Special to the Patriot-Bridge
The Massachusetts Legislature has passed the Affordable Homes Act, the largest housing investment in Massachusetts history and a powerful first step in tackling the state’s housing affordability crisis. On August 6th, Governor Healey signed this historic bill into law.
on the floor while the housing
bond bill was being debated in the
Senate.
The legislation authorizes $5.16 billion in bond authorizations and tax credits to spur housing production in Massachusetts, while implementing sweeping policy initiatives to facilitate the development of affordable housing and preserve public housing in Massachusetts.
“I am excited to see this transformative investment addressing the housing crisis pass through the legislature and signed into law,” said Senator DiDomenico, Assistant Majority Leader of the Massachusetts Senate. “This bill will repair and create housing, help countless individuals find the home they need, and ensure people can continue to live in the community they have lived in their entire lives. I want to thank Governor Healey, Senate President Spilka, Senator Rodrigues, and Senator Edwards for bringing this ambitious plan to life and shepherding it through the legislative process.”
To help municipalities convert commercial properties into multi-unit residential or mixed-use properties, the bill makes project sponsors eligible for a tax credit of up to 10 percent of the development costs upon completion of a project.
The bill includes a new tax credit to incentivize production of homeownership units targeting households with incomes of up to 120 per cent of the area median income (AMI). It also makes permanent the Community Investment Tax Credit (CITC) while expanding the statewide cap on donations from $12 million to $15 million. Further, it extends the sunset of the Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit through December 31, 2030, while increasing the total available amount from $55 million to $110 million.
Among the many policy initiatives included in the bill to create more housing is a provision to permit one accessory dwelling unit (ADU) equal to or less than 900 square feet to be built by-right on a property in single-family zoning districts in all Massachusetts communities. The bill further provides consumer protections to help prevent homeowners from being pressured into waiving a home inspection, protects tenants who have a years-old eviction record from having that record held against them when securing new housing, gives seasonal communities new tools to tackle their unique housing challenges, and protects renters from having their unit redeveloped into a condominium.
Bond authorizations include:
Public housing
• $2 billion to support the repair, rehabilitation, and modernization of over 43,000 public housing units across Massachusetts, with 25 per cent of the funds dedicated to preserve housing for those with incomes below 30 percent AMI.
• $150 million to decarbonize the public housing stock and $15 million for accessibility upgrades.
• $200 million to support Local Housing Authorities (LHAs) who partner with developers to add mixed-income developments on LHA land, leveraging funds to maintain and preserve public housing while increasing the overall housing supply.
Housing vulnerable populations
• $200 million to support innovative and alternative forms of rental housing, including single person occupancy (SPO) units, transitional and permanent housing for people experiencing homelessness, housing for seniors and veterans, and transitional units for persons recovering from substance use disorder. 25 per cent of funds must be used to fund projects which preserve housing for those with incomes below 30 per cent AMI.
• $70 million to support the development of appropriate community-based housing for Department of Mental Health (DMH) and Department of Developmental Services (DDS) clients
• $60 million to modify homes of individuals or families with disabilities or seniors so that they may maintain residency or return home from institutional settings.
• $55 million to support appropriate housing for people with disabilities who are not DMH or DDS clients.
Housing development
• $800 million for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund which provides resources to create or preserve affordable housing for households earning less than 100 per cent of AMI.
• $200 million to accelerate the development of mixed-income multifamily housing.
• $100 million for the Middle Income Housing Fund which funds housing development for households earning less than 120 per cent of AMI.
• $100 million for the Commonwealth Builder program for the construction of affordable single-family homes for households earning between 70 and 120 per cent of AMI, primarily in Gateway Cities.
HousingWorks
• $425 million to support preservation, new construction, and rehabilitation projects through the Housing Stabilization Fund and the Community Investment and Preservation Fund.
• $275 million to consolidate the existing Transit Oriented Housing Program and the Climate Resilient Housing Program and create a new, innovative program to accelerate and unlock new housing. 25 per cent of the funds must be used to fund projects which preserve housing for those with incomes below 60 per cent of AMI.
• $175 million for municipal infrastructure projects to encourage denser housing development.
• $50 million to provide payments to municipalities that receive a Housing Choice designation through high housing production and/or demonstration of best practices, including a grant program to assist MBTA Communities in complying with the multi-family zoning requirement in the MBTA Communities Law.
• $50 million for grants to municipalities for planning and zoning initiatives that support housing production, workforce training and economic opportunities, childcare and early education initiatives and climate resiliency initiatives.
• $20 million to provide incentive payments to municipalities who adopt smart growth housing districts.
Art in the Park 2024
Special to the Patriot-Bridge
The annual Art in the Park event is set for Saturday, September 7, with a rain date of September 8. The event is free and open to the public, and will be at City Square Park starting at 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.
Art in the Park is a popular annual art event in Charlestown’s beautiful and historic City Square Park on the Freedom Trail. Local artists and artisans display and sell their artwork and fine crafts in 30+ booths and tents. This juried art event’s vendors will include traditional 2D fine arts such as painting, drawing, photography, collage, and printmaking as well as high-quality handmade crafts such as ceramics and dinnerware, glassware, fiber arts, handcrafted bags, and jewelry. While the event is free to attend and open to the public, all art is available for purchase from each local artist.
A Raffle Table provides a chance for guests to win small, donated works of art for the price of a low-cost raffle ticket.
Art in the Park has run for over two decades as a way to bring visual art out into the community of Charlestown for all to enjoy. It is sponsored by local businesses and corporations and the Artists’ Group of Charlestown.
The AGC wishes to thank their Sponsors whose banners will decorate City Square Park in 2024!
Cenotech Solutions
DiPierro Construction
Hood Park
RSM Boston Foundation
The Artists’ Group of Charlestown (AGC), a non-profit organization, was founded in 1996. With grants, generous donors, and dedicated member volunteers, the AGC exists to fulfill its mission: to showcase artists’ works and to promote high-quality cultural programming for the local community. The StoveFactory Gallery and Studios are the home of the Artists’ Group of Charlestown, where almost all of their programming is held.