Boston is kind of a funny case because Boston itself is decently good about letting development happen so long as said development isn't politically incorrect (

Boston is kind of a funny case because Boston itself is decently good about letting development happen so long as said development isn't politically incorrect (relative to local politics/beliefs) or can't be construed by the pearl clutchers as being unsafe, bad for the children or bad for some protected class. Yes I know you can drive a container ship through those exceptions but it's pretty darn pro-building as far as Eastern MA goes. By contrast everywhere around Boston is zoned and run like SF. This has the side effect of creating rising real estate prices, rent, etc. in Boston proper even though Boston is mostly sort of doing things right (with regard to zoning) because land is limited and Boston may as well be an island because it's the only place development can happen.