The Latest from CommunityScale
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CommunityScale to update zoning in Waltham, MA
CommunityScale is partnering with the City of Waltham on a comprehensive zoning review and update. Working closely with City staff and community input, the team will review, update, and remap the existing zoning ordinance…
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Statewide housing shortage solutions
Massachusetts has taken a proactive stance on housing production through the recent MBTA Communities Act and the legalization of accessory dwelling units. In February the state released a housing plan, and the Unlocking Housing…
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MACOG Regional Housing Study
CommunityScale completed a regional housing strategy for the 3-county Michiana region which includes South Bend and Elkhart among other urban, suburban, and rural communities. The project included extensive data analysis, housing needs assessment, strategies…
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Home for All: Northern Kentucky Housing Strategies
Northern Kentucky needed an impartial and in-depth analysis of their housing stock deficiencies in light of a rapid population and employment growth. The area consists of 8 counties that range from urban to suburban…
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Launching a housing plan for Upper Arlington, OH
CommunityScale is conducting a detailed analysis of Upper Arlington, Ohio’s housing market to provide data-driven insight into housing affordability, availability, and long-term trends. The study examines the city’s current housing stock, demographic changes, and…
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CommunityScale helps region win $20M grant for affordable housing
CommunityScale’s recently completed Regional Housing Study for the three-county South Bend-Elkhart region has helped catalyze a transformative outcome. A major grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., awarded through its Community Leadership Implementation Grants initiative, includes…
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What is the difference between HUD’s income limits and percent of median household income?
HUD’s Income Limits and a simple percentage of median household income are often treated as interchangeable, but they are not the same thing. This post unpacks the difference between the two, explaining how HUD…
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Kennebunk Housing Needs Plan
CommunityScale developed the Kennebunk Housing Needs Plan (2024-2034) to meet the Maine town’s growing demand for diverse, affordable housing. The plan profiled local people and housing stock and set a production target keyed to…
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Lancaster Housing Production Plan
The Lancaster Housing Production Plan (HPP) for 2024-2029 provides an updated roadmap to enhance affordable housing options in the town. Building on the foundation set by the 2019 HPP, this new plan focuses on…
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Greenfield Housing Plan
CommunityScale completed a citywide housing plan for Greenfield, Massachusetts, led by co-founding principal and Greenfield resident Jeff Sauser with Levine Planning Strategies. The project paired a comprehensive Housing Needs Assessment with interactive community engagement…
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Melrose Zoning Recodification
CommunityScale, Levine Planning Strategies, and Blatman, Bobrowski, Haverty and Silverstein, LLC worked closely with the Melrose City staff and Planning Board to complete a comprehensive recodification of the city’s Zoning Ordinance. This collaboration modernized…
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Housing plan as website? Check out our new online dashboard for Greenfield!
At CommunityScale, we are constantly looking for new ways to integrate technology and innovation in our work. In particular, we bringing more of the planning process and outcomes into digital and online formats where…
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What is 40B Safe Harbor?
Understanding Safe Harbor is essential for Massachusetts municipalities and developers navigating Chapter 40B, the Comprehensive Permit Law. This post walks through how a community can claim Safe Harbor from 40B developments, covering the three…
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The Affordable Homes Act and planning in Massachusetts communities
CommunityScale is enthusiastic about Massachusetts’ Affordable Homes Act and the change it can bring to livable, sustainable communities. This post looks at the legislation through a planning lens, flagging three provisions worth watching: $25…
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How life stage has factored into renting or owning since 2010
How does owning or renting relate to household independence across the life course, and has that relationship changed? Using Census ACS 5-year data from 2010 to 2022, CommunityScale traced how tenure shifts across age…
