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Dain Research

Public Policy Research and Writing

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Opinion pieces and articles


Zoning in the Boston suburbs is stacked against families with children

The Boston Globe

June 2023


What the MBTA Communities law means for your town

CommonWealth Beacon

January 2023

Solving the MBTA Communities zoning puzzle

CommonWealth Beacon

January 2023

Seeking predictable permitting for new housing

CommonWealth Beacon

January 2023


Where should new multi-family housing go?

CommonWealth Beacon

January 2023

Overcoming the restrictions on multi-family housing

CommonWealth Beacon

January 2023

The Argument: Should accessory dwelling units be allowed statewide in Massachusetts?

The Boston Globe

September 2022


In Praise of Downtowns, Main Streets

CommonWealth Beacon

July 2021

Can Our Underperforming Asphalt Become Bustling Boulevards?

Banker and Tradesman

May 2021


Building a City Center Serving Six Cities

CommonWealth Beacon

March 2021


Trump's ‘Suburban Lifestyle Dream’ Is Real: Just Look At Greater Boston’s Housing Plans

WBUR

August 2020


Route 128 needs land use leadership

CommonWealth Beacon

January 2020


Greater Boston’s Architecture, Pretty in Pink

Medium.com

January 2020


Give accessory apartments a shot

CommonWealth Beacon

December 2019


Moving on from car-as-king development

CommonWealth Beacon

November 2019


Building connectedness with star power

CommonWealth Beacon

November 2019


Where should new housing go?

CommonWealth Beacon

November 2019


Day Trips in Greater Boston

Medium.com

November 2019


Guess what’s anchoring many small downtowns?

CommonWealth Beacon

December 2018


Should we smoot the subways?

CommonWealth Beacon

April 2016


Are dashboards the right tool to measure progress?

CommonWealth Beacon

February 2016


Municipalities shouldn’t go it alone on IT

CommonWealth Beacon

January 2016


In Newtonville, smart growth is taking hold

CommonWealth Beacon

January 2016


Boston Public Market: Looks great, makes sense

CommonWealth Beacon

December 2015


Brutalist buildings need some TLC

Commonwealth Beacon

November 2015


The state should encourage accessory apartments

CommonWealth Beacon

October 2015


Riley’s turnaround effort bigger than schools

CommonWealth Beacon

October 2015

Published papers


Exclusionary by Design

Boston Indicators at the Boston Foundation

November 2023

A Reformer’s Guidebook to Zoning’s Knots:
Approval Processes for Multi-Family Housing in Greater Boston

Lincoln Institute of Land Policy

October 2021

The State of Zoning for Multifamily Housing in Greater Boston

Massachusetts Smart Growth Alliance

June 2019


The State of Zoning for Accessory Dwelling Units

Pioneer Institute and Massachusetts Smart Growth Alliance

July 2018


Housing and Land Use Policy in Massachusetts:

Reforms for Affordability, Sustainability, and Superior Design

Pioneer Institute

February 2007


Residential Land-Use Regulation in Eastern Massachusetts:

A Study of 187 Communities

Pioneer Institute and Rappaport Institute

December 2005

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