WBZ-Channel 4’s Jon Keller hosted a debate over the weekend between Andrew Mikula, a backer of Question 7,  and Adam Chapdelaine, head of the Mass. Municipal Association and an opponent of the referendum question that would allow single-family homes to be built on smaller lots in Massachusetts. It was an interesting debate. Definitely check it out. As for myself, I support the measure. As intended, it will likely lead to the building of slightly less expensive homes, largely by cutting down on land costs. But I don’t believe, as its supporters claim, that it will necessarily lead to a flood of new “starter homes” being built in Massachusetts. The photo above of recently built houses in Hudson, my hometown, show what will probably happen if the ballot question passes: large homes, small lots. The photo below is from the same new subdivision. Once again: large homes, small lots.* …

One day, Question 7, if it gets the nod, will probably produce true starter homes of the Cape and Ranch varieties. But right now the market is still calling for McMansion-like homes. OK, maybe something slightly short of McMansions. But definitely not starter homes, as you can see above and below.

* I’m not sure how big the houses are in the photos, nor the exact lot sizes. But as you can see, the abodes are definitely large and the lots relatively small. I’ll get more details later.