by iwd Tina | Jan 6, 2021 | Housing News
In the early hours of January 6, the Legislature sent its final Economic Development bill (H.5250) to the Governor. The bill includes many transformative housing policies that CHAPA and our membership have advocated for, including Housing Choice, zoning for multi-family housing in MBTA communities, and other provisions that will allow more Massachusetts residents to find and stay in affordable homes in communities of their choose.
A shortage of affordable homes, decades of restrictive zoning, and a history of gentrification and redlining continue to perpetuate segregation in our state. The housing provisions in the Economic Development bill are much-needed tools for systemic change towards more equitable housing policy. With these tools, communities will be able to create more homes for people who need them while preventing displacement and promoting fair housing for all.
CHAPA thanks House Speaker Mariano, Senate President Spilka, Representative Michlewitz, Senator Lessor, other members of the Economic Development Bill conference committee, Housing Committee Chairs Representative Honan and Senator Crighton, and the Legislature for supporting these critical reforms.
The Governor now has ten days to sign or veto the bill. We are urging Governor Baker to quickly sign the bill to make these policies, tools, and resources available for our communities to help create more housing and recover from the pandemic.
Visit our Action Alert page to learn how you can contact the Governor to ask that he sign the bill.
The following is a summary of the housing-related items in the Economic Development Bill. This link provides a slide-deck with an overview of the housing-related provisions.
Housing Choice
Implements zoning reform to help cities and towns approve smart growth zoning and affordable housing by lowering the required vote threshold for a range of housing-related zoning changes and special permits at the local level from a two-thirds supermajority to a simple majority.
Multifamily Zoning in MBTA Communities
Requires designated MBTA communities to be zoned for at least one district of reasonable size in which multi-family housing is permitted as-of-right.
Abutter Appeals
Allows judges to require non-municipal parties who appeal special permits, site plan review, and variances to post a bond up to $50,000 to secure statutory costs. This provides judges with discretion to consider the merits of the appeal and the relative financial ability of the parties. This will discourage frivolous lawsuit brought only to slow or stop new housing development.
Local Housing Authority Board Member Elections
Creates a process for residents of local housing authorities to be appointed to the boards of their housing authority.
State Low-income Housing Tax Credit
Increases the annual state low-income housing tax credit program cap from $20,000,000 to $40,000,000.
Eviction Record Sealing
Seals all no-fault eviction records. Also prohibits minors from being named in a summary process summons and requires expungement of the names of any minors from any court record or electronic docket.
Transit-Oriented Housing Developments
Authorizes $50,000,000 in capital grants and loans for transit-oriented housing and the production of high-density mixed-income affordable housing near transit.
Climate-Resilient Affordable Housing Developments
Authorizes $10,000,000 for sustainable and climate-resilient construction in affordable, multifamily housing developments to better respond to climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Neighborhood Stabilization
Authorizes $50,000,000 for neighborhood stabilization to help return blighted or vacant housing back to productive use.
Tenant’s Right to Purchase
Creates a local option establishing a tenant’s right of first refusal and outlines a process by which tenants occupying a residential property may purchase said property prior to its sale or foreclosure.
Gateway Cities Housing Program
Authorizes $5,000,000 for a Gateway City housing pilot program to support the construction of shovel-ready market-rate housing opportunities.
HDIP Programmatic changes
Requires at least 10% of units built with the Housing Development Incentive Program (HDIP) to be affordable for people whose income is not more than 60% of the area median income (AMI) or owner-occupied units for those whose income is not more than 80% AMI. Also amends the HDIP program to increase transparency and equity.
40R Smart Growth
Permits the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to establish smart growth design standards, clarifies that mixed use development is allowed, places limitations on density bonus payments for housing in districts limited to age-restricted, disabled, or assisted living populations, and enhances DHCD’s ability to claw back incentive payments if a community repeals 40R zoning.
by iwd Tina | Jan 5, 2021 | Housing News
In November 2020, the Baker-Polito Administration, MassHousing, Citizens’ Housing & Planning Association (CHAPA), and the Massachusetts Association of Community Development Organizations (MACDC) announced a five-point Eviction Diversion Pledge, a commitment from Massachusetts property owners and operators to working with tenants facing financial difficulties because of the pandemic and supporting housing stability during the ongoing fight against the spread of COVID-19. The original press release is available with more details.
As of March 22nd, 2021, 73 property owners have committed to the Pledge, representing 141,792 homes across the Commonwealth.
If you own rental housing, please join these affordable housing owners and developers in signing this pledge to work with tenants who have fallen behind on rent:
Asian Community Development Corporation
Beacon Communities
Berkshire Housing Development Corporation
Birchwood Sustainable Development
B’nai B’rith Housing
Capstone Communities
Caritas Communities
Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation
Community Development Partnership
Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation
EA Fish Development LLC
Fenway Community Development Corporation
FHRC Management Corporation
First Realty Management
Gilman Square Associates
Harborlight Community Partners
Hebrew SeniorLife
Hilltown Community Development Corporation
Home City Development, Inc.
Homeowners Rehab, Inc.
Housing Families, Inc.
Housing Nantucket
Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción (IBA)
J&G Realty
Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation
Just-A-Start Corporation
Lawrence Community Works
Lena Park Community Development Corporation
Madison Park Development Corporation
Main South Community Development Corporation
Maloney Properties
MassNAHRO
Metro West Collaborative Development
Mission Hill Neighborhood Housing Services
NeighborWorks Housing Solutions
New Vue Communities
Neighborhood of Affordable Housing (NOAH)
North Shore Community Development Corporation
One Holyoke Community Development Corporation
Peabody Properties
Pennrose LLC
Planning Office for Urban Affairs
Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH)
Somerville Community Corporation
Somerville YMCA
Southwest Boston Community Development Corporation
Spring Meadhow Association of Responsible Tenants, Inc.
Standard Communities
The Community Builders
The Neighborhood Developers
The NHP Foundation
Trinity Financial
Urban Edge
Victory Programs, Inc.
WATCH CDC
Way Finders
Winn Companies
Worcester Common Ground
by iwd Tina | Jan 4, 2021 | Housing News
On behalf of Jennifer Gilbert and the trustees and partners, the Kuehn Foundation is pleased to announce that the foundation will recruit another cohort of Fellows for its two-year practice-based, paid fellowship. The Kuehn Fellowship is open to recent masters or professional level graduates for whom it provides a distinctive entre into the world of affordable housing and community development.
Six fellows will be selected in a competitive process for a July 2021 start date at a Greater Boston-based housing nonprofit. Fellows receive further support and career development opportunities through the Fellow cohort, an individual mentor, and monthly Fellow gatherings.
The process for applications for Kuehn Fellows is now open with applications due by February 12, 2021. Please note key dates in the FAQ as well as answers to the most common questions. An informational webinar (not mandatory) is scheduled for January 20th at 9:30 AM via Zoom. The FAQ has login information. In particular, any selected Kuehn Fellow will need to be available for the Matching Event with dates TBD in April.
You can download the 2021 application or visit the Kuehn Foundation’s website. Please submit it with all materials as a PDF.
You can learn more about the position at each host organization through the 2021 Host Summaries.
by iwd Tina | Dec 31, 2020 | Housing News
There are only a few days left for the Legislature to pass the Economic Development Bill with zoning reforms that will help create more homes in Massachusetts!
Please call or email your State Representative and Senator TODAY to ask them to speak with House Speaker Mariano and Senate President Spilka about including zoning reform in the Economic Development Bill!
You can use the following script in your message to your legislators:
As your constituent, I ask that you please speak with House Speaker Mariano and Senate President Spilka about including zoning reform in the final Economic Development Bill. These zoning reforms, which should at least include Housing Choice passed by both the House and Senate, will make it easier to create homes that are affordable in our community. We need to pass these reforms now to help everyone have a safe, healthy, and affordable home!
As always, thank you for your advocacy! More information on the Economic Development Bill is included below.
The Massachusetts House and Senate are currently negotiating a final Economic Development Bill. The Legislature must agree to a final bill and send it to the Governor before the next legislative session begins on January 6, 2021.
In July, the House and Senate both passed Economic Development Bills with many important zoning reforms and housing-related sections. By including these sections, the Legislature made clear that housing is critical to our economic development and recovery. These reforms will also begin to undo exclusionary zoning and help ensure that everyone has the opportunity to live in the community of their choice.
The House and Senate both included Housing Choice provisions in their Economic Development Bills. The Senate also included additional provisions that would require multifamily zoning in communities served by the MBTA, abutter appeals reforms, and state-wide affordable housing production goals.
The final Economic Development Bill should at least include the Housing Choice provisions passed by both the House and Senate. Enacting Housing Choice now would be a meaningful step towards meeting the Commonwealth’s housing needs. This would also allow us to work next session on additional needed zoning reforms that will help ensure that Massachusetts has homes affordable to all, regardless of income!
Thank you again and Happy New Year!
