2026 Spring Preview: Brian Geaudreau, Hancock Associates

What trends or market activity are you seeing as we move into the spring season? Despite the relatively mild start to winter, the recent volume of snow has hampered the construction industry and made days challenging for our surveyors and wetland scientists in the field. The weather appears to have turned a corner however, and construction projects are getting back on track. Generally this time of year, we’re very active providing municipal permitting support for various projects throughout Mass. and southern N.H., and this season has been no different. We’re seeing a variety of new housing projects being proposed, both market rate and affordable.

What projects, initiatives, or types of work are currently keeping your team busiest? The MBTA Communities Act has generated significant interest in several towns. Lexington and Westford stand out with the highest proposed unit counts among our recent projects. This interest is largely driven by the well-crafted bylaws these communities have enacted, which provide clear developmental goals. Our recent projects have moved smoothly through design review and permitting — a testament to the strong partnerships these towns have fostered in the spirit of the Act. We anticipate continued interest in these areas and others as we enter the 2026 permitting cycle.