Somerville YIMBY
@somervilleyimby.org
📤 471
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đź“ť 136
Somerville residents advocating for smart growth that benefits everyone.
https://somervilleyimby.org
Action Alert: Public Comment on Dormers Write In to Support Dormer Reform We presented our dormer amendment to a joint hearing of the Land Use Committee and the Planning Board on the 16th, and public comment is open until noon on May 1. If you were haven’t already, please write to…
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Action Alert: Public Comment on Dormers
Write In to Support Dormer Reform We presented our dormer amendment to a joint hearing of the Land Use Committee and the Planning Board on the 16th, and public comment is open until noon on May 1. If you were haven’t already, please write to
[email protected]
in support of file item 26-0287, the pro-dormer amendment. It doesn’t have to be long!
https://somervilleyimby.org/2026/04/25/action-alert-public-comment-on-dormers/
4 days ago
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The Future of NOAH What makes a home affordable? The government definition is that it costs less than 30% of your income to live there. If you pay more, as about a third of households in Somerville do, you’re considered “cost burdened.” There are two ways to reach affordability: subsidies, and…
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The Future of NOAH
What makes a home affordable? The government definition is that it costs less than 30% of your income to live there. If you pay more, as about a third of households in Somerville do, you’re considered “cost burdened.” There are two ways to reach affordability: subsidies, and finding a bargain on the open market. When we talk about Affordable housing with a capital A, we’re talking about subsidies.
https://somervilleyimby.org/2026/04/20/the-future-of-noah/
9 days ago
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A Minute for Action (for Voting and Speaking at Land Use) Elections for the Davis Square Neighborhood Council board will take place April 13 through April 27, 2026. If you live, work, or receive services in or near Davis Square, you may be eligible to vote, and your vote will have a critical…
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A Minute for Action (for Voting and Speaking at Land Use)
Elections for the Davis Square Neighborhood Council board will take place April 13 through April 27, 2026. If you live, work, or receive services in or near Davis Square, you may be eligible to vote, and your vote will have a critical impact on the future of the neighborhood. In particular, we’d like to request your support for Somerville YIMBY members: …
https://somervilleyimby.org/2026/04/13/a-minute-for-action-for-voting-and-speaking-at-land-use/
16 days ago
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Who Actually Builds Our Affordable Housing Let’s start with a question: Which of these do you think built more new Affordable Housing in Somerville in the last 10 years? All our non-profits combined US2, the for-profit developers of Union Square Before we answer, let’s take a look at how much we…
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Who Actually Builds Our Affordable Housing
Let’s start with a question: Which of these do you think built more new Affordable Housing in Somerville in the last 10 years? All our non-profits combined US2, the for-profit developers of Union Square Before we answer, let’s take a look at how much we Affordable Housing we have and how we actually get it built. There two main ways to make housing into capital-letters Affordable Housing in Somerville: subsidized homes and vouchers.
https://somervilleyimby.org/2026/04/08/who-actually-builds-our-affordable-housing/
21 days ago
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Fair Housing Month Events April is National Fair Housing Month, in honor of the 1968 passage of the Fair Housing Act. Somerville will host a number of events celebrating the month, including a screening of the documentary Segregated By Design followed by conversation around fair housing and…
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Fair Housing Month Events
April is National Fair Housing Month, in honor of the 1968 passage of the Fair Housing Act. Somerville will host a number of events celebrating the month, including a screening of the documentary Segregated By Design followed by conversation around fair housing and discrimination in the city. Check out our event listings below for a variety of other events! Davis Square Update…
https://somervilleyimby.org/2026/04/02/fair-housing-month-events/
27 days ago
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A Delicate Dance Building new homes is absolutely critical, but it’s also expensive. Just a few years ago, the Globe estimated that multifamily buildings cost at least $600,000 per home, and a 100% affordable building that just broke ground in Union Square will cost more than $800,000 per home! If…
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A Delicate Dance
Building new homes is absolutely critical, but it’s also expensive. Just a few years ago, the Globe estimated that multifamily buildings cost at least $600,000 per home, and a 100% affordable building that just broke ground in Union Square will cost more than $800,000 per home! If we don’t want to pay for construction ourselves, we need businesses to do it.
https://somervilleyimby.org/2026/03/25/a-delicate-dance/
about 1 month ago
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The Latest Copper Mill Meeting Last week, Copper Mill hosted a new meeting about their proposed 500-home mixed-use apartment building in Davis Square. With a capacity crowd at the Crystal Ballroom and hundreds more attendees viewing online, CEO Andrew Flynn laid out some new and familiar…
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The Latest Copper Mill Meeting
Last week, Copper Mill hosted a new meeting about their proposed 500-home mixed-use apartment building in Davis Square. With a capacity crowd at the Crystal Ballroom and hundreds more attendees viewing online, CEO Andrew Flynn laid out some new and familiar information about the proposal, including:Â A commitment to union labor 25% of the apartments set aside as subsidized , up from the 20% city minimum…
https://somervilleyimby.org/2026/03/20/the-latest-copper-mill-meeting/
about 1 month ago
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What the heck is going on with Backyard Cottages Have you ever wanted to add a home or workspace to your back yard? Well a Backyard Cottage might be for you! It is intended as a way to gently add a little more density to our city in a way that is not visible to most people. However, Backyard…
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What the heck is going on with Backyard Cottages
Have you ever wanted to add a home or workspace to your back yard? Well a Backyard Cottage might be for you! It is intended as a way to gently add a little more density to our city in a way that is not visible to most people. However, Backyard Cottages (with capital letters because they have a specific definition in the zoning code) have been a surprisingly contentious issue since they were originally allowed in 2019.
https://somervilleyimby.org/2026/03/18/what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-backyard-cottages/
about 1 month ago
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We love to see it!
add a skeleton here at some point
about 1 month ago
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Help Plan Affordable Housing in Gilman Square On March 12, Just-A-Start and the Somerville Community Land Trust will host a meeting for neighbors to discuss their plans to build a fully affordable building at 297 Medford Street in Gilman Square. They’ll go over the design and project timeline and…
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Help Plan Affordable Housing in Gilman Square
On March 12, Just-A-Start and the Somerville Community Land Trust will host a meeting for neighbors to discuss their plans to build a fully affordable building at 297 Medford Street in Gilman Square. They’ll go over the design and project timeline and answer questions from neighbors. If you live nearby, join them at 6:00 pm, in person in the cafeteria at Somerville High School.
https://somervilleyimby.org/2026/03/10/help-plan-affordable-housing-in-gilman-square/
about 2 months ago
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No Vacancy Have you had a landlord ask you to do something they’re supposed to handle, like shoveling snow or dealing with a rat infestation? Have they ever dragged their feet on important repairs or charged illegal fees? Have you ever shaken your fist and then given up because, although you’re in…
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No Vacancy
Have you had a landlord ask you to do something they’re supposed to handle, like shoveling snow or dealing with a rat infestation? Have they ever dragged their feet on important repairs or charged illegal fees? Have you ever shaken your fist and then given up because, although you’re in the right, you don’t have any leverage? In Somerville, both you and your landlord know two things: it would be hard for you to find a new apartment, and it would be easy for them to find a new tenant.
https://somervilleyimby.org/2026/03/05/no-vacancy/
about 2 months ago
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Affordable Housing Makes Progress We have two pieces of very promising news about affordable housing for you. First, Just-A-Start has secured financing and begun construction work on their 24 Webster Avenue project, which will create 43 deeply affordable rental homes in a 6-story building. That’s…
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Affordable Housing Makes Progress
We have two pieces of very promising news about affordable housing for you. First, Just-A-Start has secured financing and begun construction work on their 24 Webster Avenue project, which will create 43 deeply affordable rental homes in a 6-story building. That’s a real victory, but it’s taken a long time to get here, and the price is astronomical: about $837,000 per home.
https://somervilleyimby.org/2026/03/03/affordable-housing-makes-progress/
about 2 months ago
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The Displacement Time Bomb Over the last 50 years, Massachusetts has focused on high-income job creation. It started with the “Massachusetts Miracle” and continued with the growth of Kendall Square as a technology hub. The latest addition to our “brain factory” has been the boom in biotechnology…
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The Displacement Time Bomb
Over the last 50 years, Massachusetts has focused on high-income job creation. It started with the “Massachusetts Miracle” and continued with the growth of Kendall Square as a technology hub. The latest addition to our “brain factory” has been the boom in biotechnology and the lab space that has come with it. Somerville, too, has joined to feed the demand for industries.
https://somervilleyimby.org/2026/02/27/the-displacement-time-bomb/
2 months ago
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Copper Mill, ADUs, and Dormers Join the Davis Square Neighborhood Council We strongly encourage all eligible readers to join the Davis Square Neighborhood Council and contribute to the ongoing Copper Mill discussion. The Council is moving swiftly toward full recognition from the city, and will…
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Copper Mill, ADUs, and Dormers
Join the Davis Square Neighborhood Council We strongly encourage all eligible readers to join the Davis Square Neighborhood Council and contribute to the ongoing Copper Mill discussion. The Council is moving swiftly toward full recognition from the city, and will have a major role in shaping the evolution of Davis Square over the next few years. To participate: Fill out this feedback form…
https://somervilleyimby.org/2026/02/22/copper-mill-adus-and-dormers/
2 months ago
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Is Somerville Full? Everyone knows that Somerville is one of the densest cities in New England, with around 19,000 residents per square mile. Some folks use that number as a reason to say “we’re full, go away.” That’s not exactly welcoming to newcomers, especially not to those fleeing other states…
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Is Somerville Full?
Everyone knows that Somerville is one of the densest cities in New England, with around 19,000 residents per square mile. Some folks use that number as a reason to say “we’re full, go away.” That’s not exactly welcoming to newcomers, especially not to those fleeing other states or countries who want to live in a sanctuary city like Somerville. It’s also not telling the whole story, because there are other ways of looking at density that tell us more about what it means for daily life.
https://somervilleyimby.org/2026/02/17/is-somerville-full/
2 months ago
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Support Housing in Davis Square Boston-based real-estate company Copper Mill is seeking permits to redevelop the area between The Burren and Dragon Pizza in Davis Square. Their latest proposal includes ground floor retail, a promised right of return for the Burren, and a lot of housing: 502…
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Support Housing in Davis Square
Boston-based real-estate company Copper Mill is seeking permits to redevelop the area between The Burren and Dragon Pizza in Davis Square. Their latest proposal includes ground floor retail, a promised right of return for the Burren, and a lot of housing: 502 apartments ranging from studios to 3-beds. 125 (25%) of the apartments will be subsidized affordable, reserved for low-to-moderate income families.
https://somervilleyimby.org/2026/02/04/support-housing-in-davis-square/
3 months ago
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YIMBY Stands with Immigrants YIMBYs are advocates for construction of housing because we want people to live in homes. We are advocates for housing in Somerville because we are advocates for Somerville. To us, that means helping people be part of Somerville, so we can all thrive and grow together.…
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YIMBY Stands with Immigrants
YIMBYs are advocates for construction of housing because we want people to live in homes. We are advocates for housing in Somerville because we are advocates for Somerville. To us, that means helping people be part of Somerville, so we can all thrive and grow together. That’s true whether they grew up here, or are moving here. It’s true whether they’re coming from Cambridge or Des Moines or Tegucigalpa or Port au Prince or Mogadishu.
https://somervilleyimby.org/2026/01/29/yimby-stands-with-immigrants/
3 months ago
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Davis Square 40B update, Fair Housing Commission opening Apply for the Fair Housing Commission The city is recruiting new members of the Fair Housing Commission, and we strongly encourage members to apply. The commission generally meets one evening per month, with additional meetings and events as…
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Davis Square 40B update, Fair Housing Commission opening
Apply for the Fair Housing Commission The city is recruiting new members of the Fair Housing Commission, and we strongly encourage members to apply. The commission generally meets one evening per month, with additional meetings and events as needed. All residents over 18 are invited to apply by January 30. Davis Square Planning Update The long-running discussion of redeveloping the building at the corner of Elm Street and Grove Street in Davis Square has taken a new turn with a 40B application from developer Copper Mill.
https://somervilleyimby.org/2026/01/27/davis-square-40b-update-fair-housing-commission-opening/
3 months ago
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Displacement versus Displacement Most of our subscribers probably know someone who’s been displaced, or forced to move. Maybe their lease ended, the rent went up, or in some cases their building has been condemned and must be torn down. In general, good housing and urban development policy aims to…
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Displacement versus Displacement
Most of our subscribers probably know someone who’s been displaced, or forced to move. Maybe their lease ended, the rent went up, or in some cases their building has been condemned and must be torn down. In general, good housing and urban development policy aims to minimize displacement: when people move, it should be because they want to, not because they have to.
https://somervilleyimby.org/2026/01/21/displacement-versus-displacement/
3 months ago
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Build Baby Build, But How Much? We know that building a lot more housing can bring down prices. We’ve seen evidence around the globe, from Austin and Minneapolis to as far away as Auckland, or as near as Jersey City and New Rochelle, where we have seen major impacts on affordability from new…
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Build Baby Build, But How Much?
We know that building a lot more housing can bring down prices. We’ve seen evidence around the globe, from Austin and Minneapolis to as far away as Auckland, or as near as Jersey City and New Rochelle, where we have seen major impacts on affordability from new construction. We have invited many people to live here by creating jobs…
https://somervilleyimby.org/2026/01/15/build-baby-build-but-how-much/
3 months ago
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Housing is Moving Forward 2026 is starting off with a bang in Somerville’s housing! Mayor Wilson’s inauguration had a lot of discussion of the affordability of housing. Then this week 2 projects took a major step forward. In Union Square, the Just a Start 100% Affordable project at 24 Webster Ave…
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Housing is Moving Forward
2026 is starting off with a bang in Somerville’s housing! Mayor Wilson’s inauguration had a lot of discussion of the affordability of housing. Then this week 2 projects took a major step forward. In Union Square, the Just a Start 100% Affordable project at 24 Webster Ave put up barricade in anticipation of demolition. It’s great to see this project about to finally put shovels in the ground!
https://somervilleyimby.org/2026/01/13/housing-is-moving-forward/
4 months ago
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What Kinds of Housing Do We Need? Somerville’s recent Housing Needs Assessment (HNA) is an analysis of the current state of housing in the city, and provides useful information about the types of housing Somerville needs to accommodate our changing demographics and population pressures. Home sizes…
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What Kinds of Housing Do We Need?
Somerville’s recent Housing Needs Assessment (HNA) is an analysis of the current state of housing in the city, and provides useful information about the types of housing Somerville needs to accommodate our changing demographics and population pressures. Home sizes Somerville is a city of old, large homes. 59% of occupied homes were built before 1940, while only about 9% were built from 2000 to 2020.
https://somervilleyimby.org/2026/01/06/what-kinds-of-housing-do-we-need/
4 months ago
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What’s Bringing Down Rents, and Where? A few bright spots for you as we close out the year: the financial press has noticed that Luxury Apartments are Bringing Down Rents in Some Big Cities. In Boston specifically, we’ve seen that bike lane initiatives are working to reduce traffic and pollution,…
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What’s Bringing Down Rents, and Where?
A few bright spots for you as we close out the year: the financial press has noticed that Luxury Apartments are Bringing Down Rents in Some Big Cities. In Boston specifically, we’ve seen that bike lane initiatives are working to reduce traffic and pollution, and the Globe editorial board is advocating for permit reform to accelerate homebuilding throughout the region…
https://somervilleyimby.org/2025/12/29/whats-bringing-down-rents-and-where/
4 months ago
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A Tale of Two Lots I was traveling around Somerville and ran into what looked like a gut renovation of an entire lot at 38 Laurel Street in the Spring Hill neighborhood. And my first thought was: could this have been more? 38 Laurel Street, Circa 2025 This seems like fairly serious construction,…
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A Tale of Two Lots
I was traveling around Somerville and ran into what looked like a gut renovation of an entire lot at 38 Laurel Street in the Spring Hill neighborhood. And my first thought was: could this have been more? 38 Laurel Street, Circa 2025 This seems like fairly serious construction, and it’s changing this site from 3 homes to having... still 3 homes.
https://somervilleyimby.org/2025/12/17/a-tale-of-two-lots/
4 months ago
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In the Weeds Zoning has always been a reflection of the people’s desire to control how their environment looks, which is another way of saying it’s an expression of our city’s values. One value many of us share is to have a local environment that is greener and more environmentally friendly. That…
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In the Weeds
Zoning has always been a reflection of the people’s desire to control how their environment looks, which is another way of saying it’s an expression of our city’s values. One value many of us share is to have a local environment that is greener and more environmentally friendly. That is reflected in our current regulations that allow a maximum of 65% impermeable surface for newly built homes in residential districts.
https://somervilleyimby.org/2025/12/09/in-the-weeds/
5 months ago
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I am the Very Model of a Modern Major Upzoning How Somerville creates "missing middle" housing I am the very model of a modern major upzoningI've information efficiency, density, and filteringI know the price of homes, and I quote the cause economicalFrom Austin to Minneapolis, in order…
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I am the Very Model of a Modern Major Upzoning
How Somerville creates "missing middle" housing I am the very model of a modern major upzoningI've information efficiency, density, and filteringI know the price of homes, and I quote the cause economicalFrom Austin to Minneapolis, in order categoricalI'm very well acquainted, too, with matters transportationI understand production, both the finance and constructionAbout transit development I am teeming with a lot o' news…
https://somervilleyimby.org/2025/12/04/i-am-the-very-model-of-a-modern-major-upzoning/
5 months ago
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Mayor Wilson Transition Survey & Other News We hope you’ve been enjoying our recent series of data-driven essays on planning and policy — if you’ve missed them, you can find them at newsletter.somervilleyimby.org. Our next piece will take a look at what happens when a single lot in a typical…
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Mayor Wilson Transition Survey & Other News
We hope you’ve been enjoying our recent series of data-driven essays on planning and policy — if you’ve missed them, you can find them at newsletter.somervilleyimby.org. Our next piece will take a look at what happens when a single lot in a typical Somerville neighborhood is redeveloped. This week, be sure to fill out Mayor-elect Jake Wilson’s community engagement survey…
https://somervilleyimby.org/2025/12/01/mayor-wilson-transition-survey-other-news/
5 months ago
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Where Did the Demand Come From? We at Somerville YIMBY talk a lot about the need to supply more homes to solve our housing shortage. But supply is only half the economic equation. We also need to ask ourselves where all this demand came from. Why have we seen such large increases in the cost of…
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Where Did the Demand Come From?
We at Somerville YIMBY talk a lot about the need to supply more homes to solve our housing shortage. But supply is only half the economic equation. We also need to ask ourselves where all this demand came from. Why have we seen such large increases in the cost of housing while similarly old and dense rust belt cities have stagnated?Â
https://somervilleyimby.org/2025/11/25/where-did-the-demand-come-from/
5 months ago
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What Would SB 79 Look Like Here? Hi, all! Over the past two years, we have been working on an upzoning proposal for Somerville. With an new city council in 2026, it feels like a good time to move forward on it. In support of that effort, we hereby start a roughly weekly blog post series about…
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What Would SB 79 Look Like Here?
Hi, all! Over the past two years, we have been working on an upzoning proposal for Somerville. With an new city council in 2026, it feels like a good time to move forward on it. In support of that effort, we hereby start a roughly weekly blog post series about upzoning in Somerville. We plan to cover a range of topics -- from open space to housing demand to affordability.
https://somervilleyimby.org/2025/11/18/what-would-sb-79-look-like-here/
5 months ago
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Action Alert: Starter Homes, Dormers, & Working Groups Get Involved: Join a Working Group Would you like to be more involved with Somerville YIMBY, but aren’t quite sure where to start? Join one of our new working groups to discuss: Elections: How did we do in the 2025 election? What could we do…
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Action Alert: Starter Homes, Dormers, & Working Groups
Get Involved: Join a Working Group Would you like to be more involved with Somerville YIMBY, but aren’t quite sure where to start? Join one of our new working groups to discuss: Elections: How did we do in the 2025 election? What could we do better? Is our next election effort going to be in 2026 or 2027? Join the elections discussion on our messageboard…
https://somervilleyimby.org/2025/11/13/action-alert-starter-homes-dormers-working-groups/
6 months ago
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reposted by
Somerville YIMBY
Abundant Housing Massachusetts
6 months ago
🏡 Help us get more housing on the 2026 ballot! Join AHMA, Cambridge City Councilor Burhan Azeem, and the Legalize Starter Homes Ballot Initiative for a Day of Action this weekend!
tinyurl.com/2sk34xt9
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Legalize Starter Homes Day of Action
Cambridge City Councillor Burhan Azeem, Abundant Housing Massachusetts, and the Legalize Starter Homes Ballot Campaign are organizing a coordinated Day of Action to rally support for legalizing…
https://tinyurl.com/2sk34xt9
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Congratulations to Our New Electeds Congratulations to mayor-elect Jake Wilson, and to new and returning members of the city council. While we did not endorse Jake Wilson for mayor due to his restrained support for our zoning proposals, we look forward to collaborating with him and supporting his…
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Congratulations to Our New Electeds
Congratulations to mayor-elect Jake Wilson, and to new and returning members of the city council. While we did not endorse Jake Wilson for mayor due to his restrained support for our zoning proposals, we look forward to collaborating with him and supporting his efforts to advance shared goals like housing affordability, safe streets, and more. We’re thrilled to see our endorsed City Council candidates Ben Ewen-Campen, Emily Hardt, Jon Link, Will Mbah, Naima Sait, and Ben Wheeler take their seats in January.
https://somervilleyimby.org/2025/11/06/congratulations-to-our-new-electeds/
6 months ago
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Not Just Election News The big news on the election front is that Sen. Ed Markey has endorsed Willie Burnley Jr. — and early voting is on now! Be sure to vote this week or next Tuesday. Check hours and locations at somervillema.gov/elections. Canvassing with Jon Link (left) and Ben Wheeler (2nd…
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Not Just Election News
The big news on the election front is that Sen. Ed Markey has endorsed Willie Burnley Jr. — and early voting is on now! Be sure to vote this week or next Tuesday. Check hours and locations at somervillema.gov/elections. Canvassing with Jon Link (left) and Ben Wheeler (2nd from left) We hope you’ll join us for the last few days of the campaign season to help get out the vote for:
https://somervilleyimby.org/2025/10/29/not-just-election-news/
6 months ago
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Immigrant Solidarity Rally, Elections, Community Meetings Canvassing with Jon Link (left) and Ben Wheeler (2nd from left) We’ve been out canvassing and we hope you’ll join us for the last few days of the campaign season to help get out the vote for: Mayor: Willie Burnley, Jr. At-Large: Scott…
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Immigrant Solidarity Rally, Elections, Community Meetings
Canvassing with Jon Link (left) and Ben Wheeler (2nd from left) We’ve been out canvassing and we hope you’ll join us for the last few days of the campaign season to help get out the vote for: Mayor: Willie Burnley, Jr. At-Large: Scott Istvan At-Large: Jon Link At-Large: Will Mbah At-Large: Ben Wheeler Ward 5: Naima Sait Ward 7: Emily Hardt…
https://somervilleyimby.org/2025/10/20/immigrant-solidarity-rally-elections-community-meetings/
6 months ago
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reposted by
Somerville YIMBY
Wilfred Mbah
7 months ago
🎉 YOU’RE INVITED 🎉 Join us this Wednesday, October 15th from 7-9PM at The Jungle for my Birthday Party & Fundraiser 🥳 Stop by for some food, music, and fun! Campaign contributions are encouraged, but not required. No one will be turned away! 🎤 Warm up your vocal cords—it’s also open mic night!
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reposted by
Somerville YIMBY
Davis Square Neighborhood Council
7 months ago
Join neighbors TONIGHT, October 13th, at 6 PM at the Cummings Center room 270 for a proactive conversation about development in Davis Square! Talk with fellow square residents and workers about what we want out of Davis Square development projects. Hosted by and only by the DSNC.
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Weekend canvassing & upcoming events This weekend we’ll be out canvassing with Jon Link and Ben Wheeler. We hope you’ll join us! Canvassing with Willie Burnley, Jr. Canvass with Jon Canvass with Ben We also encourage you to help our other endorsed candidates with time and/or money if you can:…
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Weekend canvassing & upcoming events
This weekend we’ll be out canvassing with Jon Link and Ben Wheeler. We hope you’ll join us! Canvassing with Willie Burnley, Jr. Canvass with Jon Canvass with Ben We also encourage you to help our other endorsed candidates with time and/or money if you can: Willie Burnley, Jr. Scott Istvan Will Mbah Emily Hardt Naima Sait Davis Square Development Discussion on 10/13…
https://somervilleyimby.org/2025/10/10/weekend-canvassing-upcoming-events/
7 months ago
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Come out this weekend and get out the vote for Jon, one of our endorsed candidates for city council at large!
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7 months ago
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Two great events on Wednesday 10/8 We’ve got dueling events on Wednesday October 8, and we hope to see you at one of them! Zoning Lessons for Housing Affordability Please join A Better Cambridge and Somerville YIMBY on October 8 for a panel discussion on Zoning Lessons for Housing Affordability…
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Two great events on Wednesday 10/8
We’ve got dueling events on Wednesday October 8, and we hope to see you at one of them! Zoning Lessons for Housing Affordability Please join A Better Cambridge and Somerville YIMBY on October 8 for a panel discussion on Zoning Lessons for Housing Affordability From National to Local. This will be primarily an in-person event but a livestream will be available.
https://somervilleyimby.org/2025/10/07/two-great-events-on-wednesday-10-8/
7 months ago
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Panel on October 8: Zoning Lessons for Housing Affordability, from National to Local Please join A Better Cambridge and Somerville YIMBY on October 8 for a panel discussion on Zoning Lessons for Housing Affordability From National to Local. Speakers include: John Infranca of Suffolk Law and Jake…
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Panel on October 8: Zoning Lessons for Housing Affordability, from National to Local
Please join A Better Cambridge and Somerville YIMBY on October 8 for a panel discussion on Zoning Lessons for Housing Affordability From National to Local. Speakers include: John Infranca of Suffolk Law and Jake Gilbert of the National Zoning Atlas, who worked on the Massachusetts Zoning Atlas and will share their findings on zoning in Massachusetts including how little land in MA is zoned to allow multifamily homes.Â
https://somervilleyimby.org/2025/10/02/panel-on-october-8-zoning-lessons-for-housing-affordability-from-national-to-local/
7 months ago
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October is Canvassing Time Do you like talking with people? Even if you don’t, would you be willing to have a few short conversations anyway? Somerville YIMBY is knocking on doors and making calls for our endorsed candidates, and we need your help. Wear your Somerville YIMBY shirt if you’ve got…
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October is Canvassing Time
Do you like talking with people? Even if you don’t, would you be willing to have a few short conversations anyway? Somerville YIMBY is knocking on doors and making calls for our endorsed candidates, and we need your help. Wear your Somerville YIMBY shirt if you’ve got one, and join us for canvassing for: Willie Burnley, Jr. Scott Istvan Ben Wheeler…
https://somervilleyimby.org/2025/09/30/october-is-canvassing-time/
7 months ago
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Single-stair reform would be a huge win for building abundant homes in MA, and especially for allowing more family-friendly homes to be built!
add a skeleton here at some point
7 months ago
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Somerville CLT & Just A Start have acquired 297 Medford St to build a 100% Affordable project! Congrats to both organizations, we look forward to supporting this effort 🎉
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Somerville CLT & Just A Start Partnership Acquire 297 Medford St
We want to celebrate that Somerville Community Land Trust and Just A Start have successfully acquired 297 Medford St! The two organizations are planning to build a 100% income-restricted, Affordable Housing project. From their newsletter: This milestone marks an important step in promoting permanently affordable housing, neighborhood stability and community ownership in the Gilman Square neighborhood. Together, we are laying the groundwork for a future that protects Somerville residents from speculation so that all of our neighbors can call Somerville home.
https://somervilleyimby.org/2025/09/19/somerville-clt-just-a-start-partnership-acquire-297-medford-st/
7 months ago
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reposted by
Somerville YIMBY
Cambridge Day
8 months ago
And now everything is (unofficially) counted for the preliminary here in Somerville. Some 100 votes remain to be hand counted, election officials say. Jake Willson seems to have 42 percent of the mayoral vote.
#Somerville
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Preliminary Election Day is Today! The Somerville preliminary election is today, September 16. Elections like this have low turnout, so your vote is especially important. The next few years will be very important for the city’s overall direction and growth, so please be sure to show up and vote…
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Preliminary Election Day is Today!
The Somerville preliminary election is today, September 16. Elections like this have low turnout, so your vote is especially important. The next few years will be very important for the city’s overall direction and growth, so please be sure to show up and vote for: Mayor: Willie Burnley, Jr. Councilor at Large: Scott Istvan, Ben Wheeler, Jon Link, and Will Mbah…
https://somervilleyimby.org/2025/09/16/preliminary-election-day-is-today/
8 months ago
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Hey folks! Abundant Housing MA IEPAC is having a fundraising house party this coming Wed. Sept 17 in Somerville, and we’d love to see you there! Register here:
actionnetwork.org/events/ahma-...
#MApoli
#VilleMA
#SomerPoli
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Abundant Housing MA IE PAC Fundraising House Party
You’re invited to a special house party fundraiser in support of the Abundant Housing MA Independent Expenditure PAC (AHMA IEPAC), hosted by Ben Orenstein at his home in Somerville. We’ll be joined…
https://actionnetwork.org/events/ahma-iepac-orenstein-party?source=direct_link&
8 months ago
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Early Voting Starts Today: Why We Support Willie Burnley Jr. Somerville needs more housing and more staff with living wages. Willie Burnley, Jr. is the best choice for mayor to solve these problems. In the Somerville YIMBY survey this summer, we asked candidates: “Our neighbors in Cambridge have…
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Early Voting Starts Today: Why We Support Willie Burnley Jr.
Somerville needs more housing and more staff with living wages. Willie Burnley, Jr. is the best choice for mayor to solve these problems. In the Somerville YIMBY survey this summer, we asked candidates: “Our neighbors in Cambridge have updated their zoning to allow residential buildings of up to 4 stories citywide — 6 if they include affordable housing at Somerville’s 20% level.
https://somervilleyimby.org/2025/09/09/early-voting-starts-today-why-we-support-willie-burnley-jr/
8 months ago
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reposted by
Somerville YIMBY
Willie Burnley Jr 🌹
8 months ago
With early voting starting tomorrow, it's great to have the support of
@somervilleyimby.org
in my race to become the next Mayor of Somerville! We can elect a pro-housing movement focused on ensuring Somerville has economic diversity and housing stability. Join us:
linktr.ee/WillieforSomerville
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Sept 5 2025 Social: Canceled! Hey folks! This Friday’s social, Sept 5, is canceled to avoid conflicting with the Mayoral Forum on Libraries and Schools:
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Sept 5 2025 Social:Â Canceled!
Hey folks! This Friday’s social, Sept 5, is canceled to avoid conflicting with the Mayoral Forum on Libraries and Schools:
https://somervilleyimby.org/2025/09/03/sept-5-2025-social-canceled/
8 months ago
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What exactly counts as transit oriented? For many months now, Somerville YIMBY has been working with city councilors and city staff on a broad proposal to update Somerville zoning citywide. This summer, residents have been especially keen to discuss upzoning, and some have suggested that…
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What exactly counts as transit oriented?
For many months now, Somerville YIMBY has been working with city councilors and city staff on a broad proposal to update Somerville zoning citywide. This summer, residents have been especially keen to discuss upzoning, and some have suggested that Somerville should focus on allowing more height and development near transit. The thing is, when someone says “near transit,” we naturally want to ask them what counts as “near.” There is no universal definition of "transit oriented development" (TOD), but in terms of distance, most planners suggest a half mile from a transit station, and a whole mile is not unreasonable, especially given our…
https://somervilleyimby.org/2025/09/02/what-exactly-counts-as-transit-oriented/
8 months ago
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