Massachusetts
Massachusetts real estate transactions for Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties Feb. 18, 2024 edition
Agawam
Bretta Construction LLC, to Benjamin Reynolds, 12 Damato Way, $690,000.
Doreen J. Merola to William D. Corbin and Susan L. Corbin, 170 Mallard Circle, $300,000.
Plata O Plomo Inc., to Michael Edward Trippodo, 44 Colonial Ave., $315,000.
Sani Realty LLC, to 444 Shoemaker MA LLC, 444 Shoemaker Lane, $1,450,000.
Tree House S LLC, to XPB LLC, Main Street, $145,000.
Amherst
Joseph Kennedy to APN Properties LLC, 95 East Pleasant St., and 95 E. Pleasant St., $100.
Alfred J. Albano Jr., commissioner, Elisabeth Howard and Catherine Nicholas to Historic Renovations & Rental Properties LTD., 68 McClellan St., $335,000.
Stanley L. Warner and Signia R. Warner to Philip B. Torrey and Nancy G. Torrey, 31 Middle St., $600,000.
Jeffrey P. Roth-Howe, trustee, and Jeffrey P. Roth-Howe Revocable Trust to Evan Paul Roth-Howe and Maria Alejandra Alcaraz Sainz, 74 Overlook Drive, $300,000.
Pelham Road Partners LLC, to Yeon Soon Kim, 370 Pelham Road, $415,000.
Belchertown
Fay M. Flanary to Daniel E. Chase and Tracy Marton, 27 Lloyd Ave., $349,000.
Vera M. Sherman, trustee, Vera M. Sherman Revocable Trust and John Sherman to Colin MacNeil, Ruth MacNeil and Ruth Stiles MacNeil, 161 Federal St., $400,000.
Joseph A.L. Marino and Laurie E. Lentz-Marino to Joshua J. Alway, 94 Canal Drive, $450,000.
Robert H. Adair to DPR Legacy Enterprises LLC, 15 Main St., $320,000.
Gwendolyn Daguiar to Gwendolyn R. Daguiar, trustee, Grimm Addams Supplemental Needs Trust and Grace Linda Ann Daguiar Supplemental Needs Trust, 340 Amherst Road, $100.
Brimfield
Scott C. Aikey and Debra A. Aikey to Ja Property Group LLC, 1494 Dunhamtown-Brimfield Road, $320,000.
Chicopee
Alan Wishart Jr., representative, and Alan P. Wishart, estate, to Anna Marquez and Dennis Sanders, 48 Cambridge St., $233,000.
Slosek Real Estate Holdings LLC, to Privilne Real Estate LLC, 799 Front St., $159,300.
Carlos Pacheco Rubert to Naisha Hernandez, 553 Chicopee St., $269,000.
Dean J. Delamarter and Shirley Ann Delamarter to Ahmed Aljanabi, 19 Dresser Ave., $185,000.
DGL Properties LLC, to Torrey Santini and Maegan Santini, 34 Bromont St., $430,000.
Janet D. Derderian to Angel Matos Rodriguez, 343 Chicopee St., Unit 12, $165,000.
John R. Winters, Kelly A. Saltmarsh and Kathleen C. Winters to Karen Lynn Leblanc and John Ferrell, 56 Fredette St., Unit I-9, $176,000.
Lisa M. Fournier to Chapeaurouge Investments LLC, 46 Harvard St., $300,000.
Michael J. Molinari, Anne K. Molinari, Paul V. Boutot and Donna M. Boutot to Donna M. Boutot and Paul V. Boutot, 33 Belcher St., $50,000.
Nolava LLC, to Nicholas D. Franck, 35 Moore St., $370,000.
Robert S. Talbot, representative, and Glen Blanchard, estate, to Arthur Benoit III, 110 Haven Ave., $245,000.
Colrain
Darlene M. King, trustee of the Walker Investment Trust, to Paul Gulla, 100 Main Road, “aka” Route 112, $30,000.
Cummington
Lyle Hazel and Lyle M. Hazel to Lyle Hazel, trustee, Janeen Romie, trustee, and Lyle Hazel Family Revocable Trust, 47 Main St., $100.
East Longmeadow
Lachenauer LLC, to Toni Brandofino, 382 Porter Road, $345,000.
Mark C. Czupryna and Denise D. Czupryna to Christian T. Dancy and Chelsea L. Dancy, 236 Parker St., $380,000.
Samantha F. Taha and Morgan L. Sibley to Richard W. Santasiere II, 30 Bayne St., $220,000.
William A. Brown and David P. Brown to Elizabeth Vilkhovoy and David Vilkhovoy, 61 Devonshire Terrace, $169,000.
Easthampton
Krupalu LLC, to Michelle A. Gould, 78 Pleasant St., $530,000.
Alexander W. Kwolek and Betty-Ann Kwolek to Lisa A. Darragh, 4 East Green St., $335,000.
Walter L. Hawrylow to Christopher L. Hawrylow, 4 Division Street W., $100.
Michaela A. Tally to Anne Canfield, 30 Pine St., $282,000.
Erich L. Janes, Marilyn G. Janes and Erika J. Saracino, attorney-in-fact, to Erich L. Janes, 4 Gross Lane, $100.
Erving
Lynda Richardson and Michael J. Richardson to Kenneth Allen Rounds, 5 North St., $247,000.
Granby
Linda A. Kapinos to Mack M. Son and Bopha T. Son, 140 Pleasant St., $350,000.
Greenfield
Carter J. Robertson and Justina Smith to Justina Smith, 167 Wells St., $45,000.
Matthew Buttolph Jackson, trustee of the Katherine Buttolph Revocable Trust, to Michael J. Marotto and Sarah Marotto, 100 Silver S., $385,000.
Damon Blake to Mark Wightman, 200 Wisdom Way, $170,000.
Charles Frieders, personal representative of the Estate of Ronald Bosch, “aka” Ronald V. Bosch, “aka” Ronald Vander Bosch, and Charles Frieders and Joyce Bosch Frieders, trustees of the Ronald V. Bosch Revocable Trust, to Spencer Telega, 41 Norwood St., $286,500.
Wicked Deals LLC, to Congamond Management LLC, 231 Hope St., Lot 2, $40,000.
Wicked Deals LLC, to Congamond Management LLC, 231 Hope St., Lot 1, $120,000.
Wicked Deals LLC, to Congamond Management LLC, 231 Hope St., Lot 3, $40,000.
Hampden
Bedrock Financial LLC, trustee, and Cumberland Blues Realty Trust, trustee of, to Leslie P. Addicks and Thomas P. Addicks, 149 Chapin Road, $743,000.
Hatfield
Susan E. Lynes, Susan E. Lynes, trustee, Susan E. Bartlett, trustee, and Susan E. Bartlett Lynes Trust to Maxwell C. Bartlett, 323 West St., $300,000.
Holyoke
Alfred Estabrook to Brittany Wajda and David Wajda, 24 Bayberry Drive, $325,000.
Alycar Investments LLC, to Jennit Rojas Diaz and Ronald L. Cruz Fuentes, 44-46 Gilman St., $361,000.
Brittany L. Petersen to Kenneth A. Lauzier, Kenneth Lauzier, Julia M. Lauzier and Julia Lauzier, 133 North Pleasant St., $420,000.
David F. Nitkiewicz and Hideliza Nitkiewicz to Luz Diaz-Feliciano, 1470 Northampton St., $335,000.
David Schirch, Kimberly Frisino, Nicole Frisino and Francis E. Frisino, estate, to Abimael Claudio, 538 Hampden St., $89,000.
Deepon Realty LLC, to April L. Rivera, 60 Beech St., $206,000.
Jeannette R. Rivard, Ruth Rivard and Jeannette R. Nadeau to Stephanie Szklarz and Angela Marie Figueroa, 37 Franks Drive, $240,000.
Limited Partnership Pearson-Valley Development Co., and Norman Fine to Remote Opportunities LLC, 4 North Bridge St., $1,280,400.
Northern Flooring & Remodeling LLC, to Adrian Cruz, 36-38 Gates St., $435,000.
Peloquin Real Estate One LLC, to TKJM LLC, 286-288 Pine St., $1,950,000.
Stephen C. Konstantinidis, Ellen L. Konstantinidis and Ellen L. Little to Mohammad A. Dib, 88 Lynch Drive, $280,000.
Peloquin Real Estate Two LLC, to PCJM LLC, 38 Clinton Ave., 56 Clinton Ave., 77-79 Elm St., 244 Walnut St., 223 Suffolk St., 101 Pine St., and 184-186 Lyman St., $1,850,000.
Huntington
Ramanjanappa Ravikumar and Subasri Dorairaj to Rt 20 LLC, Russell Road, $350,000.
Leverett
Barbara J. Raymond to Frederic P. Hartwell and Marie Hartwell-Walker, 295 Shutesbury Road, $118,000.
Longmeadow
Trevor H. Agnitti and Angelica Agnitti to Donald R. Muller and Kylie Elizabeth Muller, 192 Converse St., $372,000.
Ludlow
Angela S. Berkeley and Angela S. Nurek to Jessica Lynn Walsh, 31 Cady St., $289,000.
Joanne M. Bell, representative, Robert C. Blais, representative, Robert Armand Blais, estate, and Robert A. Blais, estate, to Richard Rustic, trustee, and Rustic Family Trust, trustee of, 200 Poole St., $250,000.
Jose T. Martins and Susan Dias Martins to Steven A. Crespo, Cislak Drive, Lot 38, $221,000.
Tracey A. Ware and Thomas Ware to David Nitkiewicz, 57 Grimard St., $285,000.
Montague
113 Avenue A LLC, to Avenue A Group LLC, 113-115 Avenue A, $600,000.
U.S. Bank NA, trustee of MEB Loan Trust IV, to Jason Michael Secord, 13 Franklin St., $70,000.
Ann Engley and April Engley to EDS Enterprises LLC, 7 Avenue C, $189,900.
AGT Homes LLC, to Diana L. Tobin and Robert J. Tobin, 257 Wendell Road, $540,000.
New Salem
Kathleen P. Starkey to Adam B. Brougham and Marcy A. Brougham, West Street, $80,000.
Northampton
Robert P. Abuza, trustee, Rebecca R. Abuza, trustee, Katharine J. Waggoner, trustee, and Mardi J. Abuza Living Trust to Robert P. Abuza, trustee, Rebecca R. Abuza, trustee, Katharine J. Waggoner, trustee, Mardi J. Abuza Family Trust and Mardi J. Abuza Marital Trust, 226 Chestnut St., $100.
Lisa Chodos to Lisa Chodos and Leigh Chodos, 63 Sheffield Lane, $100.
Hans D. Michaud to JJK Investments LLC, 16 Fairfield Ave., $500,000.
Theodore W. Schultz to Melissa Islam and Ashequl Islam, 80 Damon Road, $175,000.
John Nicolaou to Richard H. Watling, Riverbank Road, $75,000.
Edward R. Decker, Delores Belmore, personal representative, and Marylou Decker, estate, to Elaine N. Fitzgerald, 9 Cross Path Road, $320,000.
Linda B. Putnam to Amy B. Dickinson, 24 Perkins Ave., $325,000.
Joseph D. Squires and Michelle l. Squires to Shawn S. Ryder and Shannon M. Shaw, 294 Bridge St., $400,000.
Karen Spindel to Rachel M. Prehodka-Spindel and Spindel Family Revocable Trust, 61 South St., $100.
Alice L. Sadlowski and Alice L. Sias to Tracy J. Lisewski, trustee, and 14 Acrebrook Drive Real Estate Trust, 14 Acrebrook Drive, $100.
Rebecca H. Olander, Rebecca F. Hart and Jonathan T. Olander to Rebecca H. Olander, trustee, Jonathan T. Olander, trustee, and Rebecca H. Olander Trust, 96 Chestnut St., $100.
Silvia Araneda Burwell, trustee, and Silvia Araneda Burwell Revocable Trust to Silvia Araneda Burwell, 35 New South St., $100.
Silvia Araneda Burwell to Maria Teresa Hart, trustee, and Burwell Irrevocable Trust, 35 New South St., $100.
Lindsay Rockwell to Lindsay Rockwell and Ami Ladd, 107 Vernon St., $100.
Northfield
Erin Jaworski, Julian Jaworski and Jane H. Lyle-Jaworski, individually and as personal representative of the Estate of Walter C. Jaworski, to Charles E. Fisher, Lyman Road, $45,000.
MW&MW Realty LLC, to Raquel L. Chlosta and Joshua Willis, 21 Meadow St., $370,000.
Orange
Mary Chaplin to Schwowens Properties LLC, 82 Mechanic St., $120,000.
Donna E. Estabrooks, Loretta A. Estabrooks, Philip R. Estabrooks and Diane L. Tilden to James B. Berry and Laura J. Berry, 63 Main St., $901,000.
Palmer
Abaigeal M. Duda to B & B Realty Partners LLC, 3205 Main St., $305,000.
Bryan Damas and Barbara Damas to Coby Piardi and Natalie St. George, 249 Ware St., $330,000.
Clayton J. Lizak, trustee, and John W. Lizak Revocable Indenture of Trust of, trustee of, to Andrew Shevchenko and Nikole Shevchenko, Old Warren Road, Lot 27-8, $100,000.
Lorraine D. Spelko, representative, and Frank W. Spelko, estate, to Jennifer W. Putney and John F. Putney II, 27 Country Lane, $675,000.
Plainfield
Amanda Grosmann Rieder, trustee, Daniel Grossman, trustee, Iris Bikel, trustee, and Richard Grossman Irrevocable Trust to Kivah P. Singh and Joshua C. Nordin, Lower Liberty Street, $52,500.
Rowe
Brian C. McKay and David J. McKay to Sheri A. Kelly and Katie E. McKay, 50 Pond Road, $50,000.
Russell
Ramanjanappa Ravikumar and Subasri Dorairaj to Rt 20 LLC, 0 Huntington Road, $350,000.
Shelburne
Deborah K. McCutchen, personal representative of the Estate of Leighton Mills McCutchen,Jr., and as trustee of the Martha J. McCutchen Credit Shelter Testamentary Trust, and as trustee of the Martha J. McCutchen Martial Testamentary Trust, “aka” the Martha J. McCutchen Marital Testamentary Trust, to Michel A. Clapham and Grace Anne Kennerly, 12 Main St., $450,000.
Shutesbury
Edward M. Suter and Marialis J. Suter, individually and as trustees of the Suter Family Revocable Trust, to Allen H. Pease Jr., and Lesley Pease, 94 Pratt Corner Road, $487,500.
South Hadley
Marcus Grothues to Kayla Langevin, 2 Maple St., $269,000.
Amy Jamrog and Kimberly Cook to Thomas J. Desrochers, 22 Ridge Road, $345,000.
Skinner Woods LLC, to Robert Salem and Marlene Salem, 3 Skinnerwoods Way, $559,900.
Kevin Haczynski to Choquette Capital Properties LLC, 266 North Main St., $415,000.
Southampton
Philip Corbeil to Charlene M. Lustenberger Corbeil, 18 Noreen Drive, $300,000.
Southwick
Dawn A. Turgeon, representative, and William K. Sanders, estate, to Eduard Tsikhotskiy and Maryna Tsikhotskiy, 11 Crescent Circle, $371,000.
Kim A. Prevost, representative, Kim Ann Prevost, representative, Patricia A. Prevost, estate, and Patricia Ann Prevost, estate, to Natalie A. Gaudino, 11 Fernwood Road, $222,000.
Randy S. Rindels and Lori Jean Rindels to Kevin P. Mahoney and Kathleen M. Mahoney, 13 Lauren Lane, $750,000.
V F Realty Co. LLC, to FMM Southwick LLC, 561 College Highway, $900,000.
Springfield
374 Allen Street LLC, to Sole Room LLC, 374-380 Allen St., $260,000.
Athime Continual Wealth LLC, to Welhington S. Dasilva, 49 Prospect St., $365,000.
Awilda Vazquez to James Paul Martin Jr., and Michelle Ruth Derosa, 5 Lavender Lane, $290,000.
Campagnari Construction LLC, to Anthony George Wallace, 64 Burghardt St., $235,000.
Cheryl C. Clapprood to Michael Goncalves, 117 Nassau Drive, $196,000.
Christal J. Vaz and Rishawn Harris to Naomie C. Delva, 3 Hillside Place, $300,000.
Christopher Edmunds to Sean Roth and Katie Roth, 63 Welland Road, $346,000.
David Kachinski and William Raleigh to Alonzo Smith and Denise Lewis, 46-48 Mooreland St., $325,000.
Dylan J. Sheehan, Nora A. Sheehan and Nora A. Snyder to Cailyn Pereira, 150 Louis Road, $273,000.
U S A Housing & Urban Development to Jose Rivera-Portillo, 22-24 Terrence St., $250,000.
Home LLC, to Mass Rentals LLC, 466 Liberty St., $320,000.
James M. Montana, representative, William Gregory Montana, estate, and William G. Montana, estate, to Dominic Kirchner II, trustee, and Cioccolate Realty Trust, trustee of, 14 Dorchester St., $54,255.
Jeffrey G. Cabana to Angel Sunuwar and Sarita Bhattaral, 63 Rencelau St., $300,000.
John H. Meredith to Jose A. Cruz Rivera, 48 Eton St., $248,000.
John J. Damato to Johnny Franco Paredes, 18 Fairmont St., $430,000.
Juan C. Rodriguez and Sharon M. Rodriguez to Javier Pardave and Dayana Pardave, 193 Corona St., $300,000.
Kennedy Acquisitions LLC, to Wendy Gilman, 305 Denver St., $295,000.
KHL Group LLC, to Mheg Inc., 751-755 Liberty St., $180,000.
80 Congress Street Properties LLC, to Aldaine Murray, 39 Milton St., $300,000.
Luis Infante, Luis C. Infante Perez and Elizabeth Aguilera De Infante to Jose R. Brizuela and Jose Roberto Brizuela, 194-196 Massachusetts Ave., $335,000.
Luis Ventura to Angelina Marte Pena, 108 School St., $265,000.
Marcia L. Doyley and Edger Dunkelly to Flanders Homebuyers LLC, and Cream City Homebuyers LLC, 54 Princeton St., $95,000.
Michael J. Molinari and Paul V. Boutot to Phoenix St. LLC, 27 Phoenix St., $500,000.
Nelly Otero and Nelly Collazo to Hiram Maldonado Rolon and Emely F. Martinez Marrero, 19 Granville St., $250,000.
New Canaan Properties LLC, to Consultant LLC, Pioneer Valleys Event Catering and Donovan Allen, 442 Liberty St., $260,000.
Patricia Haynes Nnaji to Luis Eduardo Perez, 54 Dawes St., $200,000.
Patriot Living Properties LLC, to A Plus Enterprises Inc., 0 W S Chilson St., $40,000.
Richard L. Marino, Ronald J. Marino and Eileen Marino to James J. Jozokos Jr., and Mary Jane Flynn, 17-19 Alsace St., $335,000.
Robert J. Cotton and Sylvia Cotton to Dnepro Properties LLC, 95 Windemere St., $240,000.
Ronnie T. Salas to Jorge Rosa, 515 Berkshire Ave., $405,000.
Rose D. Roman and Noel Vazquez Martinez to Rose Mirleine Janvier, 47 Laurel St., $289,900.
Round Two LLC, to Hector Suarez, 85 Farnsworth St., $243,000.
Sharon R. Raverta, representative, and Roy Fanti, estate, to Cil Realty of Massachusetts Inc., 171 Atwater Road, $475,000.
Springfield Gardens 69 LP, and Schweb Partners – Springfield LLC, to Lachenauer LLC, 0 WS Fort Pleasant Ave., $200,000.
Steven E. Zeimbekakis and George Zeimbekakis to Susan Agostine, 775 White St., $310,000.
Suzanne Duguay to Philip J. Beaulieu, 286 Nassau Drive, Unit 286B, $187,900.
Ware
Ryan E. Mulligan, personal representative, and Jeanne C. Mulligan, estate, to Megan Charter, 210 Belchertown Road, $252,500.
West Springfield
Bent Tree Development LLC, to Peter J. Godbout, 21-23 Piper Road, $449,900.
Kerry L. Lafromboise to Congamond Management LLC, 29-31 Worthen St., $200,000.
Lok B. Bhattarai to Kiritkumar I. Patel and Sobhna Patel, 13 Alderbrook Lane, $352,000.
Pavel Duducal and Tatyana Duducal to Tila Gurung and Sujit Gurung, 38 Humphrey Lane, $396,000.
Samuel P. Orlando and Suzanne U. Orlando to Matthew J. Sady and Amy E. Sady, 115 Peachstone Glen, $660,000.
Westfield
Aero Fastener Realty LLC, to Conrad Z. Mayeski and Patricia L. Mayeski, 95-97 Highland Ave., $425,000.
Centura Bay LLC, to Shakira B. Valentin, 24 Hampden St, $220,000.
Conrad Z Mayeski and Patricia L Mayeski to Joshua D. Olin and Noel Olin, 82 Sackett Road, $396,500.
Daniel C. Alvord to Bradley R. Alvord and Shannon M. Boyden, 277 Hillside Road, $250,000.
Katie Schott, Katie L. Laplante, Edward Laplante, representative, and David E. Laplante, estate, to Andrew Schultz, 23 Walker Ave., $327,500.
Malia Homebuyers LLC, to Ashlyn Whitney Pentowski and Sarah M. Pentowski, 127 Northridge Road, $350,000.
Nathaniel Arkoette and Candace A. Francis to Candace A. Francis, 92 Crane Ave., $46,500.
Patricia Z. Johnson, Susan M. Zarichak and Carol Z. Glynn to Juan Rodriguez Reyes, 131 Westwood Drive, $330,000.
Stacey Albert Sorawat and Shaneekwa Shaunte Perkins to Mohamed Sadique Abdul Cader and Fathima Nusrath Sadique, 405 Montgomery Road, $460,000.
Westhampton
Robert J. Tobin and Diana L. Tobin to Miguel Estrada-Zavala and Brandon Miguel Estrada Rodriguez, 160 Laurel Hill Road, $589,000.
Whately
Nicole L. Pietraszkiewicz to David F. Harrington, Kathleen P. Harrington and Susan M. Lewis, 62 Long Plain Road, $605,000.
Brenden J. Monahan to Nicole L. Pietraszkiewicz, 282 Haydenville Road, $529,000.
Wilbraham
Gwen Christine Smith to Katherine Siegel and Justin McKenna, 155 Stony Hill Road, $349,900.
Matthew P. Metzler to Rattlesnake Holdings LLC, 92 Burleigh Road, $156,000.
Phyllis M. Emet to Tyler Emet, Gabriela Fonseca Marafuga and Eric Emet, 8 Mark Road, $275,000.
Robin Farrington Cook and David W. Cook to Elizabeth Af Simons and Jacob Michael Simons, 4 Ripley St., $410,000.
Williamsburg
Elizabeth M. Hartman to Paola V. Sherman, 33 Petticoat Hill Road, $237,000.
Worthington
Leann M. Mason to Lydia Irene Bussiere, Sherri Schon, Robert Thomas Scott, Iris Scott and Elizabeth McCormick, 584 Kinnebrook Road, $539,000.
Massachusetts
Randolph woman wins $1M lottery prize, plans to use winnings for home improvements
RANDOLPH, Mass. (WWLP) – A Randolph resident has won a $1 million prize through the final drawing of the Massachusetts State Lottery “$4,000,000 Monopoly Doubler” instant ticket game.
Brenda Mellor of Randolph claimed the game’s tenth and final $1 million prize.
She selected the cash option and received a one-time payment of $650,000 before taxes. Mellor said she plans to use the winnings to pay for home improvements, including renovations to her roof and pool.
The winning ticket was purchased at The Variety Store at 2 Mazzeo Drive in Randolph. The retailer will receive a $10,000 bonus for selling the ticket.
Local News Headlines
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Download the 22News Plus app on your TV to watch live-streaming newscasts and video on demand.
Massachusetts
Mass. is getting more granny flats. But it’s still hard to build them. – The Boston Globe
Massachusetts took a big step in 2024 when the Legislature legalized so-called “accessory dwelling units” statewide as part of an effort to rein in the state’s housing crisis. More than a year later, it’s clear that the law is working — but that it also needs tweaks before accessory units can meet their full potential.
These small units, nicknamed “granny flats,” can be constructed in someone’s backyard, or they can simply be renovated third floors, garages, or basements. They’re a popular option for seniors seeking to downsize and families looking for some rental income.
Prior to the state law, some communities allowed accessory units, but many did not. Even among those cities and towns that did tolerate accessory dwelling units, zoning often varied from one municipality to the next, making it difficult for builders who needed to decode each municipality’s rules. Some towns also included unreasonable restrictions, like requiring that only a homeowner’s family members could live in the accessory units.
Housing advocates viewed allowing accessory dwelling units statewide as a “low-hanging fruit” policy — a way to add housing that was relatively cheap and avoided some of the cost and political obstacles that housing measures often encounter. The state legislation also overrode some zoning restrictions, including those that limited accessory units to family, while leaving some other local rules intact.
One year after the law went into effect, this approach has proved fruitful: Towns across the state have approved 1,200 ADU permits and seen even more applications, in some cases up to a threefold increase from previous years.
A study published last week by Boston Indicators (the research branch of the Boston Foundation) and Abundant Housing Massachusetts found that forcing the hand of municipalities on accessory dwelling units accomplished more in one year than 50 years of zoning reform efforts at the local level.
The problem, though, is that municipalities retained too much power. As the study recommends, there should be clear, uniform state regulatory standards for ADUs, with minimal opportunities for municipal-level variation.
“A comprehensive agenda is needed to address regulatory barriers to housing production, spanning building, fire, energy, septic system, wetlands, and stormwater rules,” the study’s authors wrote. “The barriers include the fragmented complexity of the regulatory system itself.”
Making standards more uniform doesn’t have to mean lowering them — it just means moving away from patchwork rules that make it harder for companies to build accessory units at scale.
Chris Lee at Backyard ADUs, a company that designs and builds modular dwelling units in New England, says the report’s findings make sense. The inconsistent interpretations across 350 towns and cities cause builders and engineers to “struggle to design work for the town that will be accepted,” he said. (The state’s 351st municipality, Boston, isn’t covered by the law.)
The potential is significant. The report calculates that if just 2 percent of single-family homes in Massachusetts added an accessory unit, the state would see more than 30,000 new homes that advocates say are generally more affordable. Building an accessory dwelling unit inside a pre-existing house can cost between $75,000 and $100,000; and a detached unit usually runs between $250,000 to $350,000, making them much more affordable than purchasing a single-family home in most regions of the country.
“For developers of missing middle housing to benefit from an economy of scale, they have to undertake many projects, across jurisdictional lines,” according to the study. “The ADU case study has shown just how challenging this is.”
Lee estimated that he could reduce up to $30,000 of preconstruction costs such as surveying and architecture if his company could work with consistent regulations across towns, which he said could enable them to double their production.
Streamlining permitting for accessory dwelling units isn’t a panacea. Landlords still must be willing to actually build them and rent them to long-term residents. Retirees must believe it’s worth downsizing to one. But the fact that so many have been permitted over the last year point to the clear demand and makes the case for policy makers to keep refining the law.
There is precedent. California, for example, had an equally ambitious goal but has blown past it, going from only 1,300 permits approved its first year to more than 30,000 nine years later. “It is important to understand that California did not accomplish its ADU outcomes with one legislative reform,” the study’s authors wrote. “California’s success required sustained legislative attention.”
Massachusetts should be able to realize those kinds of results too. Conversely, if even the “low-hanging fruit” of zoning reform falters in the Commonwealth because of local red tape, then the state has bigger problems ahead to solve its housing crisis.
Editorials represent the views of the Boston Globe Editorial Board. Follow us @GlobeOpinion.
Massachusetts
Meteor over Massachusetts causes explosion reports, sightings from Delaware to Montreal
Reports of an explosion from people across New England Saturday afternoon sent police agencies and others scrambling to understand what caused a double boom that shook buildings in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
The American Meteor Society said that the booms heard about 2:30 p.m. were actually caused by a meteor about 3 feet (nearly 1 meter) wide entering the atmosphere around the New Hampshire border with Massachusetts, north of Boston.
Fire program monitor Robert Lunsford said the society received dozens of reports from Delaware to Montreal with people either hearing the double boom, feeling the ground shake or seeing the fireball — which he said looked like a shooting star in the daytime sky.
“It was definitely bigger than a normal fireball, about a yard wide,” he said.
But Lunsford said it’s unlikely the meteor struck the ground.
“We would need more information about the trajectory the speed and other aspects to know for sure if it hit the ground, but if it didn’t burn up, then it would have landed in the ocean,” he said. “Most of them do burn up before they hit the ground.”
People in a handful of states posted on social media about feeling the buildings they were in shaking. Several videos on the X platform captured what sounded like two quick booms, with no fire, smoke or other visual causes.
Several people filed reports with the U.S. Geological Survey, registering the shaking they felt with the National Earthquake Information Center, agency spokesman Steve Sobie confirmed.
The agency opened an event page, based on the number of “Did you feel it?” reports it received on its website. But Sobie said there was no event registered on the agency’s seismographs. meaning the shaking was not due to an earthquake.
-
Florida4 minutes agoWhat Wins the Game For Ole Miss vs. Florida
-
Georgia11 minutes agoGeorgia football picks up two commitments for 2027 recruiting class
-
Hawaii14 minutes agoMan charged with murder in killings of 3 on Hawaii’s Big Island | CNN
-
Idaho14 minutes agoIdaho transportation leaders spotlight motorcycle deaths
-
Illinois26 minutes agoPlainfield, Illinois, ice cream shop launches
-
Indiana29 minutes agoIndiana EMT charged with sexually assaulting 14-year-old in the back of an ambulance during transport
-
Iowa34 minutes agoIowa Football Looking to Cash in on Highly Touted Four-Star Offensive Lineman
-
Kansas41 minutes agoLeawood’s Parkinson’s Exercise and Wellness Center expands services as diagnoses climb