idea of "units per acre," or UPA.
• A tour of 15 existing high-quality housing developments from MBTA Communities in Massachusetts; the tour presents sites in order of increasing densities, beginning at 15 UPA and concluding at nearly 100 UPA.
• A discussion of the various features that make each development a successful example of multi-family housing.
• Three "Anatomy of a Great Development" drawings that illustrate various project features.
• A summary map and "bonus" photos of the 15 developments.

The new Section 3A requires that an MBTA community shall have at least one zoning district of reasonable size in which multi-family housing is permitted by right and which meets other criteria set forth in the statute:

• Minimum gross density of 15 units per acre;
• Located not more than 0.5 miles from a commuter rail station, subway station, ferry terminal, or bus station, if applicable; and
• No age restrictions and suitable for families with children.

For more information, please visit  www.mass.gov/info-details/section-3a-guidelines .

Section 3A specifies a minimum gross "density" of "15 units per acre (UPA)" - but what does that mean? And what does that look like?

Through this interactive presentation, we will tour 15 multi-family housing developments at a variety of densities ranging from 15 UPA to almost 100 UPA across the MBTA Communities region. While these developments feature a wide variety of sizes, typologies, designs, units types, and site plans, they all have one thing in common - they demonstrate that high-quality multi-family housing can comply with Section 3A while also advancing a city or town's community development goals.

For each site we explore, we will highlight a variety of details, including:

• A "site plan" with boundaries, building footprints, open spaces, wetlands, and other information;
• A series of drone photos and videos;
• Street-level photography;
• Key information about the development's UPA and site features;
• Zoning/permitting mechanism; and
• Sample "Anatomy of a Great Development" diagrams for three key multi-family housing developments.