"Lexington is set to add around 1,600 new apartments and condominiums in the coming years, turning this community of 35,000, which has built little in decades, into the state's new housing boomtown. All of those new homes are the result of the ambitious plan Lexington passed in 2023 under the state's MBTA Communities Act."
"Even as other towns in Massachusetts mulled rebellion, affluent, liberal Lexington became the first place to pass new zoning rules under the law - allowing tall, dense buildings in key parts of town - and won plaudits from advocates, state officials, and even a glowing article in The New Yorker."
"Once-enthused residents are now grappling with what it means to help lead the state out of a deep housing shortage. There are worries about overstuffed schools and strained roads. The prospect of new apartments in the town's treasured historic district has been particularly jarring to some."
Lexington, a town of 35,000 with deep Revolutionary War heritage, is undergoing unprecedented housing development. The town passed ambitious zoning changes in 2023 under Massachusetts's MBTA Communities Act, becoming the first municipality to fully comply. This will bring approximately 1,600 new apartments and condominiums over coming years. A proposed four-story mixed-use development near the historic Belfry Hill exemplifies this transformation. While state officials and housing advocates praised Lexington's progressive approach, residents now express concerns about school capacity, road congestion, and the impact on the town's historic character. The rapid growth represents a significant shift for a community that built little for decades and whose identity centers on preserving Revolutionary War history.
Read at Boston.com
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