New bill would guarantee affordable housing in Boston

BOSTON — The sound of construction is constant in Boston.

The city is seeing record-level growth, but Mayor Marty Walsh told housing advocates not everyone is reaping the benefits. On Thursday, the city filed a bill that would allow them more control over development.

Walsh signed and filed what's called a home rule petition, which asks the legislature to allow the city to adjust their linkage fees on their own without having to go to the state for approval. Linkage refers to the amount per square foot a developer would pay the city in exchange for relief from the zoning board.

"Seeing as we don't get enough money from the federal government per se, seeing as we don't get money from the state or other opportunities. So we'll use this to raise our own money to benefit our own development in the city of Boston and put it back into housing," said Walsh.

Right now, new 100,000-square-foot-plus commercial developments that need zoning relief require feeds of $9.03 per square foot.

If passed, it would be the first time in history the city would have the power to adjust its linkage formula for developments annually, instead of once every three years without being tied to state standards.

Some housing advocates recommend the fee go up as high as $24 per square foot.

"This bill says Boston can do it on our own. We can do it in our house. We can do it with our own zoning commission and set reasonable rates that allow us to grow in the amount that we get from commercial development," said Boston City Council housing chair Lydia Edwards.

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The state of Massachusetts is in a housing crisis with sky-high rents. Currently, one in five new units built in the city are designated "affordable." The petition would also make the city's Inclusionary Development Policy (IDP) a permanent part of the city zoning code.

IDP sets requirements for affordable housing production and the petition allows a permanent guarantee more is built if needed.

Edwards says this move by the city could serve as a model for other communities across the Commonwealth.

"As we're growing as a Commonwealth, as we're growing, as we're seeing more developers, a lot of entities making more money in our neighborhoods. We want to also make sure that they're contributing proportionately back to jobs, back to housing," she said.

The bill is now on the way to the legislature for approval.

Related: New complex in Eastham highlights affordable housing problem on Cape Cod

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