Industry’s $30M Anti-Rent Control Campaign Won’t Be Enough
Ads and harsh warnings won’t be enough to convince voters to turn away from rent control. Industry and sympathetic politicians will need to show voters a better world, first.
Rent Control Foes Get Early Start on Lobbying
It isn’t even on the ballot yet, but real estate interests have started urging mayors and regional chambers of commerce to oppose an effort to revive rent control across Massachusetts.
Rent Control Measure Triggers Ballot Eligibility Debate
The months ahead could feature court battles, a hefty signature-gathering effort and a bruising campaign to sway voters.
Three Big Ideas for Fixing Boston’s Housing Production Problem
The decline in housing production in Boston, a city already beset with some of the nation’s highest prices and rents, has gone from bad to worse to simply catastrophic.
Wu Hits Out Over Tax Deal’s Collapse
“We don’t have time at the city level to play games,” Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said on GBH’s “Boston Public Radio” on Wednesday.
Spilka Confirms Boston Tax Bill’s Dead
Despite compromises struck between the city and stakeholders, Spilka said she has “heard clearly that there currently is not sufficient support for this proposal.”
Mayor’s Tax Plan Hits Wall in Senate as Top Dem Calls Time
Sen. William Brownsberger, who represents parts of Boston and is the number-three Democrat in the Senate, called for the bill to be laid aside and for Boston to finalize its property tax rates without any shift.
Biz Groups Waver on Boston Tax Deal
Business organizations urged Beacon Hill legislators to pause approval of a new property tax structure raising rates on commercial properties in Boston following the release of new assessment data.
Developers Get Two-Year Building Permit Extension on Jobs Bill
Commercial real estate interests are cheering the inclusion of language to extend valid permits – including ones for around 40,000 unbuilt homes – for an additional two years in the economic development bill expected to head to the governor Thursday.
Spika Gathers Boston Mayor, Biz Leaders for Commercial Tax Huddle
The two sides warring over Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s property tax shift proposal huddled in Senate President Karen Spilka’s office Thursday afternoon, but emerged with no sign of an agreement.
20 Groups Weigh in on Milton MBTA Communities Suit
Three former attorneys general, two towns, one state rep and a number of advocates and industry groups have all filed briefs with the the Supreme Judicial Court on whether Attorney General Andrea Campbell has the legal authority to compel Milton to comply with the MBTA Communities Act.
Flooding Regs Generate Developers’ Concerns
Department of Environmental Protection officials did the right thing last week, bowing to a flurry of concerned letters by allowing significantly more time for stakeholders to review their sweeping update of stormwater, flooding and wetlands regulations.
Augustus, Driscoll Tapped to Chart More Housing Reforms
Gov. Maura Healey is still waiting for the legislature to act on her big housing bill, but she paused Monday to swear in two panels of developers, municipal leaders and advocates Monday, charged with charting more housing production reforms.
BERDO Turns Up the Heat on Landlords
Boston’s groundbreaking law cutting large buildings’ greenhouse gas emissions is set to gain a set of teeth, but a leading real estate group says the measure could drive up rents and make the affordability crisis worse.
Boston Moves to Speed Up Affordable Apartment Leasing
Boston officials want to take a big burden off of multifamily developers required to add affordable housing to their projects, and make it a lot easier for residents to find reasonably-priced housing at the same time.
Rent Control Supporters Lifted by AG’s Ruling
Real estate groups say they will appeal Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s certification of a rent control ballot question.
State to Allow Mixed-Use in Transit Zoning, Adds Penalties for Snubs
State housing officials announced Thursday afternoon that they will let Boston-area towns and cities add a potentially controversial requirement for mixed-use buildings to zoning changes designed to comply with the MBTA Communities transit-oriented zoning law.
Wu Offers Big Tax Breaks for Housing Conversions
Owners of downtown Boston office buildings will get a chance to receive tax breaks for residential conversions, provided that the projects meet the city’s affordability and clean energy goals.
What’s the Forecast for Commercial Real Estate?
As we continue to navigate the coming months, it is important policymakers do no harm to the industry so that as financing loosens up, projects can move forward without additional cost constraints.
How to Protect our Economic Growth and Fight for our Climate Future
Bold action must be taken, along with critical short-term strategies that effectively balance our continued economic growth with our long-term decarbonization and environmental goals.
