Housing Innovation Lab
The Housing Innovation Lab tests new approaches to housing policy, programs, and design to create affordable housing opportunities for all Bostonians
Boston is an incredible place to live—it’s no surprise that projections tell us that the city’s population is expected to exceed 700,000 people by 2030. This growth creates increased demand for housing, challenging our ability to provide affordable housing for all. The Housing Innovation Lab (iLab) is the City’s space to prototype new policies and programs to increase our supply of affordable housing. We want to ensure that the Boston of tomorrow does not displace the Boston of today!
TO DO THIS, THE HOUSING INNOVATION LAB:
- Prioritizes people: put people at the center of our work.
- Engages collaborators: engage both internal and external partners to move the work forward.
- Experiments early and often: take a prototype driven approach to policy making.
QUESTIONS WE’RE CURRENTLY EXPLORING:
- What types of new construction methods and materials hold the most promise in decreasing construction costs while delivering a high quality product?
- How might we support affordable co-living opportunities?
- How might we design a new model of housing that is inexpensive to build and naturally affordable to more middle income households?
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12 channel STREET
9tH FLOOR
BOSTON, MA 02210 -
OFFICE HOURS
Have an idea about how to make Boston an affordable place for all? We want to hear it. Share your idea with us using this multilingual form or drop in to our office hours, held virtually on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 3 PM - 5PM. To reserve an appointment during our office hours, please use this link.
Our Current projects
Renting to Own
We’re partnering with developers, financers, and service providers to create new models of affordable homeownership that provide opportunities for renters to start building equity in their homes.
Additional Dwelling Unit
We want to streamline the process for homeowners looking to create a rental unit.
Housing with Public Assets
Could building housing on top of — or next to — City buildings, such as libraries and community centers, benefit our communities?
Our Past projects
Future Decker
We challenged stakeholders to design Boston's newest missing middle building typology.
Intergenerational Homeshare
We’re offering affordable housing to graduate students while helping local homeowners and communities.
Plugin Housing Initiative
Demonstrating the possibilities of backyard homes and smaller living to provide housing affordable to all.
Compact Living
A new type of residential development that uses well-designed efficient space, shared common spaces, and transportation incentives.
Urban Housing Unit
Through our interactive exhibit, we heard from the community about what they think about smaller living.
Housing Innovation Competition
We asked development teams to propose innovative compact living designs.
Density Bonus Pilot
The program gives developers incentives in exchange for more affordable units.
Get Involved
Have an idea about how to make Boston an affordable place for all? We want to hear it. Share your idea with us using this multilingual form or drop in to our office hours, held virtually on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 3 PM - 5 PM (link to our virtual office hours). To reserve an appointment during our office hours, please use this link.
Students
The Housing Innovation Lab offers summer and academic year fellowships. Contact us at housingilab@boston.gov to learn about upcoming application cycles.
Professors
We love working with academic institutions. Have an idea about how we can collaborate to house our City? Share it with us using this form or send an email to housingilab@boston.gov.
Who's Involved:
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12 channel STREET
9tH FLOOR
BOSTON, MA 02210 -
OFFICE HOURS
Have an idea about how to make Boston an affordable place for all? We want to hear it. Share your idea with us using this multilingual form or drop in to our office hours, held virtually on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 3 PM - 5PM. To reserve an appointment during our office hours, please use this link.
