Envision Medford
Strategies to address local affordable housing needs
2022
As the greater Boston region continues to grow and expand its transit network, Medford is poised to remain one of the area’s most desirable communities. This desirability presents both opportunities and challenges. Without sufficient new housing, continued population and job growth will make Medford’s existing housing stock increasingly unaffordable. Fortunately, the city retains significant potential for new construction and infill development. This report outlines targeted implementation strategies to expand the supply of both affordable and market-rate housing. Its objectives are to help advance Chapter 40B production goals and ensure that future development supports an inclusive, diverse, and sustainable community consistent with Medford’s existing built environment.
Expand transit-oriented development: Strategic updates to the zoning code can encourage more efficient, transit-oriented growth. Establishing new overlay zones—leveraging Chapter 40R incentives—and extending the existing Mixed-Use (MUZ) district to additional areas would enable higher-density, mixed-use development near transit. High parking requirements currently pose a major barrier to affordable housing by increasing project costs and land consumption. These requirements could be reduced near transit nodes by eliminating parking minimums altogether, lowering ratios, or implementing alternative standards such as tiered minimums by unit size or transit-proximate maximums.
Extend housing opportunities citywide: Medford’s neighborhoods each offer distinct advantages and a diverse range of housing types. However, restrictive zoning has made it difficult for developers to replicate many of these successful forms, limiting housing options and affordability. Modernizing the zoning code to better reflect the city’s existing built form—for instance, by reducing minimum lot sizes and allowing flexible density options such as accessory dwelling units (ADUs)—would enable incremental growth. This approach would add new housing that blends with neighborhood character while avoiding excessive development pressure on any single area.
Building affordable housing partnerships: Stronger partnerships with affordable housing organizations can enhance the city’s capacity to deliver inclusive housing. Medford can support these organizations through capacity-building grants, assistance in accessing state and federal funding, and by prioritizing mission-driven developers in project selection processes. Such collaboration will strengthen local expertise and long-term housing outcomes. As noted in Medford’s Housing Production Plan, the Medford Housing Authority is a critical partner in serving the city’s most vulnerable residents and should remain central to future implementation efforts.
Client: City of Medford
Tools: GIS, R
Case study:
Mystic River Parkway
Scope (exceprt):
“In 2017, the MBTA filed a Notice of Project Change for the Green Line Extension Project to initiate additional environmental review for the extension to Mystic Valley Parkway and seek public input on proposed station design changes for the station. In its current form, the extension proposes a one-level station to be built just east of the intersection of Boston Avenue and Route 16, near the Somerville and Medford city line—directly adjacent to the existing Whole Foods. Should this station be constructed, the surrounding neighborhood, including the supermarket, becomes prime real estate for dense, mixed-use, transit-oriented housing. This large parcel would be ideally sited within walking distance of frequent-stop train access to much of the Boston area. As Medford considers the future of housing development in the city, such parcels with contingent potential should be identified in order to vision preliminary plans and get ahead of the curve.”