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BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Like the rest of the country, Massachusetts has a housing crisis.
And like the rest of the country, housing experts in the state are encouraging the conversion of vacant strip malls into affordable housing.
The Metropolitan Area Planning Council is the regional planning agency serving people who live and work in the 101 cities and towns of Metropolitan Boston.
Its recent study recognizes there is no 'silver bullet' to solving the crisis.
But the study says vacant strip malls are underutilized and an opportunity for redevelopment.
In Greater Boston alone, there are more than 3,000 strip malls that could help ease the state's housing crisis.
The council hopes to convince local towns and cities to consider vacant malls as possible sites for affordable housing. In fact, there are estimates Massachusetts will need 140,000 new multi-family housing units by 2030.
Woburn redeveloped Woburn Plaza into Woburn Village which has apartment units, 25% of which are affordable housing.
But officials say much more needs to be done across the state.
WBZ's Jim MacKay (@WBZJimMackayOnAir) reports.
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