Jonathan Berk 🏠
@berkie1.bsky.social
Supporting a new generation of walkable neighborhoods with housing abundance, active public realms, & thriving small business ecosystems. Founder remainplaces.com
In 2019, Oregon became the first state to implement statewide rent control at 7% + CPI increase (10% max).
A 2026 ballot question will ask Massachusetts voters to set a statewide rent control of CPI increase OR 5%, whichever is less.
The avg. CPI increase since 2000 is 2.56%.
A 2026 ballot question will ask Massachusetts voters to set a statewide rent control of CPI increase OR 5%, whichever is less.
The avg. CPI increase since 2000 is 2.56%.
November 25, 2025 at 2:22 PM
In 2019, Oregon became the first state to implement statewide rent control at 7% + CPI increase (10% max).
A 2026 ballot question will ask Massachusetts voters to set a statewide rent control of CPI increase OR 5%, whichever is less.
The avg. CPI increase since 2000 is 2.56%.
A 2026 ballot question will ask Massachusetts voters to set a statewide rent control of CPI increase OR 5%, whichever is less.
The avg. CPI increase since 2000 is 2.56%.
This 1800s duplex packs over 6,000sf of total living space, with a shared backyard, on a small 4,300sf lot.
This is illegal to build essentially everywhere in Massachusetts today… including on this same lot.
📍Salem, MA
This is illegal to build essentially everywhere in Massachusetts today… including on this same lot.
📍Salem, MA
November 24, 2025 at 12:00 AM
This 1800s duplex packs over 6,000sf of total living space, with a shared backyard, on a small 4,300sf lot.
This is illegal to build essentially everywhere in Massachusetts today… including on this same lot.
📍Salem, MA
This is illegal to build essentially everywhere in Massachusetts today… including on this same lot.
📍Salem, MA
“Residents of Salem and other nearby towns might reasonably ask why they should accept housing pressure from Marblehead while we continue to receive millions of their tax dollars in state aid each year through UGGA, Chapter 70 and other programs.”
November 23, 2025 at 6:32 PM
“Residents of Salem and other nearby towns might reasonably ask why they should accept housing pressure from Marblehead while we continue to receive millions of their tax dollars in state aid each year through UGGA, Chapter 70 and other programs.”
Reposted by Jonathan Berk 🏠
“For the first time since 1959, it is now legal to build new corner stores in residential neighbourhoods across Toronto.”
November 15, 2025 at 11:03 PM
“For the first time since 1959, it is now legal to build new corner stores in residential neighbourhoods across Toronto.”
Reposted by Jonathan Berk 🏠
The wildest part of the South End isn’t the brownstones… it’s that Boston built something beautiful, loved it, and then spent decades making sure no one could ever do it again anywhere in Massachusetts.
November 16, 2025 at 4:15 PM
The wildest part of the South End isn’t the brownstones… it’s that Boston built something beautiful, loved it, and then spent decades making sure no one could ever do it again anywhere in Massachusetts.
Reposted by Jonathan Berk 🏠
"Housing, housing, housing is the issue that I hear everywhere I go... we need to produce more housing in order to lower the cost.
I have charged Senator Cyr [Housing Committee Chair] with the task 'Be bold. Nothing is off the table.'"
- Massachusetts Senate President Spilka
I have charged Senator Cyr [Housing Committee Chair] with the task 'Be bold. Nothing is off the table.'"
- Massachusetts Senate President Spilka
November 17, 2025 at 4:36 PM
"Housing, housing, housing is the issue that I hear everywhere I go... we need to produce more housing in order to lower the cost.
I have charged Senator Cyr [Housing Committee Chair] with the task 'Be bold. Nothing is off the table.'"
- Massachusetts Senate President Spilka
I have charged Senator Cyr [Housing Committee Chair] with the task 'Be bold. Nothing is off the table.'"
- Massachusetts Senate President Spilka
Culver City becomes the first California city to allow [again] six-story apartment buildings with just one staircase.
🪜up to 6-floors
📐4,000sf max floor plates
🪜up to 6-floors
📐4,000sf max floor plates
November 23, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Culver City becomes the first California city to allow [again] six-story apartment buildings with just one staircase.
🪜up to 6-floors
📐4,000sf max floor plates
🪜up to 6-floors
📐4,000sf max floor plates
"Housing, housing, housing is the issue that I hear everywhere I go... we need to produce more housing in order to lower the cost.
I have charged Senator Cyr [Housing Committee Chair] with the task 'Be bold. Nothing is off the table.'"
- Massachusetts Senate President Spilka
I have charged Senator Cyr [Housing Committee Chair] with the task 'Be bold. Nothing is off the table.'"
- Massachusetts Senate President Spilka
November 17, 2025 at 4:36 PM
"Housing, housing, housing is the issue that I hear everywhere I go... we need to produce more housing in order to lower the cost.
I have charged Senator Cyr [Housing Committee Chair] with the task 'Be bold. Nothing is off the table.'"
- Massachusetts Senate President Spilka
I have charged Senator Cyr [Housing Committee Chair] with the task 'Be bold. Nothing is off the table.'"
- Massachusetts Senate President Spilka
The wildest part of the South End isn’t the brownstones… it’s that Boston built something beautiful, loved it, and then spent decades making sure no one could ever do it again anywhere in Massachusetts.
November 16, 2025 at 4:15 PM
The wildest part of the South End isn’t the brownstones… it’s that Boston built something beautiful, loved it, and then spent decades making sure no one could ever do it again anywhere in Massachusetts.
“For the first time since 1959, it is now legal to build new corner stores in residential neighbourhoods across Toronto.”
November 15, 2025 at 11:03 PM
“For the first time since 1959, it is now legal to build new corner stores in residential neighbourhoods across Toronto.”
56%, or 1.8 million acres, of residentially zoned land in Massachusetts requires at least a 40,000sf lot to build a single-family home.
Only 3%, 102,000 acres, allows homes on lots of 10,000sf or less.
@zoningatlas.bsky.social
Only 3%, 102,000 acres, allows homes on lots of 10,000sf or less.
@zoningatlas.bsky.social
November 11, 2025 at 10:30 PM
56%, or 1.8 million acres, of residentially zoned land in Massachusetts requires at least a 40,000sf lot to build a single-family home.
Only 3%, 102,000 acres, allows homes on lots of 10,000sf or less.
@zoningatlas.bsky.social
Only 3%, 102,000 acres, allows homes on lots of 10,000sf or less.
@zoningatlas.bsky.social
Reposted by Jonathan Berk 🏠
Baby, it’s ALL God’s backyard. #YIGBY
“Christian love and hospitality are responses to God’s generosity. We are often exceptionally good at showing hospitality in our private homes, but we may not have considered how we and our spaces might be unhospitable on a greater, bureaucratic level.”
www.christianitytoday.com/2025/11/hosp...
www.christianitytoday.com/2025/11/hosp...
Charity Begins with Zoning Reforms - Christianity Today
Stewarding our neighborhoods is part of Christian hospitality.
www.christianitytoday.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Baby, it’s ALL God’s backyard. #YIGBY
“Christian love and hospitality are responses to God’s generosity. We are often exceptionally good at showing hospitality in our private homes, but we may not have considered how we and our spaces might be unhospitable on a greater, bureaucratic level.”
www.christianitytoday.com/2025/11/hosp...
www.christianitytoday.com/2025/11/hosp...
Charity Begins with Zoning Reforms - Christianity Today
Stewarding our neighborhoods is part of Christian hospitality.
www.christianitytoday.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:03 PM
“Christian love and hospitality are responses to God’s generosity. We are often exceptionally good at showing hospitality in our private homes, but we may not have considered how we and our spaces might be unhospitable on a greater, bureaucratic level.”
www.christianitytoday.com/2025/11/hosp...
www.christianitytoday.com/2025/11/hosp...
We lost my grandmother last night at 102. She lived her life with kindness and respect, setting an example for all of us.
She always said the secret to her long, healthy life was just that: kindness and respect for others.
It’s a lesson we could all use a little more of today.
She always said the secret to her long, healthy life was just that: kindness and respect for others.
It’s a lesson we could all use a little more of today.
November 10, 2025 at 12:26 AM
We lost my grandmother last night at 102. She lived her life with kindness and respect, setting an example for all of us.
She always said the secret to her long, healthy life was just that: kindness and respect for others.
It’s a lesson we could all use a little more of today.
She always said the secret to her long, healthy life was just that: kindness and respect for others.
It’s a lesson we could all use a little more of today.
New England has some of the largest minimum lot size requirements in the country.
These rules make it illegal to build the kinds of modest homes that already define many of our neighborhoods, driving up prices, restricting new housing, and freezing communities in time.
These rules make it illegal to build the kinds of modest homes that already define many of our neighborhoods, driving up prices, restricting new housing, and freezing communities in time.
November 9, 2025 at 10:17 PM
New England has some of the largest minimum lot size requirements in the country.
These rules make it illegal to build the kinds of modest homes that already define many of our neighborhoods, driving up prices, restricting new housing, and freezing communities in time.
These rules make it illegal to build the kinds of modest homes that already define many of our neighborhoods, driving up prices, restricting new housing, and freezing communities in time.
The median age of a first-time home buyer in the US has now exceeded 40 for the first time in history, up from 30 in 2010.
The median age of all US homebuyers jumped to 59.
The median age of all US homebuyers jumped to 59.
November 6, 2025 at 2:46 PM
The median age of a first-time home buyer in the US has now exceeded 40 for the first time in history, up from 30 in 2010.
The median age of all US homebuyers jumped to 59.
The median age of all US homebuyers jumped to 59.
Reposted by Jonathan Berk 🏠
An incomplete list of cities where housing abundance was a major campaign issue & pro-housing candidates held or expanded majorities:
- Bozeman, MT
- Cambridge, MA
- Durham, NC
- Kalispell, MT
- Littleton, CO
- Manchester, NH
- Missoula, MT
- Salt Lake City, UT
- Seattle, WA
- Wilmington, NC
💪
- Bozeman, MT
- Cambridge, MA
- Durham, NC
- Kalispell, MT
- Littleton, CO
- Manchester, NH
- Missoula, MT
- Salt Lake City, UT
- Seattle, WA
- Wilmington, NC
💪
We'll post a list sometime soon but in addition to all the D vs. R stories tonight, in basically every nonpartisan election in the country today, the more pro-housing candidate won.
November 5, 2025 at 6:24 PM
An incomplete list of cities where housing abundance was a major campaign issue & pro-housing candidates held or expanded majorities:
- Bozeman, MT
- Cambridge, MA
- Durham, NC
- Kalispell, MT
- Littleton, CO
- Manchester, NH
- Missoula, MT
- Salt Lake City, UT
- Seattle, WA
- Wilmington, NC
💪
- Bozeman, MT
- Cambridge, MA
- Durham, NC
- Kalispell, MT
- Littleton, CO
- Manchester, NH
- Missoula, MT
- Salt Lake City, UT
- Seattle, WA
- Wilmington, NC
💪
A proposal has been filed for 24 new homes to replace a former single-family home on 1.5 acres of land in Medway's new MBTA Communities multi-family district.
November 3, 2025 at 5:06 PM
A proposal has been filed for 24 new homes to replace a former single-family home on 1.5 acres of land in Medway's new MBTA Communities multi-family district.
By not allowing largely any new housing since the 1980s, Winthrop has forced a slow, but dramatic, change on their 'community chatacter.'
In 1970, Winthrop was home to 20,300 with a median age of 33... today, just 18,500 with a median age of nearly 44.
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/03/b...
In 1970, Winthrop was home to 20,300 with a median age of 33... today, just 18,500 with a median age of nearly 44.
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/03/b...
How the state’s most ambitious housing law in decades is tearing this peninsula town apart - The Boston Globe
Many towns have been divided over the MBTA Communities Act, but few as badly as Winthrop.
www.bostonglobe.com
November 3, 2025 at 5:02 PM
By not allowing largely any new housing since the 1980s, Winthrop has forced a slow, but dramatic, change on their 'community chatacter.'
In 1970, Winthrop was home to 20,300 with a median age of 33... today, just 18,500 with a median age of nearly 44.
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/03/b...
In 1970, Winthrop was home to 20,300 with a median age of 33... today, just 18,500 with a median age of nearly 44.
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/03/b...
Reposted by Jonathan Berk 🏠
World Series, Stadium Edition: Rogers Centre vs. Dodger Stadium 🤔
October 24, 2025 at 6:59 PM
World Series, Stadium Edition: Rogers Centre vs. Dodger Stadium 🤔
Beverly didn’t wait for the state to tell them to do the right thing. New zoning in the 2010s unlocked 1,400 new homes, largely along a transit oriented stretch of Rantoul Street. They knew more housing options would make their community stronger & support new small businesses.
October 29, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Beverly didn’t wait for the state to tell them to do the right thing. New zoning in the 2010s unlocked 1,400 new homes, largely along a transit oriented stretch of Rantoul Street. They knew more housing options would make their community stronger & support new small businesses.
Reposted by Jonathan Berk 🏠
After living in Asia for 13 years it's amazing to me how Americans actively choose such shitty housing & zoning policies. Nobody in America outside of New York or Chicago knows what real density is or how it vastly improves quality of life.
Minneapolis built more housing than any other major Midwest city & it’s not a mystery why.
They allowed modest density housing types city-wide, cut regressive parking mandates, and made it easier to build apartments near transit.
The results: more homes + slowed rent growth.
They allowed modest density housing types city-wide, cut regressive parking mandates, and made it easier to build apartments near transit.
The results: more homes + slowed rent growth.
October 27, 2025 at 5:47 PM
After living in Asia for 13 years it's amazing to me how Americans actively choose such shitty housing & zoning policies. Nobody in America outside of New York or Chicago knows what real density is or how it vastly improves quality of life.
Reposted by Jonathan Berk 🏠
Are you suggesting the basic laws of economics might apply to housing costs?!
Minneapolis built more housing than any other major Midwest city & it’s not a mystery why.
They allowed modest density housing types city-wide, cut regressive parking mandates, and made it easier to build apartments near transit.
The results: more homes + slowed rent growth.
They allowed modest density housing types city-wide, cut regressive parking mandates, and made it easier to build apartments near transit.
The results: more homes + slowed rent growth.
October 27, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Are you suggesting the basic laws of economics might apply to housing costs?!
Minneapolis built more housing than any other major Midwest city & it’s not a mystery why.
They allowed modest density housing types city-wide, cut regressive parking mandates, and made it easier to build apartments near transit.
The results: more homes + slowed rent growth.
They allowed modest density housing types city-wide, cut regressive parking mandates, and made it easier to build apartments near transit.
The results: more homes + slowed rent growth.
October 27, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Minneapolis built more housing than any other major Midwest city & it’s not a mystery why.
They allowed modest density housing types city-wide, cut regressive parking mandates, and made it easier to build apartments near transit.
The results: more homes + slowed rent growth.
They allowed modest density housing types city-wide, cut regressive parking mandates, and made it easier to build apartments near transit.
The results: more homes + slowed rent growth.
Reposted by Jonathan Berk 🏠
Dodger Stadium's parking lot is so big that it could fit an additional 10 Dodger Stadiums.
People think that families were displaced out of Chavez Ravine in the 50s in order to build the stadium, but it's technically more accurate to say that they were displaced to build the stadium's parking lots.
People think that families were displaced out of Chavez Ravine in the 50s in order to build the stadium, but it's technically more accurate to say that they were displaced to build the stadium's parking lots.
October 24, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Dodger Stadium's parking lot is so big that it could fit an additional 10 Dodger Stadiums.
People think that families were displaced out of Chavez Ravine in the 50s in order to build the stadium, but it's technically more accurate to say that they were displaced to build the stadium's parking lots.
People think that families were displaced out of Chavez Ravine in the 50s in order to build the stadium, but it's technically more accurate to say that they were displaced to build the stadium's parking lots.