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Somerville looks to become second Massachusetts city to get rid of ‘unnecessary’ parking spaces

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Somerville looks to become second Massachusetts city to get rid of ‘unnecessary’ parking spaces


The Somerville City Council will consider a zoning ordinance to remove “unnecessary parking spaces” built with new developments, a request that proponents say is aimed at improving quality of life and “meeting climate goals.”

Council President Ben Ewen-Campen and Councilor Willie Burnley, Jr., are set to bring forth a resolution highlighting the framework of their proposal to the rest of the council on Thursday. They say they already have support from city administrators and advocates.

“This is about reducing traffic congestion, lowering costs, and meeting climate goals,” Ewen-Campen said Monday in a post on X.

In 2019, the council approved a zoning law that set a maximum number of new parking spaces built in its transit-accessible neighborhoods. The new proposal looks to apply that regulation to “certain large commercial developments” in other parts of the city while doing away with so-called “parking minimums.”

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“The elimination of parking minimums in Somerville’s transit-oriented development areas has resulted in a remarkable 62% decrease in the number of parking spaces being built compared to what was previously mandated,” part of the resolution states.

Requiring “large commercial developments” to provide at least a minimum number of parking spaces, Ewen-Campen and Burnley, Jr. say, leads to “increased traffic congestion,” hampers residents’ quality of life, and impedes the city’s climate goals.

In a statement to the Herald on Tuesday, the city said Mayor Katjana Ballantyne believes the proposal “merits serious consideration” as it aligns with Somerville’s transition to cleaner modes of transportation and promotes affordable housing.

The request has caught some pushback in the community after Ewen-Campen posted a document of the resolution on social media Monday.

“Removing spaces causes more congestion with people looking for parking,” someone commented on X. “It also hurts business because many people can not navigate public (transit), and will go elsewhere if they can not park. It will bring more Uber traffic too.”

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The city told the Herald that “the administration recognizes many residents currently rely on access to parking.”

“With this in mind, the City is committed to dedicating resources to employing curb use and other strategies that make the best use of limited parking resources,” a spokesperson said, “rather than mandating the creation of new parking.”

Rough 30% of parking spaces in new apartment buildings across Greater Boston are unused, according to undisclosed studies that Ewen-Campen and Burnley, Jr., cited in the resolution.

Cambridge in October 2022 became the first city or town in Massachusetts to eliminate all minimum parking space requirements from a zoning code. In Boston, Mayor Michelle Wu signed an amendment earlier that year eliminating parking minimums for affordable housing developments.”

The resolution order in Somerville highlights how “the creation of even a single parking space costs, on average, $50,000 with significantly higher costs in dense metropolitan areas.”

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“It is often said that zoning is the most powerful tool that municipalities have in the fight for housing affordability,” Burnley Jr. said in a post on Instagram. “By eliminating parking minimums like Cambridge did years ago, we hope to spur further affordable housing development.”



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Pedestrian hospitalized after being hit in Waltham

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Pedestrian hospitalized after being hit in Waltham


A person was hit by a vehicle Tuesday morning in Waltham, Massachusetts.

Police responded just after 10 a.m. to the crash at the intersection of Elm Street and Carter Street.

Officers began treating the pedestrian, who was then taken to an area hospital with unspecified injuries.

The driver stayed at the scene, the Waltham Police Department said.

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The cause of the crash is under investigation.



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People are moving out of Massachusetts but the population still grew

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People are moving out of Massachusetts but the population still grew


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More people left Massachusetts than moved in from 2024 to 2025, with the state ranking fourth in the nation for net domestic migration loss, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Thousands of residents left the Bay State for other states during that period. Regionally, the Northeast experienced a net domestic migration loss of 205,552, according to the data.

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Despite the domestic outflow, Massachusetts’ population still grew by 15,524 when factoring in births, deaths, and international migration.

Here’s what to know about the states with the highest and lowest net domestic migration across the country:

Massachusetts’ net domestic, international migration from 2024 to 2025

From July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025, Massachusetts had a net domestic migration of -33,340, with 33,340 more people moving out of the state than moving in, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Meanwhile, the state had a net international migration of 40,240, as 40,240 more people moved into Massachusetts from abroad than left.

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States with highest net domestic migration from 2024 to 2025

Here were the states with the highest net domestic migration from July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025, according to U.S. Census data:

  1. North Carolina: 84,064 residents
  2. Texas: 67,299 residents
  3. South Carolina: 66,622 residents
  4. Tennessee: 42,389 residents
  5. Arizona: 31,107 residents
  6. Georgia: 27,333 residents
  7. Alabama: 23,358 residents
  8. Florida: 22,517 residents
  9. Idaho: 19,915 residents
  10. Nevada: 14,914 residents

States with lowest net domestic migration from 2024 to 2025

Here were the states with the lowest net domestic migration from July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025, according to U.S. Census data:

  1. California: -229,077 residents
  2. New York: -137,586 residents
  3. Illinois: -40,017 residents
  4. New Jersey: -37,428 residents
  5. Massachusetts: -33,340 residents
  6. Louisiana: -14,387 residents
  7. Maryland: -12,127 residents
  8. Colorado: -12,100 residents
  9. Hawaii: -8,876 residents
  10. Connecticut: -5,945 residents

New England states’ net domestic migration from 2024 to 2025

Here’s how New England states ranked on net domestic migration from July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025, according to U.S. Census data:

  1. Maine: 7,406 residents (ranked 18th nationally)
  2. New Hampshire: 6,554 residents (ranked 22nd nationally)
  3. Vermont: -726 residents (ranked 34th nationally)
  4. Rhode Island: -1,551 residents (ranked 36th nationally)
  5. Connecticut: -5,945 residents (ranked 42nd nationally)
  6. Massachusetts: -33,340 residents (ranked 47th nationally)

Census regions with highest net domestic migration from 2024 to 2025

Here’s how the four Census regions ranked on net domestic migration from July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025, according to U.S. Census data:

  1. South: 357,790 residents
  2. Midwest: 16,040 residents
  3. West: -168,278 residents
  4. Northeast: -205,552 residents



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Planning a staycation? Tripadvisor recommends this MA city

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Planning a staycation? Tripadvisor recommends this MA city


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Are you thinking about spending some time off but don’t want to splurge on a big international vacation?

A summer 2025 report found that many Americans are choosing nearby staycations over changing time zones.

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And Tripadvisor said one of the best travel experiences you could have in the United States would actually be a guided walking tour in Salem, Massachusetts, and the Freedom Trail walking tour in Boston.

As part of 2025 Travelers’ Choice Awards: Best of the Best Things To Do, Tripadvisor said that History and Hauntings of Salem Guided Walking Tour is the second-best experience in the U.S.

As we move on from 2025 onto 2026, here’s what you need to know about this Bay State travel opportunity.

Tripadvisor said Salem has the second best experience in the U.S.

Tripadvisor said the History and Hauntings of Salem Guided Walking Tour is one of the best experiences in the United States. Its AI summary tool said the tour guides paint a vivid portrait of one of America’s most macabre towns.

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Here’s what Tripadvisor said about it: “There are many Salem tours out there but few are as compelling as this one, led by a local historian who brings alive the city’s history at the time of day you choose. For a spookier experience, pick a nighttime tour led by lantern light. Visit the Burying Point Cemetery, Witch House, and Ropes Mansion garden as your guide tells stories of the haunted history of Salem, Massachusetts.”

The itinerary says the tour begins at Salem Old Town Hall and ends at Hamilton Hall, visiting sites like the Bewitched statue of Elizabeth Montgomery and The Witch House at Salem on the way.

You can book History and Hauntings of Salem Guided Walking Tour at this link here. Be aware that this event is booked 23 days in advance, the tour’s Tripadvisor page said.

Kathleen Wong contributed to the reporting of this story. Rin Velasco is a trending reporter. She can be reached at rvelasco@gannett.com.

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