Big developers in Boston pay up

Linkage fees are used to fund affordable housing, and the city of Boston plans to pass legislation that increases linkage fees by 42%. According to this article in the Boston Globe, “ The additional money could add tens of millions of dollars a year to city coffers, capitalizing on a life science building boom, to help fund badly needed affordable housing.” Last year linkage fees generated $51.7 million, and if the new rates had been in effect, the figure would have been closer to $73.6 million. The BPDA board and the zoning commission need to approve the fee increase, and the mayor needs to sign off on it as well.

As the Boston Neighborhood Community Land Trust we are continuing to push for the passage of TOPA (Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act), and for Boston to strengthen the IDP (Inclusionary Development Policy) by requiring affordable housing in the zoning code. Alongside these efforts, this increase in linkage fees is an important victory that will help fund affordable housing in the neighborhoods where we work.