Local news is back in Somerville | Uninspiring start for new state housing chief | Still dead broke at MassGOP | Maybe not the way to save downtown | News tips? Story ideas? Email us at sbvanvoorhis@hotmail.com Downtown Boston on the ropes: Wu administration looks at subsidies for converting hard-hit office buildings to residential, B&T reports
The "round up surplus state land for housing" pitch goes back (at least) to the Weld era. The fact that each and every disposition requires approval from the Legislature is one of the principal reasons there appears to be an inexhaustible inventory of state property for redevelopment. This usually means a detailed plan for redevelopment that meets with local legislator, neighbor and municipal approval. These plans and the subsequent legislative approval take an enormous amount of time and money. So, this remains an great source of "low-hanging fruit" that is not really so low-hanging for each successive administration.
The "round up surplus state land for housing" pitch goes back (at least) to the Weld era. The fact that each and every disposition requires approval from the Legislature is one of the principal reasons there appears to be an inexhaustible inventory of state property for redevelopment. This usually means a detailed plan for redevelopment that meets with local legislator, neighbor and municipal approval. These plans and the subsequent legislative approval take an enormous amount of time and money. So, this remains an great source of "low-hanging fruit" that is not really so low-hanging for each successive administration.