While Boston has high expectations for affordable housing, one commentator believes it is not feasible for Mayor Tom Menino to create 30,000 units of affordable housing by 2020. But if the city wants to come closer to attaining that goal, Boston needs to build higher and denser property types. Per The Boston Globe:

Over the years, Boston has focused intensely on increasing its stock of subsidized units, and has created them in part by requiring their inclusion in developments full of luxury units. But Bostonians who earn too much for subsidized units but too little for plush downtown lofts have had few options. To produce the needed housing stock, Menino is proposing to allow taller structures with smaller units.