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Experts and advocates back study to legalize mid‑rise single‑stair buildings in Massachusetts
Summary
Witnesses from Boston Indicators, Pew, local developers and public safety groups told the Joint Committee on Housing that a legislative study commission should evaluate allowing 4–6 story single‑stair residential buildings, citing potential cost savings and comparable safety records in other jurisdictions.
A coalition of policy researchers, architects, developers and public safety experts urged the Joint Committee on Housing to establish a study commission to evaluate legalizing mid‑rise single‑stair residential buildings (bills, including H1542/S964).
Key testimony and takeaways: Luke Schuster, executive director of Boston Indicators, said layering of outdated building code requirements — notably the two‑stair rule for most buildings over three stories — increases cost and limits the types of housing…
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