Fiscal 2023 DIF Account

Worcester Affordable Housing

 Here are the facts from Telegram April 25th, 2022:


Worcester’s affordable housing report card exceeds the minimum mark established by the state. 

Of the city’s total housing supply, 13.5% is classified as affordable, according to Dunn. 

That exceeds the 10% threshold required in all Massachusetts communities.


We are 35% over the Commonwealth requirement.  Now this from MassLive:


Worcester City Council will be learning more about inclusionary zoning, which requires developers to include a certain amount of affordable housing in their housing development projects, at its meeting Tuesday.

In a report prepared by Chief Development Officer Peter Dunn, he suggested an inclusionary zoning ordinance for Worcester that would apply to all new multifamily developments with 12 or more units


Should we not be encouraging developers???   Very interesting read  

Home builders group sues to stop Pittsburgh's new inclusionary zoning law

 





Comments

Anonymous said…
Just curious, what is considered to be “affordable” in Worcester for housing? I could only imagine that in Worcester it’s at least $1,000 and most likely higher for a studio.
Anonymous said…
The City Council should carefully consider the proposal and invite the new developers that have been coming into the City to develop housing and get there perspective as well. If I remember correctly, the developer of the Table Talk property is starting with a affordable housing portion followed by market rate housing. The Cove developers are constructing market housing. The City needs to understand each developers approach and balance that with the obvious need for affordable housing in the City before enacting any zoning changes.
Anonymous said…
The new city council will 100% pass this do nothing ordinance that will actually discourage affordable housing from being built.

But it will be awesome for virtue signaling!

Seriously. If the council,wants affordable housing built, subsidize it, don’t try to penalize developers into doing it. If you want more of something, fund it. If you want less, tax it and over regulate it.
Common Sense said…
They could have built a lot of affordable housing units for the $175 million they spent on the ballpark. In fact, if you had built them on the ballpark site that would have probably had a greater economic impact on the Canal District than a season stadium.
Common Sense said…
A one bedroom condo in a nice area of Boston (Back Bay, Seaport) is going for around $1 million. Saw a one bedroom condo in the Canal District listed at $269,000. I call that affordable.
Anonymous said…
The issue is not an either or (either market or affordable) proposal and should be discussed accordingly. Unless their is some law (or local ordinance) requiring the construction of affordable housing, a developer has property rights and should be allowed to construct market rate housing on property they own. A vibrant City can not survive exclusively with market rate housing so there needs to be a balance, and need be incentives, to develop affordable housing. Hopefully the City will properly debate the proposal.