THING WHERE THIS ABOUT THE BOSTON ACQUISITION FUND? WHERE ARE WE BUILDING? ARE WE BUILDING HORIZONTALLY OR VERTICALLY? UM, THERE'S A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT JUST EVERY SINGLE THING THAT TOUCHES
UPON HOUSING IS HAPPENING NOT JUST IN MY DISTRICT BUT ACROSS THE CITY. AND THAT'S WHY FOR ME, UH, MY CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE COMMITTEE ON HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THIS IS A TOPIC THAT'S ON TOP OF EVERYONE'S MIND.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. UM I'M GOING TO WRAP UP MY MY COMMENTS THERE BUT AS I MENTIONED EARLIER I DO THERE ARE SOME FOLKS ON ZOOM THAT HAVE SOME TIME RESTRAINTS THAT I WANT TO JUST GIVE THEM THE
OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE THEIR PUBLIC TESTIMONY. AND I BELIEVE WE COULD START WITH UM BENJI MORE FROM OUR AND
THEN KAREN GARY KEVIN GARRITY IN PURPLE RAIN. BENJI, CAN YOU HEAR US? YES I CAN. SO PERFECT.
I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU TWO MINUTES FOR PUBLIC TESTIMONY. YOU'RE THE FIRST ONE FORWARD TO THE GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO LET ME JOIN TODAY
DURING THE WORKDAY. SO, UH, UM, I'M BENJI MAUER, I'M RESIDENT AND JP, UH, I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT FOR 24 YEARS. I LIVE IN A CONDO ON BROOKSIDE AV.
UM, AND I'VE WATCHED WITH GREAT SADNESS AS NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS HAVE BEEN DISPLACED FROM JPA DUE TO AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING COSTS. UH, IT'S IT'S BEEN A GREAT AND TERRIBLE CHANGE, UH, OVER THE
PAST 24 YEARS THAT I'VE LIVED IN JP. UM, AND AS A RESIDENT OF JPA, I'VE ATTENDED NUMEROUS ARTICLE 80 MEETINGS OVER THE YEARS INCLUDING UM, BOTH CITY AND
NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL SPONSORED MEETINGS. UH, ON 3326 WASHINGTON STREET UM WHICH UH COUNCILOR WEBER MENTIONED AT THE START OF THE MEETING. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY FIRST
OF ALL THAT I SUPPORT BEN WHENEVER STATEMENT AT THE TOP UH, THAT SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO AFFORDABLE UNIT COUNTS LIKE THE CHANGES TO 3326 WASHINGTON THAT WERE FILED AS A SUPPLEMENTAL
FILING RATHER THAN A SMALL PROJECT CHANGE SHOULD REQUIRE A PUBLIC MEETING. UH, SO I SUPPORT THAT. UM, AND JUST AS CONTEXT, THE CITY PASSED ZONING CHANGES TO
CODIFY INCLUSIONARY ZONING FOR SMALL AND LARGE PROJECTS, UH, AND TO STREAMLINE DEVELOPMENT AND I YOU KNOW, I SUPPORT, UH, BUILDING AS MUCH HOUSING AS WE
POSSIBLY CAN ESPECIALLY, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT THIS TIME. UH, BUT WE NEED DEEPLY AFFORDABLE ON-SITE UNITS AND THAT MEANS 30 TO 50% OF MY UNITS ARE ON SITE.
AND DEVELOPERS SHOULD FEEL FREE TO DO BETTER THAN ZONING, BUT THEY ABSOLUTELY SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SUBSTITUTE VOUCHER UNITS FOR, UH, REQUIRED
AFFORDABLE UNITS OF ANY TYPE OR AM I WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE SEEN I'VE SEEN IN A COUPLE DIFFERENT UM ARTICLE 80 MEETINGS ALREADY UH, THIS YEAR
AND I FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT THE CITY SHOULDN'T BE CUTTING DEALS WITH DEVELOPERS WITH EXOTIC UNIT MIXES THAT DON'T DON'T CONFORM TO INCLUSIONARY ZONING. UM, PERIOD.
LIKE I THINK THAT Y'ALL DID SO MUCH WORK TO PASS A STREAMLINED INCLUSIONARY ZONING AND THE STANDARDS ARE GOOD. UM, AND DEVELOPERS SHOULD
ADHERE TO THOSE STANDARDS AND THE CITY SHOULD ADHERE TO ITS OWN LAWS, UH, WITH THOSE STANDARDS. SO THANK YOU. UH. IF IF DEVELOPERS. YEAH. SO I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. >> BENJI.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. OKAY. UM, DO WE HAVE KAREN KARAOKE?
YES. >> I'M HERE. SORRY ABOUT THAT. THAT'S OKAY. >> HEY, KEVIN, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.
BECAUSE KEVIN. KEVIN, I THINK YOU'RE BACK.
SO. I WANT TO ONLY HIGHLIGHT THREE MAJOR POINTS. I HOPE YOU CAN HEAR ME, KEVIN. UM, YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU NOW DO YOU MIND STARTING FROM THE BEGINNING? YES. >> I WANT TO AGREE WITH MUCH
OF WHAT BENJI SAID AND I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT I LIVE IN BRIGHTON AND I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF KTAB AN EFFORT TO CREATE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I WANT TO SUPPORT THE CURRENT IDP POLICY AND ARGUE AGAINST ANY MODIFICATION TO IT. UH, BECAUSE IT'S A CENTRAL
MEANS TO HELP WORKING CLASS AND MIDDLE CLASS BOSTONIANS REMAIN IN THE CITY AND TO REDUCE DISPLACEMENT WHICH IS HAPPENING ACROSS OUR CITY.
AND I'VE HEARD ARGUMENTS BY SOME DEVELOPERS, SOME COLUMNISTS, NEWS COLUMNISTS THAT IDP IS A PROBLEM IN TERMS
OF HIGHER COST AND CONSTRUCTION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. BUT MY SECOND POINT IS ACTUALLY THAT ONE LOOKS AT THE COST OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF HOUSING AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
OTHER FACTORS ARE MUCH MORE IMPORTANT LIKE THE CURRENT HIGH INTEREST RATES, ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY, HIGH LAND ACQUISITION COSTS. THOSE ARE REALLY THE CENTRAL FACTORS HERE.
AND ALSO DEVELOPERS WANT TO MAXIMIZE THEIR PROFITS. MY THIRD POINT AND I'LL BE VERY QUICK HERE. HOW CAN WE MAXIMIZE THE DEVELOPMENT OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING DESPITE THE CONSTRAINTS AND CHALLENGES WE'RE CONFRONTED WITH? FIRST LET'S MAXIMIZE THE USE OF CITY OWNED LAND AND
HOPEFULLY STATE OWNED LAND TO DEVELOP AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND BY REDUCING LAND ACQUISITION COSTS. SECOND, AND THIS HAS BEEN DONE AND I WANT TO PRAISE THE CITY
AND THE BBA AND THE BPA. WE WANT TO INCREASE THE REVITALIZATION AND EXPANSION OF PUBLIC HOUSING. A PROJECT IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD IN BRIGHTON IS GOING TO RESULT IN
A MAJOR, MAJOR RENOVATION OF THE FANEUIL GARDENS PUBLIC HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, EXPANDING THE NUMBER OF AFFORDABLE UNITS AND ALSO INCREASING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE.
UH. KEVIN, JUST A HEADS UP. TWO MINUTES ARE UP. OKAY. IF YOU WANT TO. DO A HOME RUN AND I'LL FINISH HERE. WE NEED TO EXPEDITE THE APPROVAL PROCESS TO REDUCE COST .
LAST POINT LET'S GET THE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES TO HOUSE MORE OF THEIR STUDENTS ON CAMPUS, FREEING UP RESIDENTIAL HOUSING AND PREVENTING ABSENTEE LANDLORDS FROM CHARGING
RAPACIOUS RENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. >> KEVIN. UH, DO WE HAVE ANDREW MURRAY?
PERFECT. ANDREW, CAN YOU HEAR US? I CAN HEAR YOU. CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES. PERFECT. >> YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES. WONDERFUL. >> I HAVE A MAJOR MEMORY OF A ROSLINDALE RESIDENT AND THE DAILY TRANSIT RIDER AND CYCLIST .
UM, SO WE'RE DEEPLY ENGAGED IN BOSTON'S PLANNING PROCESSES. UM, AS HIGHLIGHTED IN ORDER AND THEN THE DISCUSSION TODAY. UH, WE'RE SEEING IMPROVED HOUSING ESPECIALLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UH, NOT GETTING BUILT.
UM, THAT'S REALLY NOT JUST A FUNDING ISSUE. IT'S ALSO A POLICY ISSUE. OUR GOAL IS TO ADDRESS RISING HOUSING COSTS. WE MUST PRODUCE MORE HOUSING UM ,BOTH AFFORDABLE AND MARKET RATE. DOING SO REQUIRES TAKING A HARD
LOOK AT THE REGULATORY BARRIERS TO ADD COST UNCERTAINTY AND DELAY. UM, THE FIRST OF THESE IS PARKING MINIMUMS. MANDATING OFF STREET PARKING CAN ADD TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS PER UNIT, ESPECIALLY WHEN STRUCTURED PARKING IS
REQUIRED IN A TRANSIT RICH CITY LIKE BOSTON. THESE MANDATES ARE REALLY MISALIGNED WITH HOW MANY PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF ACTUALLY LIVE THEIR DAY TO DAY LIFE AND MOVE AROUND THE CITY AND THEY DIRECTLY REDUCE THE NUMBER OF HOMES THAT WE CAN BUILD.
SECOND, UH, WE NEED ZONING THAT ACTUALLY REFLECTS THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT. UM, AND MOST RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS IN BOSTON THE ZONING CODE MAKES IT ILLEGAL TO BUILD WHAT ALREADY EXISTS. UH, I OWN 100 YEAR OLD HOMES.
I HAVE FOUR NONCONFORMITY THAT DOESN'T REALLY MAKE A LOT OF SENSE TO ME. UM, CREATES UNNECESSARY FRICTION AND MAKES EVEN, LIKE A MODEST CONTEXTUAL PROJECT DIFFICULT TO IMPOSSIBLE. UM, WE SHOULD LEGALIZE THE
EXISTING FABRIC FABRIC AND ALLOW INCREMENTAL DENSITY IN THE FORMS OF MORE TRIPLE DECKER AND OTHER SMALL MULTI-FAMILY BUILDINGS BY RIGHT. UH, WE NEED TO MOVE FASTER AND MORE BROADLY WITH INITIATIVES LIKE SQUARES AND STREETS. WE'RE THRILLED TO HAVE THAT IN
ROSLINDALE. BUT UM, WE DID THAT WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT IT WOULD BE THE FIRST OF MANY BUT INSTEAD PROGRESS HAS BEEN SLOW. CLEARY SQUARE HAS CONTINUED TO DRAG ON AND WE HAVEN'T SEEN MOMENTUM TO BEGIN SOMEWHERE EFFORTS IN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS.
IF WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT ADDRESSING HOUSING COSTS THERE SHOULD BE THE SQUARES AND STREETS INITIATIVE AND A DOZEN NEIGHBORHOODS RIGHT NOW. UM FOURTH THE BUILDING CODE SPECIFICALLY SINGLE STAIR. WE SHOULD ALLOW SINGLE STAIR
BUILDINGS ENABLING SMALLER AND MORE EFFICIENT MULTIFAMILY HOMES. THAT WOULD UNLOCK A LOT OF MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING. AND THEN FINALLY HAS BEEN DISCUSSED. I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE INCLUSIONARY ZONING REQUIREMENTS. IF LESS THAN HALF OF THE APPROVED INCLUSIONARY UNITS ARE
BEING BUILT. WE NEED TO ASK WHETHER THE HIGHER REQUIREMENTS ARE MAKING PROJECTS FINANCIALLY FEASIBLE RESULTING IN FEWER TOTAL UNITS . UM INCLUDING AFFORDABLE ONES. IF WE'RE REALLY COMMITTED TO A 20% REQUIREMENT THAT I THINK WE
SHOULD CONSIDER FUNDING A PORTION OF THAT THROUGH PUBLIC INVESTMENT. UM, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE WORKING BY PLACING THE FULL BURDEN ON THE PRIVATE DEVELOPERS. THANK YOU. UM YEAH. NO PROBLEM. APPRECIATE IT. >> UM. PERFECT.
DO WE HAVE PURPLE RAIN? I ALSO WANTED TO TAKE A SECOND TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE'VE BEEN JOINED BY COUNCILOR FLYNN AND
COUNCILOR FITZGERALD. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
IS THIS ERIC? OKAY, THIS IS ERIC. HEY, ERIC. HEY. >> HOW'S IT GOING? DOING GOOD. YOU HAVE GREAT MINUTES. THANK YOU. >> UM. >> SO THANK YOU, COUNCILOR WEBER. FOR. >> UH, HOSTING THIS HEARING. UH, THIS IS A REALLY VALUABLE TOPIC. I'M GLAD TO SEE THE
COUNCIL ADDRESSING IT. UH, WE'VE WATCHED SEVERAL PROJECTS SIT IN PURGATORY. >> FOR. MONTHS, IF NOT YEARS WHILE THE ADMINISTRATION NEGOTIATES, UH, SOMETIMES VERY MINOR CHANGES TO AFFORDABILITY AGREEMENTS. UH, IT'S GOOD THAT THE
ADMINISTRATION IS WILLING TO CONSIDER THESE CHANGES AT ALL RATHER THAN LETTING PROPERTIES SIT VACANT FOR DECADES. BUT THE PROCESS NEEDS TO BE FASTER AND LESS ARBITRARY. UH, HOUSING DELAYED IS HOUSING
DENIED AND IF THE PROCESS HAS TO PLAY OUT LIKE THIS FOR EVERY SINGLE PROJECT THAT IS AFFECTED BY RISING CONSTRUCTION COSTS AND INTEREST RATES WHICH IS ALL OF THEM. UH, AN AWFUL LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE DENIED HOUSING IN THE MEANTIME.
UH, SINCE BOSTON'S. INCLUSIONARY ZONING RULES WERE FIRST ADOPTED, IT HAS GONE ON TO BUILD MORE DEED RESTRICTED UNITS THAN ANY OTHER CITY IN THE COUNTRY. A CRITICAL REASON FOR THIS PROGRAM SUCCESS WAS THE. CAREFUL BALANCE IT STRUCK
BETWEEN AFFORDABILITY AND FEASIBILITY WHICH ALLOWED THESE UH WHICH ALLOWED IT TO BUILD THESE UNITS. EVEN DURING TIMES OF HIGH INTEREST RATES AND HIGH CONSTRUCTION COSTS. THE ADMINISTRATION'S. CHANGES TO THIS ARRANGEMENT AND SPECIFICALLY RAISING THE RATE
TO. 20% HAVE UPENDED THIS DELICATE BALANCE. 0% OF ZERO IS ZERO IF PROJECTS ARE NOT GETTING BUILT UNDER THE NEW REQUIREMENTS, THAT MEANS AFFORDABLE UNITS ARE NOT BEING BUILT.
PEOPLE ARE BEING DISPLACED AND THE. RULES NEED TO BE ADJUSTED. THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. THANK YOU ERIC AND THEN WE HAVE
LAURIE RAD RADWAN.
UM. >> OKAY. >> WE WILL RETURN TO PUBLIC TESTIMONY LATER IN THE HEARING ,BUT I JUST WANTED TO THANK THOSE THAT WERE ON ZOOM AND WE TRY TO BE AS ACCOMMODATING AS POSSIBLE.
BUT WITH THAT, UM, I WOULD LOVE TO TURN IT OVER TO OUR FIRST PANEL FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND THEN WE'LL DO ROUND OF QUESTIONS WITH THE COLLEAGUES AND THEN WE'LL GO FROM THERE. SO UM I'LL GIVE YOU ALL 20
MINUTES IF THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED UM, FOR OPENING STATEMENTS AND ANY PRESENTATIONS YOU MAY HAVE. SURE. UM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US KNOW AS I SIT HERE. OH, SO FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS SHEILA DILLON AND I'M CHIEF
OF HOUSING FOR THE CITY OF BOSTON AND ALSO THE DIRECTOR OF, UH, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF HOUSING AND I, I DO WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE BUT ESPECIALLY COUNCILOR PEPEN FOR HOLDING THE HEARING AND AND
,UH, VICE CHAIR CULPEPER. BUT WE HAVE BEEN ALSO TALKING TO COUNCILOR WEBER ABOUT PROJECTS SPECIFICALLY IN THIS AREA AND UM, THEY ARE AS YOU COULD HEAR FROM THE TESTIMONY
THEY ARE UH THERE'S A LOT OF OPINIONS ON WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN AND HOW IT SHOULD HAPPEN . AND YOU KNOW WHAT WHAT REALLY IS THE BEST RESULT FOR BOSTON? SO UM, AS I SIT HERE REALLY THOSE THOSE THOSE COMMENTS
REPRESENTED REALLY WHAT WE HEAR IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS WHEN WE WHEN WE DO HAVE UH, PUBLIC MEETINGS. SO I JUST WANTED TO GO OVER VERY, VERY QUICKLY. UM, WHAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED AND AND THANK YOU COUNCILOR CULPEPER FOR FOR
STARTING TO TALK ABOUT THAT. WE ARE WE HAVE BEEN AS A GROUP BOTH THE AGENCIES REPRESENTED UP HERE BUT ALSO WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH YOU AND YOUR DISTRICTS INCREDIBLY PRODUCTIVE
ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING. SO I'M REMINDING MYSELF THESE DAYS NOT TO BE ALL DOOM AND GLOOM SO WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT BUT THEN WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TO SOME OF THE PROBLEMS AND SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE ARE FACING.
SO UM SO I JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE AND EVERYONE WHO'S LISTENING THAT UH, UNDER THE ADMINISTRATION WE HAVE EITHER COMPLETED OR HAVING CONSTRUCTION RIGHT NOW OVER
6000 UNITS OF INCOME RESTRICTED HOUSING AND A THOUSAND OF THOSE UNITS ARE UM UH INCOME RESTRICTED HOMEOWNERSHIP UNITS WHICH IS REALLY VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO SO MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND THIS IS THESE ARE RECORD BREAKING TOTALS. SO I DO WANT TO REALLY THANK THE MAYOR FOR HER COMMITMENT TO MAKING THE RESOURCES, THE LAND ,THE MONEY AND THE POLICIES AVAILABLE TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
NEXT. ARE YOU OKAY? OKAY, GREAT. UM SO UM IT WAS ALSO SAID WE DO HAVE A HIGH PERCENTAGE. IS IT ENOUGH?
ABSOLUTELY NOT. BUT WE DO HAVE A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF INCOME RESTRICTED HOUSING IN BOSTON. UH, JUST SHY OF 20%. AND I'M REALLY WANT TO GET OVER THAT NUMBER OR THE 20% MARK
SOON. BUT REGIONALLY BOSTON HAS THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF INCOME RESTRICTED RENTAL HOUSING WITH ALMOST 30% OF OUR UH, HOUSING STOCK, A RENTAL HOUSING STOCK INCOME RESTRICTED.
AND NATIONALLY BOSTON HAS A HIGHER PERCENTAGE THAN ANY OTHER COMPARABLE CITY. SO WE WE REALLY HAVE BEEN BUILDING UM, YOU KNOW, BUILDING AND PRESERVING A LOT OF OUR
INCOME RESTRICTED HOUSING INCLUDING OUR UH, PUBLIC HOUSING NEXT. SO WHEN WE LOOK AT UH STRATEGIES UM, I I IT REALLY IS
WORTH NOTING THAT UH, THE MAYOR HAS CONTINUES TO MAKE MONEY AND FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR INCOME RESTRICTED PRODUCTION. UM, IN THE LAST UH THE LAST
FOUR YEARS OF HER TERM SHE WE HAVE FUNDED OVER 3400 UNITS OF INCOME RESTRICTED HOUSING WITH LOCAL RESOURCES, UH, MAKING OUR EXTRACTION MONEYS
AVAILABLE AND ALSO A LOT OF THE FEDERAL MONEY THAT WE DID RECEIVE, UH, THROUGH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION. NEXT.
AND, UM, WHILE WE TRY TO BUILD IN SUPPLY IS VERY, VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH MANY OF YOU IN THIS ROOM TO TAKE UNITS OUT OF THE SPECULATIVE MARKET USING OUR EOP PROGRAM.
UH, WE HAVE REACHED NEW MILESTONES ON THIS PROGRAM. WE'VE TAKEN OUT OVER 1400 UNITS OF AT RISK UH, HOUSING AND MADE IT PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE
PROTECTING THE TENANCIES AND PUTTING NEW AFFORDABLE UNITS ON THE BOOKS. UH, WE'VE ALSO SET UP A FUND WITH AMIC AND A LOT OF PRIVATE WONDERFUL UH.
A LOT OF A LOT OF WONDERFUL. ORGANIZATIONS FUNDING, UM, PUTTING MONEY INTO A FUND AND WE'VE RAISED OVER $70 MILLION TO DO THIS. SO WE ARE WE WE BOTH ARE LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO
ACQUIRE PROPERTIES BUT AT THE SAME TIME DOING ALL THAT WE CAN TO RAISE MONEY SO THAT WE CAN KEEP THESE ACQUISITIONS, UH, MOVING. UH, SINCE THE ACQUISITION
FUND'S BEEN UH, IN PLACE, UH, WE'VE UH, ISSUED LOANS TO OVER FIVE PROJECTS TOTALING 400 UNITS. SO IT REALLY IS AN INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM AND WE CONTINUE TO NOT I WAS GOING TO
SAY DAILY MAYBE THAT'S AN OVERSTATEMENT BUT CERTAINLY UH ,WEEKLY AND MANY, MANY A MONTH WE SEE UH PROPERTIES COMING ON THE MARKET THAT ARE TENANTED THAT ARE FULLY OCCUPIED THAT WE
WOULD LIKE, UH, TO BE ABLE TO TAKE OUT OF THE SPECULATIVE MARKET AND PURCHASE. SO WE'VE ALSO BEEN WORKING VERY HARD TO SPEED UP OUR HOUSING PRODUCTION, BOTH MARKET RATE
AND AFFORDABLE. YOU MAY RECALL THAT THE MAYOR SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER IN OCTOBER WHEN SHE FIRST CAME INTO OFFICE TO REDUCE BY 50% THE AVERAGE TIME IT TAKES TO
APPROVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS. TO DATE WE HAVE DECREASED UM, THE TIME BY 26% AND WE HAVE SQUEEZED OUT EVERY TIME SAVING THAT WE CAN DO.
AND NOW WE REALIZE THAT WE REALLY NEED PERMIT AND APPROVAL REFORMS. SO PLANNING ISG UH MY AGE AND MANY MANY MANY CITY DEPARTMENTS ARE NOW WORKING ON SORT OF PHASE TWO UH TO REALLY HIT
THAT 50% MARK. SO UM WE'RE REALLY EXCITED WHEN PEOPLE ARE COMING UP TO ME SAYING THE PROCESS IS BETTER ,IT FEELS BETTER. BUT WE KNOW UH WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE WORK.
WE WE HAVE WORK TO DO. I WANT TO JUST, UH, MOVE NOW INTO UH, SOMETHING THAT WE DO WANT TO REALLY DIVE INTO TODAY TALKING ABOUT INCLUSIONARY DEVELOPMENT AND INCLUSIONARY
ZONING JUST TO REMIND US ALL THAT THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL AND UM, I'M ALWAYS AMAZED AT THE NUMBERS BECAUSE THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT HAS NOT COST THE CITY, YOU KNOW ANY
RESOURCES THIS IS THESE ARE EXTRACTIONS FROM OUR DEVELOPMENT OUR MARKET RATE DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS. SO UH WE HAVE COMPLETED OR WE HAVE PERMITTED OVER 5000 IN UH
IDP OR IZZY UNITS AND UM THE WONDERFUL THING ABOUT THIS PROGRAM IS THAT THESE UNITS ARE ALL OVER THE CITY AND THEY'RE IN NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING BECAUSE OF UH LANDMARKING OR THE THE SHEER EXPENSE OF DEVELOPING IN CERTAIN MARKETS. SO THIS REALLY HAS CREATED, UH, ADDITIONAL AFFORDABLE UNITS IN
THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS. WE'VE ALSO EXTRACTED $226 MILLION, UM, FROM PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT THAT WE ARE USING TO UH, FUND OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PIPELINE.
AND THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PIPELINE IS OFTEN SERVING LOWER INCOME HOUSEHOLDS. SO IT REALLY IS UM IT'S IT'S A IT'S A IT'S AN ACTION WORTH
TAKING CERTAINLY WITH UH IN CONVERSATION WITH THE COMMUNITY BUT BUYOUTS AREN'T ALL BAD. IN FACT SOMETIMES THEY ARE INCREDIBLY HELPFUL TO MOVE TARGETED PROJECTS AFFORDABLE
HOUSING PROJECTS THAT WE FEEL ARE REALLY IMPORTANT. SO TOGETHER, UH, WE'VE CREATED OVER 9000 UNITS USING THE IDP IES PROGRAM.
SO SOME OTHER BENEFITS OF THIS PROGRAM UM THE UNITS UH THE THE INCOME RESTRICTED UNITS ARE VERY COMPARABLE TO THE MARKET RATE UNITS IN THE IN THE SAME BUILDING. SO THERE'S NOT YOU KNOW,
THEY'RE NOT CERTAIN TYPE THAT LOOK A CERTAIN WAY OR IN A CERTAIN PART OF THE BUILDING THEY'RE REALLY ARE MIXED THROUGHOUT WHICH IS REALLY WONDERFUL TO CREATE MIXED INCOME COMMUNITIES. THEY ARE MARKETED PUBLICLY.
UH, PEOPLE KNOW OF THE OPPORTUNITY PEOPLE ARE USING METRO THIS NOW MORE THAN EVER. WE'VE GOT A LOT OF UH, BOSTON RESIDENTS IN OUR LOTTERIES SO IT'S AND IT'S GOTTEN UM I THINK
THE DEVELOPERS WOULD AGREE UH, WE HAVE REALLY SPED UP THE TIME IT TAKES FROM WHEN A UNIT IS READY TO GET, UH, A INCOME, UM ,QUALIFIED HOUSEHOLD INTO THE
UNIT PROPERTY OWNERS MUST RENEW A LEASE UNLESS HOUSEHOLD INCOME INCREASES TO MORE THAN 40% AND RENTS ARE STABILIZED, THEY CAN ONLY BE RENT UH, INCREASED UH,
ACCORDING TO UM ACCORDING TO SET RENTS THAT UH IN THEIR PARTNER SET. THIS IS HARD TO READ BUT IT'S I'M GLAD YOU HAVE A PAPER COPY.
IT SHOWS WHERE THE IDP FUNDED AND THE IDP ONSITE UNITS HAVE UM HAVE BEEN UM LOCATED. SO I'M GOING TO HAND THIS OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE DEVIN QUIRK NOW
TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE BARRIERS THAT WE ARE FACING AND SOME OF THEM WERE MENTIONED IN THE COMMENT AND SOME OF THEM WERE MENTIONED IN UH COUNCIL REMARKS ABOUT WHY IT IS DIFFICULT RIGHT TO TO BUILD UH
MARKET RATE HOUSING. DEVIN AND I'LL BE QUICK UM. SO AND WE WANT TO GET TO THE CONVERSATION GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. IT SHOWS UH JUST WHAT THESE
SORT OF LIKE HOUSING COSTS CHALLENGES WE'RE FACING AS UM THE ECONOMY HAS HAS UH CHANGED IN BOSTON AND AND INCLUDING NATIONALLY.
UM ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE SEEN IS WITH LIKE RISING INTEREST RATES, UH, RISING DEVELOPMENT COSTS, RISING OUT OF RISING CONSTRUCTION COSTS AND UH, AT THE SAME TIME, UH, WHILE RENTS
HAVE INCREASED UH, WE HAVEN'T SEEN WE UH IT'S BEEN JUST INCREASINGLY HARDER FOR DEVELOPERS TO FINANCE THEIR PROJECTS. UM, WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PREPARE FOR THE NEXT
PHASE OF WHEN THE ECONOMY CHANGES AND WHEN WE CAN BUILD IT WHEN WE'RE WHEN THE WHEN THE HOUSING BECOMES MORE FEASIBLE, WE'LL BE ABLE TO CONSTRUCT HOUSING AS OF RIGHT IN MORE
OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. SO UH I THINK AT THIS POINT I PROBABLY RATHER UH, SWITCH TO UH, COMMITTEE QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL. I'M GOING TO HAPPY TO ADDRESS,
UM, YOUR CONCERNS THIS WEEK AS WE TALK THROUGH IT. GREAT. >> I THINK WE JUST HAVE ONE QUICK SLIDE. IT WILL TAKE ONE MINUTE TO GET THROUGH. BUT YOU KNOW, AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS ALSO BECOMING MORE DIFFICULT TO CONSTRUCT EVEN
WHEN WE'RE FUNDING IT AND WE'RE PROVIDING SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF RESOURCES. UH, WE ARE I THINK IT WAS MENTIONED BY UM COUNCILOR CULPEPER WE ARE UH LOSING SOME OF OUR UH FEDERAL
FUNDING. UM BUT ARPA IS COMING TO AN END THIS YEAR. WE'VE GOT A LONG BACK, UH, A LONG QUEUE INTO THIS STATE, UH ,FOR LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS. WE'RE SEEING A REDUCTION IN,
UH, LINKAGE IN IDP FUNDING DUE TO RECENT DEVELOPMENT TRENDS THAT DEVIN WAS HIGHLIGHTING AND, UM, IT'S BEEN HARD FOR US TO RAISE ADDITIONAL MONEY TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING
BECAUSE, UH, SOME OF THESE ACTIONS REQUIRE STATE APPROVAL AND WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO, UM, GET LEGISLATION THAT WOULD UH, PROVIDE US THE AUTHORITY TO DO SO SUCH AS TRANSFER FEE.
SO THERE'S THERE'S LOTS TO WORK ON AND UH, NOW UM I'M GOING TO HAND IT OVER TO KENZIE TO SEE IF SHE'S GOT ANY UH, REMARKS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SHEILA, UM, I'M MAINLY, UH, HERE TO, UM, SUPPORT
COLLEAGUES, UH, IN PLANNING AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF HOUSING TODAY. UM, I'M KENZIE BOK PROUD TO BE THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE BOSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY. UM, I THINK WE WE SORT OF SIT ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS. WE ARE A SUBSIDY PROVIDER SO WE
PROVIDE VOUCHERS THAT HELP US GET DEEP AFFORDABILITY INTO LOTS OF THESE BUILDINGS. UM, BUT WE ALSO ARE A DEVELOPER . UM, AND SO WE FACE THE SAME UM, YOU KNOW, THE SAME HEADWINDS
THAT DEVIN WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT UM, AND ARE KIND OF SIMILARLY ENGAGED IN THIS EFFORT OF TRYING TO GET MORE ADDITIONAL HOUSING. UM, YOU KNOW, AND REALLY THESE DAYS MIXED INCOME HOUSING WHILE
STILL CONTINUING TO PUT OUR REALLY LOW INCOME FOLKS FIRST AND FOREMOST BUILT ON OUR PUBLIC LAND. SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, HAPPY TO ALSO BE PART OF THE QUESTION AND ANSWER AND CERTAINLY ALL OF THESE ARE UM UH DILEMMAS AND
CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE AS WELL. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR OPENING, UM, PRESENTATION AND FOR PROVIDING THE SLIDES TO THE COUNCIL. REALLY APPRECIATE THE TIME FOR THAT. OKAY.
SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS WE'RE GOING TO HEAD IMMEDIATELY INTO THE Q&A BY MIKE FOR MY COLLEAGUES STARTING WITH THE UM LEAD SPONSOR AND THEN WE'LL GO IN ORDER OF ARRIVAL. SO UM WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS
I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU ALL UM, LET'S SAY SEVEN MINUTES FOR UM FOR Q&A AND IF WE NEED I WOULD PREFER WE DON'T HAVE A SECOND ROUND OF QUESTIONS BUT IF
ANYONE DOES FOR A REASON HAVE ANOTHER SET OF QUESTIONS. TURN ON YOUR LIGHTS JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE A VERY DENSE AMAZING SECOND PANEL AS WELL. SO JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT HERE ALL DAY.
UM BUT. ALL RIGHT SO I'M GONNA START OFF WITH COUNCILOR WEBER AND THEN COUNCILOR CULPEPER AND THEN ORDER OF ARRIVAL. YOU GOT OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UH UH, COUNCILOR CULPEPPER UH, PRINCE SAID UH, YOUR AGE, NOT YOUR. SHOE SIZE. UH UM BUT UH, THAT'S FOR ME TOO. UH, SO, UH YEAH, I'M SURE YOU'LL COME BACK WITH
SOMETHING. UM, SO. OKAY. UH, I GUESS UM SO, UH, DEVIN, IN TERMS OF LIKE THE PUBLIC NOTICE, LIKE, YOU KNOW, HOW DOES THIS SUPPOSED TO WORK?
DO WE NEED A RULE CHANGE TO HAVE, UH, DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS? UM, YEAH. SO COUNCIL I I I THINK YOU'RE ASKING UH, IN IN A CASE WHERE A A PROJECT IS REDUCING THE
NUMBER OF AFFORDABLE UNITS, DO WE NEED TO HAVE A PUBLIC MEETING AND THE ANSWER IS WE'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK TO EXPEDITE THE ARTICLE 80 PROCESS, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO ELIMINATE COMMUNITY VOICE. SO THERE ARE YOU CAN IMAGINE
TIMES WHERE A DEVELOPER MIGHT WANT TO ADD AN AFFORDABLE UNIT, IN WHICH CASE WE DON'T WANT TO SUBTRACT THAT UM UH THAT THE DEVELOPER TO A LOT OF ADDITIONAL OWNERS COMMUNITY
PROCESS WOULD DO A 30 DAY COMMENT PERIOD AND IF A UH ELECTED OFFICIAL ASKED FOR A PUBLIC MEETING WE DO A PUBLIC MEETING. THE SAME IS TRUE OF A IF A UNIT IS GOING TO BE REMOVED FROM A
UH A. DEVELOPMENT AND UH IN MOST CASES DURING THAT 30 DAY COMMENT PERIOD WE GET THE REQUEST FOR A PUBLIC MEETING OR SHEILA ASKS US TO DO A PUBLIC MEETING AND WE'VE DONE THEM SO
THAT IN THE TWO CASES THAT YOU REFERRED TO IN YOUR OPENING STATEMENT, WE'VE ABSOLUTELY DONE BOTH THAT LONG A COMMENT PERIOD AND UM, IN THE COMMUNITY PROCESS AND WE AND THERE WILL
WILL BE A PUBLIC VOTE OF THE BPA BOARD TO CHANGE THE AFFORDABILITY NEXT. I DO. >> WONDER IF THERE'S A WAY I MEAN DO YOU DON'T WANT TO HOLD UP THE PROCESS ESPECIALLY IF ARE WE GETTING A LOT OF REQUESTS TO ADD AFFORDABLE UNITS? IS THAT IS THAT HAPPENING.
IF THAT ACTUALLY DOES HAPPEN WE'VE HAD PLENTY OF CASES WHERE UM, A DEVELOPER ORIGINALLY UH PROPOSED IN THE MARKET PROJECT AND THEN WORKING WITH SHEILA AND HER TEAM UH CREATE A MORE
AFFORDABLE PROJECT BRINGING MORE SUBSIDY AND OFTENTIMES IT'S ACTUALLY DRAMATICALLY INCREASING THE NUMBER OF AFFORDABLE UNITS AND THOSE PROJECTS GO FORWARD, WHICH IS GREAT. BUT I THINK THOSE ARE OBVIOUSLY
MUCH LESS CONTROVERSIAL THAN WHEN THINGS MOVE IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. OKAY. >> UM AND AND SO YEAH, WE WOULDN'T WANT TO HOLD UP A PROJECT UH, JUST TO REOPEN THE WHOLE THING BUT I DO YOU KNOW,
IF IT'S UP TO THE COUNCILORS OR YOU KNOW, I I'M I DON'T KNOW CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THAT. I MEAN, WHAT DO YOU THINK LIKE HOW MUCH WOULD WE WOULD WE LOSE PROJECTS IF WE REQUIRED YOU
KNOW WHEN WHEN IT'S GOING TO WHEN THE NUMBER IS GOING DOWN THE REQUIRED SOME FORM OF PUBLIC PRESENTATION. SO IN. SO THERE HAVE BEEN COMMUNITY
MEETINGS FOR THE TWO PROJECTS THEN WE HAVE THE REDUCED ADP AND KNOW SHE WAS IN HER STAFF ATTENDED THOSE YES. >> I CAN SPEAK NO I THINK THEY WERE VERY HELPFUL AND UH I JUST IT'S LIKE IF I IF WE HADN'T
ASKED FOR THEM I WOULD JUST SAY WHAT'S THE WORST CASE SCENARIO HERE IF YOU OPEN UP THAT PROCESS FOR MORE? YEAH I, I SUPPOSE I WOULD SAY THE PROCESS IS WORKING AS
INTENDED. WE'VE GOTTEN COMMUNITY MEETINGS . WE'RE HERE HAVING THIS HEARING WE'RE HAVING A DISCUSSION ON IT AND MEANWHILE THE PROJECTS THAT HAD UM ADDED AFFORDABILITY A
THOSE WENT THROUGH VERY QUICKLY. THERE WAS A QUICK COMMENT PERIOD AND SUPPORT FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS AND I NO NEED FOR A COMMUNITY MEETING. SO I THINK IT'S SORT OF LIKE
HAVING THIS DEMOCRATIC CIVIC DISCOURSE ASSOCIATED WITH CONTROVERSIAL ITEMS. WE'RE HAVING IT AND ALLOWING THINGS THAT ARE UNCONTROVERSIAL TO PRODUCE MORE HOUSING TO MOVE MORE QUICKLY. THAT'S HAPPENING OKAY.
AND THEN I GUESS UH UH, FOR CHIEF DILLON IN TERMS OF LIKE THE THE COSTS OF BUILDING THESE AFFORDABLE UNITS, I DON'T WELL, I DON'T KNOW MAYBE DEVIN YOU HAVE THOUGHTS ON THAT OR OR
KENZIE BUT UM YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT IN TERMS OF LIKE WHAT HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO BUILD A UNIT LIKE THIS? UH, BUT YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH IS THAT GONE UP IN THE LAST FIVE
YEARS? TEN YEARS? UM. SO IT'S IT'S CERTAINLY THE THE COST OF ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION HAS GONE UP. UM, BUT INTEREST RATES HAVE GONE UP TOO.
SO JUST LIKE THE THE WHOLE FINANCING STRUCTURE OF MARKET RATE DEVELOPMENTS HAVE CHANGED. SO LIKE IT'S JUST UM IT'S YOU KNOW THE COSTS HAVE GONE UP AND INTEREST RATES HAVE GONE DOWN AND PEOPLE CAN BORROW MORE AND THEN YOU'VE GOT TO STILL HAVE A
FEASIBLE PROJECT. SO THERE REALLY THERE ARE FEASIBILITY ISSUES. THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO DOUBT AND I WILL SAY WHEN A DEVELOPER APPROACHES US ABOUT A UM A
CHANGE IN THE AFFORDABILITY, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE RECORD FOR FOLKS TO KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT SAYING UM, YOU DON'T HAVE TO ADHERE TO THE POLICY. WE'RE JUST HAVING CONVERSATIONS
ABOUT HOW THEY ADHERE TO THE POLICY. RIGHT? SO I THINK I THINK IT'S JUST A IT'S AN A REALLY IMPORTANT UH, THING TO SAY. SO YOU KNOW, PEOPLE UH, DEVELOPERS CAN UM MEET THEIR OBLIGATION BY PROVIDING UNITS
ON SITE, OFF SITE OR SOMETIMES UH, CACHING PROVIDING CASH FOR FOR OTHER DEVELOPMENTS. SO WE'RE WORKING WITHIN THOSE CONFINES UM, ANY TIME A DEVELOPER COMES IN WE ARE
LOOKING AT THEIR THEIR WE'RE LOOKING AT THEIR FINANCING. WE'RE LOOKING AT A DEVELOPMENT STRUCTURE. WE ARE UNDERWRITING IT TO THE BEST WE CAN. WE'RE WE'RE REALLY CONFIRMING WHAT THE DEVELOPER IS TELLING
US AND THEN WHEN THINGS GO UM TO PLAN WE'RE HAVING COMMUNITY ,WE'RE HAVING CONVERSATION WITH THE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND WE'RE HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THE, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY ABOUT THE CHANGES. UM, THAT'S WHEN EVERYTHING
GOES, YOU KNOW, RIGHT. AND THEN THERE'S NEGOTIATION. SO UM, YOU KNOW, THESE TWO PROJECTS IN JAMAICA PLAIN, UM, I YOU KNOW, I'LL ON THREE, 3 TO 6 I THINK THE THE COMMUNITY PROCESS COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER
. UH, I THINK THAT WE WE SAW THE CHANGES AS UM NOT AS WE WE SAW THE CHANGES AND THOUGHT THERE WAS STILL A IT WAS A GOOD AFFORDABILITY PLAN. IT NEEDED MORE COMMUNITY
PROCESS. SO WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF DOING THAT OKAY. AND I GUESS SO I HAVE A THEORY UH THAT WELL I GUESS UH IN TERMS OF THAT. TO TO THE EXTENT IT'S HARD.
>> TO BUILD THESE AFFORDABLE UNITS UH, WE'VE GOT INCREASED COSTS. YOU KNOW, WE SORT OF WE HAVE A IDP REQUIREMENT BUT LIKE HAVE WE HAD THE UM SORT
OF CORRESPONDING ZONING REFORM THAT WE'VE ALSO BEEN CALLING FOR UH, WHICH WOULD YOU KNOW, HAVE MORE HOUSING AS OF RIGHT LIKE HAVE WE DELIVERED ON THAT AND ALSO AND IS THAT RELATED TO
THE COSTS. SO THE AND I'M GOING TO HAND THIS OVER TO DEVIN IT CAN GIVE A ZONING UPDATE BUT RIGHT NOW THE POLICY IS IN PLACE FOR THE CITY AND IT'S NOT CONTINGENT UPON THE ZONING BEING UPDATED.
BUT CERTAINLY WE WOULD LIKE THE ZONING REFORMS TO CERTAINLY CATCH UP WITH THESE POLICIES. YEAH I WOULD UM I JUST BUILDING OFF OF THAT I MEAN, SOMETHING WE SHOULD ALL BE REALLY PROUD OF IS THAT INCLUSIONARY ZONING IS NOW LAW.
FOR 20 YEARS WE HAD AN INCLUSIONARY DEVELOPMENT POLICY THAT WAS UM DRIVEN BY VARIANCES ONLY AND AND OFTEN RESULTED IN US WANTING A PERVERSE INCENTIVE
TO KEEP, UH, ZONING NON-COMPLIANT IN ORDER TO GET MORE AFFORDABILITY. WE NOW HAVE A POLICY ACROSS THE ENTIRE CITY WHERE IF YOU'RE GOING TO BUILD, UH, ANY ANYTHING OVER SEVEN UNITS,
THERE'S GOING TO BE A INCLUSIONARY REQUIREMENT AND THERE IS NO WAY TO DEVIATE FROM THAT REQUIREMENT OTHER THAN I VOTED THE ZONING FROM THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS. UM, SO THAT THAT'S GREAT. I MEAN, BEGINNING AT THE CORE
OF YOUR QUESTION AROUND ALL HOUSING AND ZONING FOR HOUSING, UM, THAT'S AN ONGOING WORK IN PROGRESS. IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DEEPLY CARE ABOUT IN THE ADMINISTRATION AND UM, AS ONE
OF THE UM COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO TESTIFIED EARLIER STATED A LOT OF BOSTON'S UH, HOUSING STOCK IS NON-CONFORMING. IF YOU LOOK AT OUR UM, THE THE
RESIDENTIAL STOCK OF OUR CITY TODAY, UM, ALMOST 99% OF HOUSES UH SMALLER STOCK UH SMALLER INFILL HOUSES COULD NOT BE REBUILT EXACTLY AS THEY ARE UM
,AS OF RIGHT WITHOUT VARIANCES THAT'S A PROBLEM. IT'S A PROBLEM FOR JUST HOMEOWNERS BEING ABLE TO, UH, MAINTAIN AND REPAIR THEIR HOMES AND IT'S A PROBLEM FOR US BEING
ABLE TO, UM, ADD APPROPRIATE INFILL. SO WE'RE CHANGING THAT. WE'RE WORKING ON A ON A RESIDENTIAL REZONING STRATEGY THAT THAT ZONES TO BUILT FORM UH THIS ISN'T THAT THIS PARTICULAR STRATEGY IS NOT AN
UP ZONING STRATEGY. IT'S JUST A STRATEGY FOR ALLOWING UM, REPAIRS ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS AND APPROPRIATE INFILL HOUSING THAT MATCHES THE
CONTEXT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD UM, TO BE BUILT QUICKLY AND PREDICTABLY. UH, WE'RE STARTING AND THAT'S IN THE CENTER OF SOUTHERN THIRD OF THE CITY WHERE WE HAVE A LOWER DENSITY HOUSING STOCK AND
WE'RE MAKING OUR WAY INTO OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS AND PROBABLY NEXT YEAR. SO THAT'S THAT'S SOMETHING WE WANT TO COMPLETE THIS YEAR. UH, THAT'S MORE OF A PREDICTABILITY STRATEGY. UM, BUT THERE'S ALSO A NEED FOR ADDING HOUSING UNITS AS AS
YOU'VE HEARD VERY CLEARLY IN THE TESTIMONY YOU AND MANY OF YOU SAID IN YOUR OPENING STATEMENTS UM, AND WE'RE WORKING ON THAT AS WELL LOOKING FOR PLACES TO PREDICTABLY OBSERVE THE CITY.
WE'VE DONE IT UH, IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD IN CHARLESTOWN AT SCALE UH, WE TOOK IN AN AREA OF UH CHARLESTOWN THAT WAS UM PREVIOUSLY INDUSTRIAL INDUSTRIAL NEXT TO TWO TRANSIT
STOPS WALKABLE TO DOWNTOWN AND UM RESOUNDED FOR UH, DENSE HOUSING PRODUCTION THAT CAN ACCOMMODATE UP TO 10,000 HOUSING UNITS IN THE FUTURE. SO THAT'S ONE END OF THE SPECTRUM. ANOTHER END OF THE SPECTRUM WAS
DISCUSSED THE SQUARES AND STREETS INITIATIVE, UH, WHERE WE'RE PROVIDING SOME LEVEL OF MODERATE UP ZONING NEAR MAJOR TRANSIT NODES UM, LOOKING
FOR UM UH RETAIL FIRST FLOOR TO BACK TO 6 TO 8 UH STORIES OF HOUSING ON TOP. SO UH WE'VE CLEAR THAT IN ROSLINDALE WE'RE CLOSE TO COMPLETING IT IN FLAHERTY SQUARE AND LOOKING FORWARD TO EXPANDING IT UH, OVER THE
COURSE OF THIS YEAR. SO TECHNICALLY TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION IS HAVE WE COMPLETED, UH, THE ZONING EFFORTS IN BOSTON? NO, NOT AT ALL. BUT WE'VE FOR DECADES NOW WE'VE BEEN A CITY THAT'S BEEN LESS OPEN AS OF RIGHT CITY AND WE'RE
MOVING TOWARD AN ACTIVE RATE HOUSING TYPOLOGY. OKAY. >> I JUST HAD ONE QUICK FOLLOW UP. UH, JUST. UH YEAH. ADMINISTRATOR BACK HERE WE YEAH. YOU ANNOUNCE SOME GREAT
NEWS ABOUT CHARLESTOWN WITH THE ACCELERATOR FUND. IS THIS IS THE. ACCELERATOR FUND LIKE A MODEL THAT WE CAN USE FOR THE FUTURE? I WILL, UH, THANK YOU. CHAIR. UM. THIS IS THE LAST QUESTION. YEAH. >> I I THINK SO.
AND THANK YOU, COUNCILOR WEBER FOR GIVING ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THE COUNCIL ON THE RECORD . UM, BECAUSE THE COUNCIL DID UNANIMOUSLY VOTE FOR THE HOUSING ACCELERATOR FUND BACK IN JANUARY OF 2025.
AND UH, TODAY WE'RE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE'VE CLOSED ON, UM, THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SECOND BUILDING AT BUNKER HILL. IT'S THE FIRST MIXED INCOME BUILDING THERE. UM, AND IT'S GOING TO DELIVER UH, 266 UNITS INCLUDING 58
DEEPLY AFFORDABLE VOUCHER UNITS. AND I THINK A BIG DEAL THERE IS THAT WE'RE DOING IT WITHOUT LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS TO SUPPORT THOSE DEEPLY AFFORDABLE UNITS. UM, THOSE ARE A CRITICAL RESOURCE BUT THEY'RE THAT THEY
FORM THAT PIPELINE THAT SHEILA WAS TALKING ABOUT WHERE WE'RE KIND OF ALL IN LINE BEHIND EACH OTHER THE BAR AND OUR CDC AND EVERYONE BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND ALSO TO THE QUESTION THAT YOU JUST ASKED A WELL, LOW
INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS AGAIN ARE VERY VALUABLE. THEY DO TEND TO IMPOSE A CERTAIN LEVEL OF SORT OF WHAT ARE CALLED SOFT COSTS IN THE INDUSTRY. THERE'S LIKE A LOT OF KIND OF PAPERWORK AROUND THEM.
UM, AND YOU END UP SPENDING UH LIKE A HIGHER PROPORTION THAN YOUR AVERAGE MARKET RATE MIXED INCOME DEVELOPER OF YOUR TOTAL COST ON THOSE SOFT COSTS. AND HONESTLY IN OVER THE LAST
DECADE THAT'S GONE UP AND THIS IS A PROBLEM ALL OVER THE PLACE LIKE FROM LIKE IT USED TO BE LIKE 25% OF THE PROJECT COST THESE DAYS IT'S LIKE GETTING CLOSE TO 40% OF THE PROJECT COSTS. SO THERE'S LIKE A HUGE KIND OF TIME AND PAPERWORK COST
CONNECTED THERE. AND SO I THINK FOR US HAVING A STRATEGY WHERE WE CAN USE INVESTMENT RIGHT CRITICALLY THE ACCELERATOR MONEY IS US TAKING AN EQUITY INVESTMENT STAKE IN THE PROJECT NOT JUST STRAIGHT
SUBSIDY AND THEN ACTUALLY DELIVER THESE UNITS FASTER. UM AND WITHOUT SOME OF THAT ADDITIONAL STAFF COST I THINK IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT NEW TOOL IN OUR TOOLBOX. SO THANK YOU THANK. >> YOU THANK YOU
COUNCILOR CULPEPER. THANK YOU, CHAIR PÉPIN. UH AND TO MY. UM, COLLEAGUE WEBER I JUST WANT YOU TO ROCK WITH ME.
LIKE I SAID. THIS IS PART OF YOUR TIME COUNSELORS. ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT, COUNSELOR CULPEPER, YOU YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. DIRECTOR DYLAN I'M LOOKING AT
THE IDP CHART. UM, AND LOOKING. >> AT THE NUMBER OF UNITS THAT ARE IDP FUNDED. LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE A LOT OF SUCCESS WITH THE IDP FUNDS
AND BUILDING UNITS. I SEE 4040 100 FOR IDP FUNDED UNITS. UM, AND THEN 5100 UH ON SITE.
FOR THOSE. WHERE THE DEVELOPMENT IS. YES. >> SO THOSE ARE LOCATED IN THE MARKET RATE DEVELOPMENT OR OKAY PRETTY CLOSE BY BUT THEY ARE UNITS THAT UM WE ARE NOT
FUNDING. SO AND SO FOR THE 4100. MHM. IS THAT ALL IDP MONEY THAT'S FUNDING THOSE UNITS. YES. >> NO THEY MAY HAVE PRIVATE
DEBT THEY MAY HAVE LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS ADMINISTRATIVE BLOCK WAS MENTIONING BUT WE'RE USING THE UH EXTRACTIONS TO ACTUALLY FUND THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT AND AS I MENTIONED EARLIER UM
OFTENTIMES THE AFFORDABILITY LEVELS IN THOSE PROJECTS ARE LOWER SERVING A LOWER INCOME POPULATION, UH, WHICH WE REALLY NEED TO DO TO TO TAKE CARE OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS.
SO EXTRACTIONS AND BUYOUTS ARE NOT NECESSARILY ARE NOT ALWAYS A BAD THING. THERE'S SOMETIMES CAN BE REALLY REALLY WORTHWHILE. AND SO THE IDP FUNDING AND ONE
OF THE THINGS THAT THAT I PROPOSED WAS EXTENDING THE UH MILEAGE FROM UH HALF MILE TO TWO MILES. WHAT WOULD BE THE IMPACT IF WE
DID THAT? SO I THINK I IF I UNDERSTAND YOUR PROPOSAL CORRECTLY IS THAT IF A DEVELOPER WAS GOING TO DEVELOP UM, UH OFF SITE SO
RIGHT RIGHT NOW I THINK IN ZONING THEY HAVE TO BE WITHIN A HALF MILE RIGHT? RIGHT. SO A HALF MILE. SO UM AND THAT'S BECAUSE UM, OFTENTIMES UH THE COMMUNITY THE
COMMUNITY HAS WANTED UH TO SEE UNITS CREATED VERY VERY CLOSE TO THE TO THE SUBJECT TO THE TO THE NEW MARKET RATE HOUSING. YEAH. SO WE'VE HONORED THAT UM, ESPECIALLY GIVEN HOW MUCH THAT
WE TYPICALLY HAVE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE OUTER NEIGHBOR, SOME OF THE OUTER NEIGHBORHOODS. SO WE'VE THOUGHT THAT IT WAS A DECENT CONCESSION TO SAY IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO THEM OFF SITE, THEN YOU'RE GOING TO DO
THEM CLOSE BY TO THE MARKET. SO WE WOULD JUST SEE I THINK WE WOULD SEE LESS AFFORDABLE UNITS IN HIGHER PRICED DOWNTOWN LOCATIONS AND CONTINUE TO SEE
MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN OUR OUTER NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE WE ALREADY HAVE A HIGHER THAN AVERAGE CONCENTRATION. I GUESS MY QUESTION IS CAN WE
CAN WE AGREE THAT THERE WOULD BE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CREATED IF WE EXTENDED THAT UH, HALF MILE TO TWO MILES? I EVEN THOUGH IT MAY BE.
IN DIFFERENT NAMES. >> SO THE REQUIREMENT IS IF YOU'RE DEVELOPING YOUR UNITS OFF SITE RIGHT YOU'RE GOING TO YOU'RE YOU'RE YOU HAVE A YOU HAVE A MARKET RATE BUILDING BUT YOU'RE GOING TO MEET YOUR OBLIGATION BY BUILDING BY
BUYING A BUILDING. UM IT'S 20% OF IT WILL REQUIRE A 20%. SO WHETHER IT'S NEXT DOOR. TO THE MARKET RATE DEVELOPMENT.
OR 2,020% UM IN HYDE PARK IT'S GOING TO BE THE SAME NUMBER OF UNITS OR THE SAME NUMBER OF SQUARE FOOTAGE. SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF UNITS. WE'RE GOING TO SEE THEM IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS THE WAY
THAT IT'S WRITTEN OUT. RIGHT RIGHT. BUT WE'LL SEE AN INCREASE IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. YES. >> IF I HAD TO GUESS IF WE ALLOWED THAT WE WOULD SEE MORE DEVELOPERS MARKET RATE DEVELOPERS SEEK OUT
OPPORTUNITIES IN LOWER COST NEIGHBORHOODS. SO WE WOULD PROBABLY CONTINUE TO SEE A CONCENTRATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. RIGHT. >> AND WOULD THAT INCREASE THE NUMBER THOUGH? THAT'S THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET. NO BECAUSE THE AS IT'S AS IT'S
WRITTEN NOW THE REQUIREMENT IS 20% OF THE TOTAL UNITS OR 20% OF THE TOTAL SQUARE FOOTAGE. SO THERE'S NOT LIKE IF YOU BUILD OUT TWO MILES OUT WE'RE GOING TO. >> GO TO. 25% RIGHT? SO THAT'S NOT HOW IT'S WRITTEN
RIGHT NOW. OKAY MIKE NO NO OKAY GOT IT I'VE GOT IT. >> SO IF WE WEREN'T GOING TO MAKE A CHANGE IT WOULD HAVE TO BE IN THE PERCENTAGE. YOU WOULD HAVE TO IF IT'S.
25 OR 20 TO 27 IF WE REALLY WERE GOING TO MAKE A CHANGE THAT'S WHERE THE CHANGE. IF YOU WANTED TO SEE ADDITIONAL INCOME RESTRICTED UNITS YES YOU'D HAVE TO CHANGE THE PERCENTAGE.
YOU'D HAVE TO CHANGE THE ZONING CODE. CAN CAN YOU TELL ME THE AMOUNT UH FOR THE 4100 UNITS WHAT WAS THE AMOUNT OF THE FUNDS THE IDP
FUNDS THAT WENT INTO THOSE UNITS? SO THE TOTAL IS ON A FORMER PAGE. BUT IF YOU WANT BY NEIGHBORHOOD OR BY PROJECT I CAN GET THAT TO YOU. WE HAVE THAT BUT WE HAVE
COLLECTED $226 MILLION IN IN UM IDP OR IS UH FUNDING SO 226 MILLION HAS HELPED CREATE THOSE 4000 UNITS. AND WHAT ABOUT THE 5000?
THOSE ARE UH DEVELOPERS ARE JUST DEVELOPING THEM BECAUSE. >> THE. REQUIREMENT BUT THEY. GO ON SITE. BUT THEY OWN THE COST OF THOSE DEVELOP THOSE UNITS OKAY. SO IT DOESN'T GO INTO THE IDP FILE. NO THEY'RE NOT THEY'RE NOT
SEPARATELY. FUNDED BY US BY THE CITY. YOU MENTIONED THAT THE MAYOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER UH, WAS TO
REDUCE THE UH, APPROVAL PROCESS FROM TO 50%. CORRECT. YOU SAID THAT IT WAS AT 26. NOW THAT IS CORRECT. WHAT ARE YOU THINKING IN TERMS
OF REDUCING IT TO GET TO THE 50%? SO THERE ARE VERY SMART PEOPLE. RIGHT NOW AT THE CITY, UH, LOOKING AT THE WHOLE APPROVAL PROCESS THROUGH PLANNING AND THEN THE THE LIKE HOW PEOPLE
GET PERMITS. FOREVER FOR EVERY ACTIVITY INCLUDING HOUSING DEVELOPMENT. SO EVERY. THEY'RE LOOKING AT EVERY DEPARTMENT WHAT IS ABSOLUTELY REQUIRED AS. >> FAR AS APPROVALS. AND HOW MUCH TIME IT SHOULD
TAKE AND WHAT ACTIVITIES SHOULD BE DONE CONCURRENTLY LIKE RIGHT NOW LIKE ONE THING HAPPENS, ONE THING HAPPENS, ONE THING HAPPENS. SO THEY'RE LOOKING AT BOTH. PROCESS AND. REQUIREMENTS AND THE CHARTS.
MY EYES GLAZE OVER THERE LIKE YOU KNOW THIS BIG AND ALL THESE CIRCLES AND ALL THESE DEPARTMENTS AND DIVISIONS BUT THERE REALLY IS A COMMITMENT TO SHORTENING HOW HOW GOOD PROJECTS MOVE THROUGH THE
SYSTEM MORE QUICKLY. AND I KNOW COUNCILOR WU. YOU GOT ASKED THIS QUESTION. >> SO THANK YOU I KNOW COUNCILOR WE'RE WELL UH HAD A PROPOSAL TO UH MOVE THE
ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENT THAT REVIEW FROM UH BEFORE THE APPROVAL PROCESS UNTIL AFTER THE APPROVAL PROCESS. WILL THAT HELP IN TERMS OF THE TIME WITH REGARD TO THE
APPROVAL PROCESS OVERALL THE. CONSERVATION EFFORTS? I'M NOT DEEPLY FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROPOSAL BUT UM, WE'RE OPEN TO ANY IDEA THAT WILL SHAVE TIME OFF OF, UM THE
PERMITTING PROCESS FOR GOOD LIKE SHEILA MENTIONED GOOD UM, HOUSING PROJECTS. ONE THING I'LL MENTION ABOUT THE PERMITTING REFORM EFFORT THAT WE'RE IN NOW WE DID A LOT OF WORK TO PUT AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AT THE FRONT OF THE LINE AND JUST BRUTE FORCE SPEED UP OUR APPROVALS, AND THAT'S WHAT RESULTED IN THAT, UH, REDUCTION IN TIME TO GET THE REST OF THE WAY WE HAVE TO
ACTUALLY UM REFORM THE PROCESS. AND THE GOOD PART ABOUT THAT IS IT'S GOING TO BE FOR ALL HOUSING. SO WHETHER YOU'RE DOING A MARKET RATE DEVELOPMENT OR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT, IF IT'S A GOOD PROJECT THAT SHOULD
BE BUILT, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE US ISSUING PERMITS IN A MUCH FASTER TIME THAN IT HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY. AND I'M EXCITED TO HEAR MORE ABOUT COUNCILOR WELLS PROPOSAL TO HELP US GET THERE. RIGHT. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL CHAIR. >> AND JUST ONE QUESTION.
I HAVE TO BE FAIR I HAVE TO BE FAIR IF YOU HAVE A SECOND I'LL LET YOU. OKAY OKAY I'LL. SECOND ROUND. >> OF COURSE. THANK YOU. UM, COUNCILOR MURPHY, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU. >> UM, JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR
PRESENTATIONS. UM, I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS. DO YOU FEEL THAT INCOME LEVELS SHOULD BE. HIGHER FOR. >> AFFORDABLE UNITS? AND I THINK WE NEED A MIDDLE CLASS IN THE CITY.
I KNOW OBVIOUSLY OUR BIGGEST CONCERNS. >> ARE THOSE. WHO HAVE LESS INCOME BUT LIKE ARE WE ALREADY A BEDROOM COMMUNITY? ARE WE. ALMOST THERE? YEAH. SO THE UM AND.
I THINK YOU GET ACCESS TO THE WEB AND UM BUT I CAN CERTAINLY GET IT OVER TO YOU RIGHT NOW. GET IT OVER TO YOU OUR. OUR AM I ARE THE OUR. UM INCOME STANDARDS THAT WE USE ARE GIVEN TO US.
IN PART FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND WE PULL FROM A LOT OF SURROUNDING CITIES AND TOWNS TOWNS AND THEY'RE SOME OF THE WEALTHIEST. SO I HEAR JUST THE OPPOSITE
THAT UM THAT THE THE INCOMES NOW THAT WE THAT WE USE IN OUR HOUSING PROGRAMS ARE SO. HIGH ARE. >> SERVING YOU KNOW, FAMILIES THAT ARE MAKING, YOU KNOW, WELL OVER $100,000 MID ONES.
SO UM. SO I HEAR JUST THE OPPOSITE THAT BECAUSE WE'RE USING SUCH A LARGE. CATCHMENT AREA. >> AND WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY JUST LOOKING AT BOSTON RESIDENTS THAT THE INCOME LEVELS ARE TOO HIGH.
WHAT I WILL SAY THOUGH IS AND YOU KNOW, I THINK THE PUBLIC HOUSING THE NEW PUBLIC HOUSING THAT WAS THAT WAS IN THE PAPER JUST NOW AND THEN UH THE BAR IS OVERSEEING WE ARE LOOKING IN MOST DEVELOPMENTS FOR A REAL
RANGE. OF OF UNITS. SO UNITS THAT ARE SERVING OUR LOWEST. INCOME POPULATION ESPECIALLY. OUR SENIORS AND THEN. YOU KNOW, FAMILIES THAT ARE LOW INCOME AND FAMILIES THAT.
ARE ALSO YOU KNOW, MORE MIDDLE INCOME. UH RESIDENTS. SO WE WE. LIKE THE DEVELOPMENTS WHEN THEY. REALLY ARE SERVING A RANGE OF INCOMES. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE. ANYTHING YET. >> YEAH. >> JUST TWO THINGS TO ADD ON
THIS COUNSELOR. ONE IS I DO THINK THAT A MOVE THAT THE UM THAT THE CITY MADE IN RECENT YEARS TO SORT OF UM THINK ABOUT AVERAGING SOMETIMES ON AM I SO THAT THAT WAY LIKE
YOU COULD KIND OF SERVE BOTH GROUPS LIKE YOU GO UP A BIT BUT ALSO DOWN A BIT I THINK WAS A RESPONSE TO THE VARIETY OF FEEDBACK THAT WE GET ON SORT OF WHO SHOULD BE THE TARGET OF THESE POLICIES. SO I THINK THAT WAS A USEFUL THING.
I WILL SAY LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE WE HAVE A UM DEVELOPMENT THAT WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT WITH OUR PARTNERS, UM, THE COMMUNITY BUILDERS UH UM THEY'RE ACTUALLY ONE OF THREE THE PARTNERS WE'VE GOT AT OUR JAMAICA PLAIN
MILDRED HALEY REDEVELOPMENT. SO UM, NDC AND URBAN EDGE AND THE COMMUNITY BUILDERS BUT THE BUILDINGS THAT TCBY JUST HAS FINISHED AND THAT, UM, WE'LL BE HAVING A CELEBRATORY EVENT FOR
IN THE COMING MONTHS THEY JUST TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF THE MIX THEY'RE THEY'RE WE'RE LOOKING AT YOU KNOW WE'VE GOT 91 SORT OF OF OUR DEEPLY AFFORDABLE SECTION EIGHT REPLACEMENT UNITS
THERE AND THEN ANOTHER FOUR VOUCHER UNITS ON TOP BUT THEN WE VOUCHER UNITS ON TOP BUT THEN WE'VE GOT 18 AT 50% AMI THEN UH SORRY I'M DOING QUICK
MATH IN MY HEAD UM UH LIKE JUST 40 TO 60% AMI 2,480% AMI AND THEN 3,120% AMI SO THAT'S THE CASE WHERE WE'VE REALLY GOTTEN THE MIX. I WOULD SAY THOUGH THAT IT'S
JUST LIKE THE COUNCIL HAS TO KNOW MIDDLE INCOME UNITS ALSO REQUIRE A SUBSIDY AND GENERALLY VOUCHERS CAN'T SERVE THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE TOO HIGH FOR THE FEDERAL SUBSIDIES. SO IRONICALLY THE MIDDLE INCOME
UNITS ARE THE HARDEST TO FUND PER UNIT. OKAY I'D LIKE TO SPEND MY LAST FEW MINUTES TALKING ABOUT RESIDENTIAL ZONING AND ADU UM I
KNOW OBVIOUSLY WHEN YOU'RE SUPPORTING BIGGER PROJECTS THERE'S MORE HOUSING BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT AT EACH INDIVIDUAL HOUSING LEVEL AND I DID RECENTLY SPEAK WITH THE ADU
EXPERTS UPSTAIRS IF YOU COULD UM ALL OF YOU BUT DEVIN, IF YOU COULD KIND OF SPEAK MORE ABOUT ARE WE GOING TO BE MORE AGGRESSIVE AND I KNOW LIKE PLAN MATTAPAN HAD SOME MORE
AGGRESSIVE ZONING THERE. YEAH. >> SO YEAH AND GOING BACK TO WHAT I WAS SAYING EARLIER WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW IN THE MIDST OF LOOKING AT THE UM THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE CITY FOR RESIDENTIAL REZONING AND THE
GOAL OF THAT IS TO STOP REQUIRING HOMEOWNERS TO GO THROUGH AN ONEROUS PROCESS TO WHEN THEY'RE JUST REPAIRING THEIR HOMES, ADDING A DORMER,
ADDING A UM ADU UM OR A SMALL SCALE DEVELOPER THAT WANTS TO BUILD A HOME ON A VACANT LOT THAT LOOKS LIKE THE HOMES NEXT DOOR. WE WANT THAT TO BE EASY WHEN IT WOULD BE STREAMLINED WOULD HAPPEN QUICKLY. WE HAVE PASSED THAT ZONING IN
MATTAPAN. WE'VE SEEN, UH, REQUESTS FOR VARIANCES FOR CHROMATICALLY IN THERE DOWN TO ABOUT TWO THIRDS. UM AND AND WE'RE TAKING THOSE LESSONS LEARNED AND I HAVE TO.
SAY THOUGH YOUR MATTAPAN ZONE LINE I FOUND OUT IS NOT ALL OF IT'S. >> NOT. YEAH. >> YOU'VE SHRUNK IT IN. YOU DIDN'T USE THE MORTON STREET WASHINGTON STREET RIVER STREET OUTLINE WHICH I'M
UNFORTUNATELY FAILING RIGHT NOW BUT I I'M GOING TO ADVOCATE THAT THAT NOT JUST CITYWIDE BUT THAT GROWS BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE THAT AT EACH INDIVIDUAL
INCIDENT IF IT'S LIKE SAY MYSELF AND I CAN MY MOM CAN SELL HER HOUSE AND THEN MOVE IN AND HAVE PRIVACY, YOU KNOW, HAVE HER OWN SPACE. IT'S LIKE YOU'RE FREEING UP A
HOUSE TO BE SOLD. YOU'RE ALLOWING A SENIOR TO LIVE IN DIGNITY BUT ALSO STAY IN THE CITY. SO IT'S LIKE I FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD FOCUS A LOT ON MAKING SURE THAT GOES THROUGH.
SO I'D LOVE TO OFFLINE SET UP A TIME TO KIND OF TALK HOW I CAN WORK MORE AGGRESSIVELY ON GETTING THAT ZONING PASS THROUGH. THE CITY COUNCILOR THANK YOU. SO I WILL GIVE. MY ONE. >> MINUTE TO CALL PEPPER.
NO KIDDING. I'M ALL SET. UM YEAH, BUT THANK YOU. >> I. JACK OKAY. I'M GOOD. >> THANK YOU COUNCILOR UM, I'LL TAKE IT. OKAY. UM. THERE'S COUNCILOR FLYNN, COUNCILOR FLYNN FOR US.
THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. AND, UM, THANK YOU, COUNCILOR. PEPEN AND COUNCILOR WEBER. >> FROM REVEREND CULPEPER. UH, BRINGING. US TOGETHER TODAY. UM. >> I BELIEVE. AS WE.
FACE THIS HOUSING CRISIS. ALL OPTIONS MUST BE ON THE TABLE TO INCREASE SUPPLY. AND MEET THE DEMAND FOR HOUSING . IN AFFORDABLE UNITS. IT'S TIME WE ACKNOWLEDGE THIS REALITY THAT.
WE'RE LOSING IDP. AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WHEN WE. STOP BUILDING. THIS IS. >> NOW BEYOND. >> THE HOUSING CRISIS. THIS IS A HOUSING EMERGENCY. SUPPLY IS DOWN. PRICES ARE GOING UP. PROPERTY VALUES PROPERTY TAXES
GO UP. WE CANNOT BECOME A CITY. THAT ONLY THE. WEALTHY LIVE. >> IN OR IF YOU INHERIT A HOME FROM YOU FROM A. FAMILY MEMBER. WE HAVE TO BE A CITY ALSO FOR
WORKING FAMILIES WE ALSO KNOW WE'RE NOT BUILDING. HOUSING AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING DUE TO SEVERAL YEARS OF POST PANDEMIC INFLATION, A HIGH INTEREST RATE. ENVIRONMENT. >> RISING CONSTRUCTION TARIFFS
. ON PLANNED. DOWNTOWN I ADVOCATED TO REQUIRE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON SITE. I THINK IT WAS A MISTAKE NOT HAVING AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON SITE AS PART OF PLANNED
DOWNTOWN BOSTON. DOWNTOWN BOSTON THERE'S THERE'S ALSO A LARGE AS SHE KNOWS THERE'S ALSO A LARGE ASIAN COMMUNITY THAT LIVES THERE. BUT DOWNTOWN BOSTON SHOULD BE A
PLACE AS WELL FOR UM, LOW INCOME SENIORS AND FAMILIES. UM, I FILED A TEXT AMENDMENT THAT I HOPE I DO HOPE MY CITY COUNCILORS WILL SUPPORT ME ON REQUIRING ON SITE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. UM, IN DOWNTOWN BOSTON I VOTED TO INCREASE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS AND SUPPORTED AS MUCH OR MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS ANYONE IN
OUR CITY OVER THE LAST YEAR ESPECIALLY IN CHINATOWN, SOUTH BOSTON, THE SOUTH AND THROUGHOUT THE MY DISTRICT I SUPPORTED THE BUNKER HILL PROJECT AT VHA.
UM BUT I DO KNOW. AND MY MY MAIN POINT IS I DO KNOW SINCE WE'RE NOT BUILDING THE THE HOUSING THAT WE NEED THE 20% IDP RATE UM IS
CHALLENGING FOR DEVELOPERS. I ALSO THINK THE BURDEN OF REGULATIONS ARE CHALLENGING FOR FOR DEVELOPERS. AND SHEILA, I TALKED TO YOU BEFORE THE START OF THE MEETING .
AND I, I MENTIONED TO YOU THAT I WOULD BE LEAVING BECAUSE I HAD A. HAD A MEETING. UH FOR A FEW MINUTES BUT. IS THE IDP. PROCESS NOW? AND I AND I LISTENED TO THE
DEBATE ABOUT JAMAICA PLAIN. IS A CASE BY CASE BASIS WHERE UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES THAT 20% COULD BE REDUCED IF
THERE IS A FINANCIAL KIND OF EMERGENCY. UM AND I CALLED FOR A REDUCTION AGAIN FROM 20% TO SOMETHING LOWER DURING THESE ECONOMIC CHALLENGING TIMES.
I KNOW I GOT A LOT OF PUSHBACK FROM MY CITY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES ON IT. UM, THEY ALSO PUSHED BACK ON REGULATIONS UM, THAT I SAID ARE IMPACTING US BUT IS A CASE BY
CASE BASIS IN TERMS OF THE 20% AND. MAYBE MAYBE IT GOES DOWN TO UH 17% UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES LIKE THE CASE MENTIONED IN
JAMAICA PLAN. SO UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S. JUST A COUPLE OF THOUGHTS AND CERTAINLY MY COLLEAGUES WILL PROBABLY WANT TO ADD. SO RIGHT NOW THERE IS A VERY LARGE AND I'M SURE YOU'VE HEARD
US ALL. SAY THIS. >> BUT IT'S TRUE THERE ARE TENS . OF THOUSANDS OF UNITS WITH OLD OLDER IDP REQUIREMENTS RIGHT? THE 13% OR. >> 15% AND SOMETIMES ESPECIALLY
IN AUSTIN BRIGHTON THE 17%. AND THEY ARE THEY ARE MOST OF THEM ARE STUCK. WE'RE STARTING TO SEE SOME MOVEMENT WHICH. >> IS REALLY GREAT TO SEE BUT MOST. >> OF THOSE. >> ARE STUCK. SO IT'S. IT'S YES IT'S I THINK YOU. KNOW CERTAINLY.
>> ANY OBLIGATION IS. GOING TO. IMPACT FEASIBILITY BUT. WHAT WE'RE. SEEING IS. >> CONSTRUCTION COSTS UM HAVE AND AND JUST. OPERATING EXPENSES ETC. ARE HAVING LARGER IMPACTS THAN.
THAN THE IDP. BUT WHEN DEVELOPERS COME IN AND THEY ARE VERY INTERESTED IN ADVANCING. GOOD PROJECTS. WHETHER THEY'RE IDP. OR ISG BUT WE'RE SEEING MORE IDP. BECAUSE MOST.
DEVELOPERS HAVE PRETTY LARGE. UH, PIPELINES RIGHT. NOW AND. THEY CAN SHOW US NUMBERS AND THEY WANT TO WORK WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE PROGRAM. RIGHT? SO WE'RE NOT SAYING YOU DON'T
OH WE'RE JUST WE'RE WE'RE. DISCUSSING HOW THEY OH. WHAT WHAT YOU KNOW HOW THEY'RE GOING TO MEET THEIR OBLIGATION. WE CERTAINLY ARE ROLLING UP OUR SLEEVES AND WORKING WITH THEM VERY VERY.
INTENTLY TO ADVANCE THEIR PROJECTS. AND WE'RE STARTING TO. SEE THAT THAT. WORK ALONG WITH THEIR OWN WORK TO GET THEIR THEIR NUMBERS DOWN . THEY'RE LOOKING REALLY AT THEIR CONSTRUCTION. COST VALUE.
ENGINEERING MAKING MAKING SOME CHANGES WITH PLANNING THAT WE'RE STARTING TO SEE PROJECTS ADVANCE WORK. SO I AM HOPEFUL THAT THIS STRATEGY IS REALLY STARTING TO UNLEASH. SOME PRODUCTION. THAT YEAH.
>> YEAH THANK YOU SHEILA UM I. I RESPECT. >> THAT POSITION AND IT DOES SEEM LIKE THAT YOU KNOW DEPENDING ON THE CIRCUMSTANCE OF THE OF THE PROJECT, YOU KNOW THAT 20% COULD BE REDUCED AND I
AGREE. >> WITH THAT. I AGREE WITH THAT. I KNOW THERE WAS PUSHBACK FROM MY COLLEAGUES WHEN I ADVOCATED FOR IT. UM, BUT WE HAVE TO GET THE ECONOMY MOVING AGAIN. WE HAVE TO GET HOUSING BUILT
AGAIN. WE HAVE TO GET CRANES IN THE SKY. UH. WE NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND WHETHER IT'S 13% AT 12% OR 14%
THAT'S BETTER THAN 0%. UM, SO I I'M DOING EVERYTHING I CAN. SO LET ME ASK STEVEN DEVON. WHY WHY WERE YOU GUYS AGAINST,
UM, ON-SITE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND IN DOWNTOWN BOSTON. AND I WOULDN'T SAY WE'RE OPPOSED TO IT AT ALL. AND OUR PRIORITY IS ALWAYS TO HAVE AFFORDABILITY MIXED WITHIN
THE BUILDING THAT IS, UM, THAT THE WAY THE INCLUSIONARY ZONING POLICY WAS WRITTEN? UM, THE REASON WHY THERE ARE UH ,ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS IS BECAUSE IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES AND SHEILA'S TEAM IS ABSOLUTELY
THE PRO AT THIS, UH, YOU CAN MAXIMIZE THE NUMBER OF AFFORDABLE, AFFORDABLE UNITS BY MOVING THEM SLIGHTLY OFF SITE. AND SO WE'RE WE IN GENERAL WOULD ALWAYS PREFER TO HAVE UH
,THE AFFORDABILITY OCCUR IN THE BUILDING BUT IF WE CAN GET MORE DONE. YEAH I. UNDERSTAND DEVIN. BUT DURING THE UM THE PLAN DOWNTOWN THAT WASN'T THAT
WASN'T THE DISCUSSION YOU YOU YOUR TEAM DIDN'T AGREE WITH ME THAT THE ON SITE THE IDP SHOULD BE ON SITE AND I WANTED TO SEE A DOWNTOWN WHERE WE COULD HAVE IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORS.
WE COULD HAVE LOW INCOME RESIDENTS OF WORKING CLASS FAMILIES IN DOWNTOWN BOSTON. THAT WAS A PRIORITY FOR ME TO DOWNTOWN BOSTON IS ALSO A SHORT WALK AS WE ALL KNOW THAT CHINATOWN THERE'S A LARGE
ENGAGE ENGAGE IN COMMUNITY IN DOWNTOWN BOSTON. I WANTED TO SEE MORE UM CHINESE RESIDENTS HAVE THE ABILITY TO MOVE DOWNTOWN. I THINK IT WAS A MISTAKE BUT I
THINK WE CAN, UM, RECOVER FROM IT BY SUPPORTING MY MY TEXT AMENDMENT. WOULD YOU COMMIT TO SUPPORTING MY TEXT AMENDMENT? UM, I THINK WE I'M NOT IN
POSITION TO COME IN AND HAVE THE ADMINISTRATION TO IMPOSE A PARTICULAR CHANGE. BUT I DO APPRECIATE YOUR POINT AROUND MAXIMIZING AFFORDABILITY IN CHINATOWN AND THE ABILITY TO MOVE UNITS WITHIN A QUARTER
MILE OF DOWNTOWN IS A STRATEGY BY WHICH WE WOULD BE ABLE TO PRODUCE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN CHINATOWN. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. ONE FINAL QUESTION. BUT DEVIN ANSWER THE THE THE. PLAN CHINATOWN. AND SHEILA. >> MIGHT KNOW THIS.
LET ME ASK YOU THE PLAN. CHINATOWN. ARE WE GOING. >> TO KEEP OUR AFFORDABLE UNITS IN CHINATOWN? OH, I CAN'T IMAGINE. I CANNOT IMAGINE A DAY WHERE WE WOULD ALLOW, UH, A DEVELOPER TO
MEET THEIR OBLIGATION OUTSIDE OF. OKAY, NO. AND I DO WANT TO SAY. THANK YOU. >> SHEILA, YOU'VE BEEN AN. EXCELLENT ADVOCATE FOR THE CHINATOWN COMMUNITY. FOR THE ASIAN COMMUNITY. AND I RESPECT THE WORK YOU'RE DOING. MR CHAIR, THANK YOU FOR GIVING
ME AN EXTRA MINUTE. THANK YOU. >> COUNCILOR. COUNCILOR DURKAN. THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR. UM, AND THANK YOU TO OUR ESTEEMED PANEL. UM, I REALLY DO BELIEVE I'VE BEEN A LEADER ON SUPPORTING
HOUSING AND BEING A LEADER ON VIBRANCY IN OUR CITY AND THAT INCLUDED SUPPORTING PLANNED DOWNTOWN. UM, I I THINK THAT AS A CITY WE HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD IN A WAY THAT ACKNOWLEDGES WHERE WE ARE
. I THINK, UM, WE NEED OPPORTUNITY TO COME TO AREAS THAT ARE UM IN THE MOST DENSE AREAS AND IF THERE CAN'T BE HEIGHT IN THE DOWNTOWN, WHERE CAN THERE BE HEIGHT?
I'VE ASKED THAT QUESTION OVER AND OVER AGAIN. UM AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. UM, I THINK BEING A LEADER ON HOUSING IS ALSO ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THERE IS A TENSION HERE
WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND BUILDING HOUSING AND UM AND I JUST WANTED TO SORT OF BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS ESTEEMED PANEL HERE JUST ASK WHAT DO YOU FEEL LIKE THE RELATIONSHIP IS
BETWEEN LOWERING THE COST OF HOUSING AND PROMOTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY AND LIKE HOW DO WE REALLY HAVE THAT TENSION? UM, LIKE IS IT YOU KNOW, I I
HAVE YOU KNOW, BROUGHT FORWARD IDEAS LIKE UM SPECIAL TAX AGREEMENTS IS OBVIOUSLY A VERY HARD TIME RIGHT NOW TO UM YOU KNOW TO TO TO BE ADVOCATING FOR
PEOPLE PAYING LESS TAXES ON THEIR TAXABLE UM BUT IN ORDER TO GET THE MARKET MOVING UM, I'M JUST SORT OF CURIOUS HOW YOU ALL SORT OF ANTICIPATE AND
UM AND HAVE THAT CONVERSATION ABOUT THE TENSION AROUND MANDATING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND AND BUILDING HOUSING IN GENERAL. AND SO AND I MEAN SHEILA. MENTIONED THIS.
ALREADY BUT THERE ARE ONE. THING THAT IS TO OUR BENEFIT IS THAT THERE IS A LARGE NUMBER OF HOUSING UNITS THAT ARE ALREADY APPROVED IN THE. >> CITY OF AUSTIN AND SO WE HAVE. CLOSE TO 30,000 UNITS THAT ARE APPROVED AND I GET STARTED
CONSTRUCTION AROUND. UM 8000 OF THOSE ARE UH RENTAL . UH MARKET RATE RENTAL UNITS THAT ARE IN SORT OF LIKE A MORE LOW RISE, LESS AND LESS EXPENSIVE. CONSTRUCTION FORMS THAT MIGHT BE A PARTICULAR AREA WHERE WE
CAN. UH. >> FOCUS OUR EFFORTS. AND THERE'S A MIX OF AFFORDABILITY AND UH, THOSE. APPROVALS BECAUSE THEY SOME OF THEM. DATE BACK FIVE YEARS IT MIGHT BE AT 13%. SOME MIGHT. BE AT 15 AND SOME MIGHT BE AT 17.
SO UM WE'RE NOT HAVING A. >> LOT OF DEVELOPERS. COME TO US AND SAY THAT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 13 AND 17% IS THE ONE REASON. WHY THEY'RE. NOT MOVING. THEIR HOUSING. CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS FORWARD
AND THEY'RE. TELLING US THAT. >> IT'S. THE COST OF CAPITAL, IT'S THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION AND WE'RE WORKING UP ROLLING UP OUR SLEEVES AS SHEILA. WAS MENTIONING WITH EVERY EVERY DEVELOPER WHO WAS CLOSE BECAUSE A LOT OF A.
LOT OF DEVELOPMENT IS JUST NOT CLOSE BASED. ON THOSE FACTORS. BUT IF YOU'RE CLOSE. AND THERE'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO TO UH. TO HELP. >> YOU. >> WE ARE OPEN. >> TO. ANY CONVERSATION TO. GET THAT GOING BECAUSE I COMPLETELY. AGREE WITH YOUR PREMISE. THAT BUILDING HOUSING IS IS.
UM. >> CRITICAL AND AND ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS WE CAN. >> DO IS TO. BE ADDRESSING HOUSING AFFORDABILITY. >> IN OUR CITY. >> AND I KNOW WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO CUT DOWN THE COSTS FOR PERMITTING NEW UNITS. UM, HOW MUCH PROGRESS DO YOU THINK THERE'S BEEN ON THAT
PARTICULAR ISSUE? I MEAN, GIVEN THAT WE'VE WE'RE ALSO HEARING, YOU KNOW, FROM THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT ABOUT HOW LONG IT TAKES TO JUST PERMIT A SIGN. YEAH. YEAH. >> SO UM AND WE'RE WE'RE MAKING LOTS OF PROGRESS AND THERE'S
STILL LOTS OF WORK TO DO. SO THINGS WE'VE DONE ALREADY. IS WE'VE STREAMLINED. >> THE ARTICLE 80 PROCESS. >> TO MAKE IT MORE PREDICTABLE, UM, AND TO UH. MOVE FORWARD WITH QUICK. UH, INFILL PROJECTS THAT MAKE A LOT OF SENSE STUDENTS.
WHO ARE FAST EXPEDITE PROCESS BUT HAVE A RESERVE. UH, A LENGTHY. APPROVAL PROCESS FOR THINGS THAT ARE DRAMATIC AND NEIGHBORHOOD CHANGING. UH, WE ARE WORKING REALLY HARD WITH OUR COLLEAGUES TO.
CHANGE ZONING THROUGHOUT THE CITY. WHICH WILL. >> PROVIDE A. >> STREAMLINED PROCESS PROCESS FOR APPROVAL WITHOUT. >> SENDING PROJECTS TO THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS, WHICH WILL CUT MONTHS AND MONTHS AFTER A LOT OF. >> THE PROCESS. SO WHERE WE. HAVE THE ZONING IN PLACE LIKE THAT, PAM, THAT WAS MENTIONED.
EARLIER AND. >> IN. CHARLESTOWN THAT'S. >> WORKING BUT WE NEED TO GET TO THE REST OF THE CITY. UM THEN THERE ARE THINGS THAT. HAPPEN AFTER YOUR UM. ENTITLEMENTS ARE IN. PLACE AND THINGS LIKE THAT. UH, BUILDING CODE.
REVIEW, THE FIRE CODE REVIEW. UM PARKS COMMISSION AND CONSERVATION COMMISSION. >> ALL THE DIFFERENT PARTS. OF GOVERNMENT THAT COME TOGETHER THAT HAVE TO HAVE A VOICE IN GETTING, UH, A BUILDING BUILT. UH.
OUR NEW INITIATIVE IS REALLY. TARGETING THOSE. PERMITTING ASPECTS AND HAVING THE CITY SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE. CLEARLY CONSISTENTLY EARLY IN THE PROCESS. SO THAT WE CAN PREDICTABLY.
SPEED THROUGH GOOD HOUSING PROJECTS AND ALSO SAY, HEY. THIS ISN'T RIGHT. UH, EARLY ON. UH, WHEN UH, A PROJECT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE IT IS NOT IN CONFORMING WITH. WITH OUR EXPECTATIONS FOR. THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE HEAR CLEARLY FROM. DEVELOPERS THAT AN EARLY NO IS BETTER. THAN THAT FOREVER. MAYBE UM AND THAT'S BETTER FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO SO THAT'S A PHILOSOPHY. THAT WE'RE BRINGING INTO OUR PERMITTING PROCESS. AND ONE OF MY KEY POINTS
OF ADVOCACY WITHIN ARTICLE 80 MODERNIZATION HAS BEEN TO UM, MAINTAIN THE SUN SETTING PROVISION IN ARTICLE 80. I KNOW IT'S COUNTERINTUITIVE BUT ALL OF THESE UNITS THAT ARE
PERMITTED UM, IT HAS AN INFLATIONARY UM RELATIONSHIP TO THE PROPERTY AND IN CORE AREAS ESPECIALLY IN MY DISTRICT IMPORTANT CORNERS, UM KEY
INTERSECTIONS WHERE THERE ARE KEY PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN SITTING FOR OVER TEN YEARS. I THINK THE CITY NEEDS TO MAINTAIN THAT RIGHT TO REMOVE UM PERMITTING UM ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'VE WHEN IT'S BEEN
PROVEN THAT IT'S INFEASIBLE UM BECAUSE ESSENTIALLY WHAT UH, SOME OF THESE LANDOWNERS WANT IS A HUGE PAYDAY AND ESSENTIALLY UM, FOR PROJECTS THAT THEY KNOW CANNOT BE BUILT .
SO UM, I THINK I JUST WANT TO CONTINUE TO READ THAT INTO THE RECORD, UM, AND ADVOCATE FOR THAT. UM, I DO THINK THE CITY HAVING AN OMBUDSMAN UM, TO TRY TO, YOU KNOW, UNLOCK PROJECTS AND GET
WORK GOING UM, PART OF THAT PROCESS IS ALSO KNOWING WHEN TO CALL IT. UM AND SO UM I DO THINK WE ARE AT A CRISIS POINT FOR HOUSING
IN GENERAL IN THE CITY. I THINK THAT'S REFLECTED IN OUR CITY BUDGET AND I THINK WE DO NEED TO BRING TOGETHER A TASK FORCE OF SORTS. AND I JUST WANT TO ASK SORT OF WHAT WHAT GROUPS ARE BEING
BROUGHT TOGETHER AT THIS MOMENT TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN SOLVE THIS ISSUE. AND SO WE'RE AT ROUTINELY REGULAR. MEETING MEETING WITH AND UH. STAKEHOLDERS ACROSS THE SPECTRUM.
AND SO SHEILA AND UH THE TEAM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE HOUSING BRING TOGETHER HOUSING ADVOCATES. >> ON A QUARTERLY BASIS. THAT ARE BOTH. MARK GREAT AND AFFORDABLE ADVOCATES. WERE MEETING. >> WITH DEVELOPERS AND. AND BOTH CONVENING IN UM AT CITY HALL BUT.
ALSO FREQUENTLY GOING. OUT AND UH UH. REAL ESTATE. INDUSTRY EVENTS WHERE ANY THEY. WERE SAYING EARLIER WE'RE ROLLING UP OUR SLEEVES. >> TO HELP ANY INDIVIDUAL. PROJECT MOVE FORWARD.
AND COMMUNICATE TO UM, ANYONE WHO WANTS TO BUILD HOUSING IN OUR CITY THAT WE'RE ALL FROM BUSINESS AND WANT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET IT DONE. YEAH, I THINK ESPECIALLY SMALL PROJECTS AND PROJECTS THAT CAN BE UNSTUCK BY CITY REALLY
COMING TOGETHER AND UM I KNOW I'M OUT OF TIME BUT I JUST THINK OUR ADVOCACY ON THIS ISSUE IS IMPORTANT AND I DO WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF HOUSING FOR THEIR WORK ON 2729 HANCOCK STREET,
WHICH INVOLVED SOME ARPA FUNDING AND IT'S GOING TO BE AFFORDABLE UM, HOMEOWNERSHIP IN BEACON HILL. THAT'S INCREDIBLE. UM, OUR LADIES GUILD HOUSE WHICH I KNOW IS STILL ON THE PIPELINE IS FENWAY FORWARD IS HERE.
UM, THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT PROJECTS THAT ARE UM THAT ARE HAPPENING AND UM, WE DON'T WANT TO WE DON'T WANT TO POOPOO THAT WORK, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO REALIZE THAT, UM, OUR CITY UM
AND OUR VITALITY AND THE HEALTH OF OUR CITY DEPENDS ON ALL TYPES OF HOUSING BEING BUILT AT ALL TIMES. AND SO WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO MAINTAIN THAT THOSE UM AND BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND
FIGURE OUT THIS ISSUE IS JUST TANTAMOUNT TO OUR SUCCESS AS A CITY. SO THANK YOU TO THE PANEL. THANK YOU COUNCIL. MR CHAIRMAN. YES. I'M SO SORRY. UM, IT'S MY HONOR TO BE A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE AND THEY
HAVE A NOON MEETING THAT I THINK THEY NEED ME FOR QUORUM. SO I'M SO SORRY TO HAVE TO. UH. >> UM, PART MY APOLOGY AND MY APOLOGIES IN PARTICULAR TO COUNCILOR FITZGERALD FOR LEAVING BEFORE, UH, HIS QUESTIONS. >> BUT I JUST WANT TO APOLOGIZE. THANK YOU. >> OH. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOU LETTING US
KNOW. OKAY. I THINK. UM. >> COUNCILOR FITZGERALD, I HOPE YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, BUT THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU CHAIR AND THANK YOU PANEL. GOOD LUCK.
KENSI, UM, OF THE 6210, UH, INCOME RESTRICTED UNITS THAT WERE COMPLETED OR BEGAN IN THE MAYOR'S FIRST TERM, DO. WE KNOW HOW. MANY WERE COMPLETED. VERSUS HOW MANY BEGAN CONSTRUCTION IN THAT TIME?
I DON'T HAVE IT WITH ME, BUT YEAH, WE HAVE THAT. I CAN GET THAT TO YOU. I JUST THOUGHT IT WOULD BE INTERESTING NOTE TO WONDER WHAT WAS ALREADY IN THE PIPELINE AND COMPLETED VERSUS UH, POTENTIAL NEW POLICIES COMING IN AND
CHANGING ANYTHING. YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO WAY TO YOU YOU KNOW, WHEN THERE'S A NEW ADMINISTRATION COMES IN THERE'S THERE'S NEVER. EVER A CLEAN. WAY TO KIND OF BECAUSE THINGS ARE JUST CONTINUING THROUGH. >> BUT YES, WE CAN GET THAT TO YOU KNOW, UNDERSTOOD.
THANK YOU. UM, COUNCILOR DURKAN MENTIONED THE ARPA FUNDING. UM, I THINK IN TOTAL I THINK WE HAVE ABOUT 103 MILLION LEFT TO SPEND 60.4 MILLION ON HOUSING
SPECIFICALLY, WHICH WOULD BE ABOUT UH, I THINK AND YOU TELL ME IF THESE NUMBERS ARE UH, DIFFERENT BUT ABOUT 31.4 MILLION IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT HOMEOWNERSHIP, 11.2 MILLION IN DEEP ENERGY
RETROFITS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, 7.2 MILLION IN INCOME RESTRICTED HOUSING. ALL THOSE ARE ABOUT 50% OF WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY SET ASIDE. SO GIVEN IT'S TAKEN THAT THIS LONG TO GET TO.
50. >> DO WE THINK BY THE END OF THIS YEAR WE ARE GOING TO SPEND DOWN THE REMAINING 50% OF EACH OF THOSE? IT'S A VERY. >> GOOD QUESTION COUNCILOR. AM I A AAF DIRECTOR? RICK WILSON STAYS UP AT NIGHT WORRYING ABOUT THIS BUT YES WE
FEEL VERY VERY CONFIDENT AND. INVITE YOU OR YOUR STAFF TO JOIN US. AND EVERY WEEK WE. MEET AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ON TRACK. YOU KNOW DEVELOPMENT TAKES A LONG AND IT TAKES A LONG TIME AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT TODAY. BUT ALL OF.
THOSE FUNDING RESOURCES. >> HAVE. A. PROJECT YOU KNOW THAT THAT'S IDENTIFIED TO TO GO TO. UM AND THEY'RE ALL GOING WE ALL WE ONLY. USED ARPA. FUNDING FOR PROJECTS THAT WE
FELT VERY CONFIDENT WE'RE GOING TO START CONSTRUCTION BEFORE. >> THE END OF THE YEAR. SO I. >> FEEL VERY I'M. NOT WORRIED ABOUT THIS. I FEEL VERY. VERY CONFIDENT THAT WE HAVE WE HAVE UH A SOLUTION TO GETTING ALL THOSE PROJECTS UM BACK
JUMPSTARTED SO. NO, I MEAN AND THAT'S AWESOME BECAUSE IF THE MONEY'S THERE RIGHT. YEAH. LET'S USE IT I APPRECIATE YES. UM, THE REST OF SORT OF JUST COMMENTS BACK AND FORTH. UM BUT I GUESS UH, MR. CLERK,
YOU TALKED ABOUT PREPARING FOR WHEN THE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT COMES BACK. UM, BUT I ALSO HOPE WE ARE DOING POLICY THAT HELPS. WE'RE NOT JUST WAITING AND SETTING UP POLICIES FOR WHEN IT COMES BACK BUT TRYING TO SPUR
IT TO COME BACK. RIGHT. THAT'S I I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE FOR THE RECORD THAT'S UH THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD IT AS SUCH AS WELL UM I SEE LIKE A DUAL PIPELINE PROBLEM COMING UP
BUT THERE'S A HARD THING FOR GETTING UNITS BEING BUILT TODAY. BUT THEN WHENEVER I GO OUT AND TALK TO BANKERS, INVESTORS, DEVELOPERS, COMMERCIAL FOLKS UM, THEY'RE SAYING THAT BOSTON
IS ON THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST OF CITIES THAT PEOPLE WANT TO INVEST IN, RIGHT. AND PUT THEIR MONEY HERE UH, IF NOT CLOSE TO THE BOTTOM. UM, AND THIS IS WHAT I'M HEARING ANECDOTALLY SO PLEASE. RIGHT.
I DON'T HAVE THAT BUT UM SO ONE CONCERN I WORRY ABOUT AND I DON'T REALLY EXPECT AN ANSWER BUT JUST FOR YOU GUYS TO THINK ABOUT THERE'S THE ISSUE OF GETTING THINGS DONE TODAY
OF HOW DO WE THE EXISTING APPROVED PROJECTS THAT ARE ON THE BENCH WAITING TO POP BUT THEN AFTERWARDS I WORRY ABOUT THE LONGER RECOVERY OF IF THERE
ISN'T PEOPLE COMING IN AND MAYBE ONCE IT POPS THAT CHANGES. BUT STILL I FEEL LIKE WE'RE PLAYING MORE AND MORE OF CATCH UP BECAUSE UH, THERE ARE OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT ARE SEEING GROWTH SEEING INVESTMENT THAT ARE DEALING
WITH THE SAME NATIONAL ISSUES THAT WE HAVE. UM, BUT YET WE FIND OURSELVES AT THE BOTTOM OF THAT LIST WHERE PLACES LIKE CHARLOTTE AND AUSTIN ARE SORT OF SAYING WE'RE BOOMING HERE. UM, AND EVEN IN GREATER BOSTON,
UM, SEEING A GREATER GROWTH UH ,AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW I DON'T I'M NOT ASKING A SPECIFIC QUESTION BUT I SORT OF SEE THAT AS A SHORT TERM AND A LONG TERM PIPELINE ISSUE THAT WE COULD BE AFFECTED BY. UM, I JUST DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU
GUYS HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT. YEAH. THAT'S SAY, UM, JUST TEND. TO AGREE WITH YOU THAT COST OF HOUSING IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO THE ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS . OF BOSTON. SO IF A FIRM IS THINKING ABOUT
WHERE TO RELOCATE THEY HAVE CHOICES. AND WHILE WE ARE GREAT CITY THAT WE'RE AND WE'RE REALLY PROUD TO BE HERE AT THE COST OF HOUSING IS MUCH CHEAPER SOMEWHERE ELSE THAT PUTS BOSTON AT THAT. COMPETITIVE DISADVANTAGE.
SO IT IS IT IS ON US TO. TACKLE THIS ISSUE AS BEST WE CAN AT THE. LOCAL LEVEL AND IN ORDER TO. UM. >> ENSURE THAT WE ARE A PLACE WHERE COMPANIES WANT TO LOCATE AND WE WANT TO GROW AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE DO THAT IN A
WAY THAT PREVENTS DISPLACEMENT AND. IT HELPS PEOPLE WHO ARE WHO LIVE IN BOSTON TODAY REMAIN BOSTONIANS. BUT OUR HOUSING POLICIES NEED TO BALANCE BOTH THOSE ISSUES
AND REMAIN FIRMLY PRO-GROWTH. THANK YOU. UM, I DO WANT TO ADD SORT OF JUST A DEVELOPMENT ISSUE IN GENERAL. I'M SEEING A LOT NOW IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD OF IT'S THE ISSUE
OF OVERDEVELOPMENT ON SITES BECAUSE OF THE COST OF EVERYTHING, UH, DEVELOPERS ARE GETTING A PIECE OF LAND AND SAYING WELL, INSTEAD OF JUST DOING MAYBE A TYPICAL AND IN IN A SINGLE TWO AND THREE FAMILY, YOU KNOW, TRIPLE DECKER
HOUSING, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD THEY'RE SAYING I'M GOING TO PUT EIGHT TOWNHOUSES OR A TEN UNIT BUILDING WHERE TYPICALLY IT WAS IT IS MORE HOW I SEE IT FOR UM
YOU KNOW WHAT SOME MAY REFER TO AS THE DYING AMERICAN DREAM OF HAVING A LITTLE WHITE PICKET FENCE IN THE WHOLE NIGHT. RIGHT. UM, BUT. >> I FEEL THEY NEED TO DO THAT. BECAUSE THEY'RE LIKE. >> WELL, LOOK, WE SPENT X ON THE LAND COST IS X. THE ONLY WAY I CAN MAKE THIS
PROJECT FEASIBLE IS BY PUTTING 24 UNITS AND IT'S KIND OF 10 POUNDS ON A 5 POUND IF RIGHT AND AND I'M GETTING A LOT OF COMMUNITY PUSHBACK IS JOHN THAT'S NOT WHAT THAT'S NOT HOW
THE SUN IN THE CONTEXT OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD UM AND TYPICALLY AND I CALL IT THE CERTIFICATION WHICH BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED TO SOUTHIE WHERE EVERYONE SORT
OF SOLD OUT THEIR BUILDINGS AND THEN SAW IT, YOU KNOW, UNITS INCREASE IN THE DENSITY INCREASE EVERYWHERE AND THAT'S CREEPING DOWN MORE TOWARDS DORCHESTER. AND I HAVE A LOT OF FAMILIES
THAT ARE THERE SAYING I'M NOT GOING TO LIVE NEXT TO A 24 UNIT BUILDING AND YOU KNOW, NOT KNOW THE FOLKS ARE THIS. IS A GREAT ANECDOTE, COUNCILOR, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S A IT'S A IT'S A GREAT EXAMPLE.
OF WHAT HAPPENS. WHEN YOU HAVE A VERY UNPREDICTABLE ZONING. CODE WHEN YOU SAY NOTHING'S ALLOWED AND YOU CAN'T REBUILD THE HOUSE THAT YOU. >> THAT YOU. >> LIVE IN. TODAY AND AT THAT POINT EVERYTHING IS ON THE TABLE AS
EVERYONE KNOWS YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET VARIANCES AND IN ORDER TO CONSTRUCT SOMETHING NEW AND THERE THERE IS NO UPPER BOUND. SO UM THERE. THE THE THE PATH THAT WE'RE ON
IS TO CREATE A PREDICTABLE ZONING CODE FOR THE FOR THE CITY OF BOSTON SO THAT. IN UH A. NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IS LARGELY UH ,TRIPLE DECKERS AND SIX FAMILY HOUSING, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE
TRIPLE DECKERS AND SIX FAMILY HOUSING, NOT 50 UNIT HOUSING, UH. IN A NEIGHBORHOOD. >> THAT'S LARGELY. UH. >> ONES AND THREES YOU'D SEE ONES AND THREES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT'S USUALLY THAT MIGHT BE LARGER, UM, APPROPRIATE FOR A LARGER DEVELOPMENT. >> YOU'LL SEE. >> THAT LARGE DEVELOPMENT.
WE DON'T HAVE. THAT ZONING. >> CODE TODAY. >> WE HAVE. A ZONING CODE THAT CURRENTLY OUTLAWS ALL. DEVELOPMENT AND WE NEED WE NEED TO MAKE THAT CHANGE. AND I'LL JUST FINISH WITH IT BECAUSE MY LAST ONE WAS ON UM ZONING. SO IT'S BECAUSE YOU BRING UP IT
AS YOU POINT I HAVEN'T TAKEN A CASE ON IT BUT I JUST KNOW FROM WORKING IN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT FOR YEARS SOME OF THE LEVERAGE THE CITY HAD WAS NOT MAKING IT HAVING THE LOW ZONING RIGHT.
SO YOU HAD TO COME IN FOR A VARIANCE AND THAT IS WHAT GAVE THE CITY LEVERAGE TO EXTRACT COMMUNITY BENEFITS AND OTHER SUCH THINGS. BUT INTERESTING. HEARING ON YOUR SIDE THAT IF UP
ZONING MIGHT LOWER THE COST OF THE LAND KNOWING HEY THIS IS ALL YOU CAN DO AND SO UH THE UP ZONE MIGHT BE BENEFICIAL IN LOWERING LAND COSTS. IT DOESN'T TACKLE THE LABOR AND
MATERIALS PART OF IT BUT IT TACKLES ONE ONE PRONG. UM AND THEREFORE IF THE DEVELOPER KNOW WHAT THEY CAN BUILD AND KNOWS THAT'S WHAT THAT'S THE AMOUNT I WOULD PAY FOR THE LAND THAT MIGHT BE A
HUGE BENEFIT IN THE EPISODE BECAUSE I'M ALWAYS GOING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE CITY HAVING ITS LEVERAGE AND EXTRACTING BETTER COMMUNITY BENEFITS VERSUS UM, ZONING FOR PREDICTABILITY AND LOWERING LAND COSTS.
AND I AND I'M EXCITED. ABOUT THE REZONING OF. >> THE CITY I REALLY AM AND IT'S TAKEN ME A WHILE AND I'VE I'VE WATCHED IT REALLY CAREFULLY. BUT IF WE CAN END UP BEING VERY RESPECTFUL. TO EXISTING NEIGHBORHOODS.
BUT THEN REALLY IDENTIFYING IN THE CITY. WHERE GROWTH UH FOR HOUSING AND OTHER IS. IS IS MAKES. SENSE AND IT'S IT. UM IT SHOULD BE DONE MORE. EASILY I THINK THAT'S GOING TO
BE A FABULOUS OUTCOME. AND THEN ONCE THE CITY'S REZONE. WE'LL SEE MUCH FEWER. CASES GOING TO THE. ZBA BECAUSE THAT WORK HAS ALREADY. BEEN DONE AND THOSE DIRECTIONS TO DEVELOPERS HAVE ALREADY BEEN GIVEN.
SO I. >> KNOW I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. GREAT. >> UH THANK YOU CHAIR. AND I JUST WOULD LASTLY SAY THAT, UM, I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF EGREGIOUS PROJECTS THAT I THINK ARE COMING TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAVE A LOT OF COMMUNITY FEEDBACK. SO I'LL BE IN TOUCH WITH BOTH OF YOU ABOUT THAT. LOOKING FORWARD. >> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILOR I'LL GIVE. MYSELF SEVEN MINUTES TO UM KIND OF TO PIGGYBACK A LITTLE BIT WHAT COUNCILOR. FISHER WAS TALKING ABOUT. I REALLY WANT TO SEE BOSTON BOOMING. LIKE CHARLOTTE.
MINNEAPOLIS AND AUSTIN. UM, THOSE ARE JUST THREE CITIES THAT I KNOW ARE CONSISTENTLY LOOKED AT AS. REALLY GENERATING. >> MORE HOUSING AND KIND OF FINDING AN EQUILIBRIUM IN TERMS OF. UM. >> SUPPLY AND DEMAND AND I REALLY WELL I HAVE HAD I DON'T
KNOW IF IT'S A PRIVILEGE OR AN HONOR BUT DEFINITELY SINCE DAY ONE OF GETTING INTO OFFICE MY DISTRICT HAS BEEN THE ONE TALKING ABOUT SQUARES AND STREETS. UH, IT'S BEEN ROSLYN SQUARE AND CLEARY SQUARE AND PLAN MATTAPAN
BEFORE I GOT INTO OFFICE WAS ALREADY ESTABLISHED SO VERY MUCH LOOKING AT HOW WHAT NEW ZONING COULD BRING INTO. THE CITY OF. BOSTON AND. BUILT IN MORE OF THAT PREDICTABLE ZONING WHICH I DO
THINK HAS TO BE THE FUTURE OF BOSTON BECAUSE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, I UNDERSTAND THAT OUR CITY HAS PROBABLY THE LONGEST ZONING BOOK IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. IT'S LIKE AN ONION, RIGHT? YOU KEEP LAYERS UPON LAYERS AND
IT JUST GETS MORE COMPLICATED WHICH HAS LED US TO WHERE WE ESSENTIALLY ARE TODAY AND THE REASON WHY I'VE BEEN SO SUPPORTIVE OF REZONING AND BRING IN MORE HOUSING IS
BECAUSE I LOOK AT MYSELF AS THE YOUNGEST CITY COUNCILOR UM, WITH A YOUNG FAMILY I STILL RENT I CANNOT PURCHASE A HOME IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. I JUST FITS UM. FINANCIALLY CANNOT.
AND I KNOW THAT THAT'S THE CASE FOR MANY PEOPLE AS WELL. AND WHEN I'M IN MEETINGS I THERE'S I ALWAYS HEAR A LOT
FROM HOMEOWNERS BUT I ALSO LIKE TO MAKE SURE I RISE THE VOICES OF THE YOUTH AND I WAS ACTUALLY IN COUNCILOR COPEPODS DISTRICT AND I HOPE YOU GIVE ME PERMISSION. I WAS AT THE ROXBURY YOUTH PRO PROGRAM.
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WAS FROM HYDE PARK SO HE REACHED OUT TO ME UM, BUT EVERY SINGLE THERE WAS ABOUT 20 YOUNG PEOPLE THERE ABOUT THE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 15 AND 18. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM SAID THAT HOUSING IS ON TOP
OF THEIR. MIND AND THEY. SAID I WANT TO STAY IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. BUT RIGHT NOW THE THING THE WAY THAT LOOKS LIKE IS THAT WE CANNOT. AFFORD TO DO. SO AND THE ONLY WAY THAT WE CAN
GO UP. IN TERMS OF HOUSING IS BY BUILDING MORE HOUSING. AND WHEN I HEAR THAT THERE'S. 30 UNITS THERE ON HOLD IN THE CITY OF BOSTON WITHOUT BEING BUILT, IT MAKES ME ASK AND THIS
IS LEADING TO MY FIRST QUESTION IS. WHAT IS THEIR TARGET. >> NUMBER THE CITY OF BOSTON THAT WE SHOULD REACH. FOR US TO REACH. >> THAT EQUILIBRIUM THAT AUSTIN AND MINNEAPOLIS AND OTHER MUNICIPALITIES HAVE BEEN ABLE
TO ACCOMPLISH. SO I'LL UM I'LL. START AND THEN DEVIN I THINK UM SO I TO HEAR THIS ALL THE TIME AND THE IDEA THAT OUR OUR UH
THE YOUTH IN THE CITY OUR YOUNG ADULTS ARE EVEN YOUNGER THAN THAT ARE WORRIED ABOUT HOUSING COSTS. YOU KNOW. >> IT ALWAYS SORT OF BREAKS MY HEART BECAUSE THEY'RE HEARING THAT FROM HOME. THEY'RE FEELING THAT AT HOME
PROBABLY UM AND THAT WE KNOW THAT IMPACTS EVERYTHING IMPACTS THEIR ABILITY TO CONCENTRATE IN SCHOOL AND WHATEVER AND PLAN FOR THEIR FUTURE. SO I WANT YOU KNOW. >> I WANT BOSTON TO BE A PLACE WHERE THEY. SEE THEMSELVES AND THEY KNOW THAT THEY CAN AFFORD.
REGARDLESS OF. >> OF. WHAT PROFESSION THEY CHOOSE. SO UM. WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK JUST JUST. >> FOR THEM. SO UM, YOU MENTIONED. HOW MUCH HOUSING DO WE NEED? WHAT DO WE NEED? SO RIGHT NOW UM, LOOKING AT
TERM TWO, UM LOOKING AT THE MAYOR'S TERM TWO WE ARE STARTING TO ANALYZE UH THAT THAT THAT NEED LIKE WHAT? YOU KNOW WHAT. >> WHAT HAVE WE DONE? WHAT DO WE HAVE? YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THE POPULATION
DOING AND WHAT KIND OF HOUSING DO WE NEED GOING. FORWARD SO THAT THAT, UH, WORK IS BEING DONE? UM. IT'S BEING. REALLY SPEARHEADED OUT OF PLANNING WITH SOME SUPPORT FROM MAYOR'S OFFICE OF HOUSING.
SO DEVIN, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE CONSULTANT. YEAH. SO WELL I MEAN ONE PLACE. >> I WANT TO START IS. >> UM, THE. VACANCY RATE. IN BOSTON. SO ONE. OF THE REASONS WHY IT IS SO
EXPENSIVE TO RENT IN. BOSTON IS BECAUSE THE VACANCY. RATE IS RIDICULOUSLY LOW. THERE'S LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO. WANT TO EITHER MOVE HERE OR LIVE TOGETHER HAVE A A LARGER HOUSEHOLD. THE TWO ROOMMATES LIVING
TOGETHER WOULD WANT TO. EXPAND AND. UH, THERE'S JUST. THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH HOUSING SUPPLY. UM. >> OUR VACANCY RATE I THINK IS NOW 3%. THE GREATER BOSTON.
HOUSING REPORT CARD SUGGESTED A HEALTHY VACANCY RATE FOR THAT FOR BOSTON WOULD BE SOMEWHERE PROBABLY AROUND 5.5%, MAYBE CLOSER TO SIX. SO WE. NEED TO BE. UH, BE. ENCOURAGING UH, ENOUGH.
SUPPLY GROWTH THAT WE'LL GET TO THAT. UH, THAT UH, LEVEL OF VACANCY WHERE YOU'D SEE RENTS MODERATE UM AND AND THAT WOULD ALSO APPLY TO UH THAT. THE OWNERSHIP MARKET IS DIFFERENT.
ENOUGH THAT LARGER STOCK. IN THE OWNERSHIP. MARKET WOULD. >> BE UNSTUCK. >> THE. HOUSING MARKET. AND UM, PROVIDE. FOR MORE. OPPORTUNITIES TO PURCHASE. UM SHEILA MENTIONED. >> THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT OUR TEAM. >> IS DOING. WE HAVE TEAM CONSULTANTS.
>> AND STAFF THAT ARE LOOKING AT DEMOGRAPHIC PROJECTIONS NEIGHBORHOOD BY NEIGHBORHOOD. UH, AND THINKING ABOUT. WHERE UH EACH NEIGHBORHOOD IS LIKELY TO GO IN THE FUTURE INCLUDING HEADSHIP RATES, IMMIGRATION RATES, UH,
IMMIGRATION OUTMIGRATION. AND SO WE'LL USE THAT. INFORMATION TO. >> TARGET UH, UM. THE AMOUNT OF HOUSING GROWTH WE NEED. >> BOTH AT THE UM SORT OF CITYWIDE LEVEL AND AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD LEVEL. BUT UH, I GUESS. SUFFICE IT.
>> TO. SAY WE. >> KNOW WE NEED SIGNIFICANTLY MORE HOUSING IF WE DON'T HAVE A SPECIFIC NUMBER TO GIVE YOU AT THIS MOMENT. OKAY. >> AND THAT'S THAT'S GOOD. AND I KIND OF FIGURED THAT THERE ISN'T A SPECIFIC NUMBER. I JUST WANTED TO GET A SENSE
OF LIKE WHAT ARE YOU GUYS LOOKING AT AS WELL? AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF FOCUS IN MY DISTRICT BUT I WANTED TO KNOW. SO I DON'T I DON'T BELIEVE. ZONING SHOULD JUST HAPPEN NEIGHBORHOOD. >> UM BY NAME. I JUST THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT ZONING CITYWIDE.
ARE THERE EFFORTS TO REALLY LOOK AT I KNOW THERE'S THE CHARLESTOWN IS MOSTLY HAS ALREADY HAPPENED AND. HOW IS THE REST OF THE CITY. LOOKING I WANT TO KNOW WHAT EFFORTS ARE HERE. AND ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT THE SQUARES AND STREETS INITIATIVE. >> IS.
IT REPRESENTS OUR FIRST APPROACH AT CREATING A. CITYWIDE ZONING BASED CODE. AND I KNOW YOU KNOW THIS BUT THAT BEING THAT THE COUNCIL WITH. THE MOST EXPERIENCE AND SQUARES AND STREETS. BUT WHAT'S REALLY GREAT ABOUT THAT. >> IS. THAT AS. >> WE UM.
APPLY A BASE CODE THAT IS THE SAME ACROSS THE ALL OF THE CITY OF BOSTON, THERE CAN BE. DESIGN ELEMENTS IN REVIEW. THAT IS DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOOD BY NEIGHBORHOOD TO RESPECT THE INDIVIDUAL CHARACTER OF OUR OF OUR DIFFERENT UH NEIGHBORHOODS.
BUT UH BUT THE BASE. CODE UH THAT. IS APPLIED THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY IT WHEN WE. THAT THAT ALLOWS. >> US TO. MAKE CHANGES AT A CITYWIDE SCALE. SO OUR PLAN IS TO HAVE.
>> A RESIDENTIAL AND A UM UP TO IT. ALL THE WAY TO A DOWNTOWN BASE CODE. THAT WE CAN APPLY AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT. THE CITY. AND AS WE THINK ABOUT. ZONING IS AN EVER EVOLVING PLANNING IS AN EVER EVOLVING
FIELD. THERE'S SOMETHING. >> WE NEED TO CHANGE. WE CAN. CHANGE IT AND. >> HAVE IT. >> BE. APPLIED ACROSS THE CITY ONCE WE HAVE THAT BASE CODE IN PLACE. SO WE HAVE THAT IN DOWNTOWN. WE HAVE THAT IN THE SQUARES AND STREETS NEIGHBORHOODS. AND WE'LL HAVE THAT IN THE RESIDENTIAL REZONING AS WELL.
IT'S GOING. >> TO. TAKE YEARS. >> TO GET IT DONE. DOING ZONING. THE RIGHT WAY REQUIRES A LOT OF COMMUNITY PROCESS, A LOT OF DISCUSSION. BUT WE'RE ON A PATH TO BEING A. CITY THAT HAS BE A MUCH.
MORE MODERNIZED. NIMBLE AND RESPONSIVE BASE CODE RATHER THAN A CITY THAT IS NOTHING'S ALLOWED AND WE'RE GOING TO NEGOTIATE TO SEE WHAT WILL HAPPEN. YEAH, I'M EXCITED FOR THAT. IT'S JUST. IT'S ALREADY BUILT SO.
MUCH SO. MORE UNDERSTANDING US THROUGH WHAT IS EXPECTED TO GO INTO ROSLYN. >> SQUARE IN THE FUTURE. I KNOW. >> THAT WE'RE HAVING THE CONVERSATION. I JUST HAD A MEETING WITH DEVELOPERS YESTERDAY FOR MATTAPAN, A PROPOSED BUSINESS
UM DEVELOPMENT AND THEY ALREADY KNOW THAT IF THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO BUILD THEY WANT TO STAY IN THE PLAN MATTAPAN GUIDELINES THEY'RE NOT TRYING TO GO PAST THAT WHICH IS LIKE WOW, THAT'S
EXACTLY WHAT I WANT TO HEAR. AND I KNOW THAT IT'S WHAT THE PEOPLE THAT WORKED ON PLAN MATTAPAN ALSO WANT TO HEAR BECAUSE THEY PUT SO MUCH EFFORT INTO IT. I AM GOING JUST TO ENCOURAGE YOU GUYS TO KEEP TALKING TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS, KEEP TALKING
TO THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE DOING THE WORK BECAUSE I THINK THAT THAT IS THE RIGHT APPROACH FOR THE FUTURE OF ZONING. AND I KNOW THAT. ZONING ISN'T FUN. UH. IT'S IT'S VERY NUANCED. IT'S VERY UM, COMPLICATED
LANGUAGE BUT IT'S I KNOW THAT IT'S THE CRUX OF THIS CONVERSATION, SO THANK YOU. UM, OKAY. I'M DONE WITH MY TIME. I WANT TO BE VERY MINDFUL THAT WE HAVE AN AMAZING SECOND
PANEL, BUT I. KNOW DO YOU HAVE A FOLLOW UP QUESTION FOR THIS PANEL, COUNCILOR WEBER? OKAY. WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU ALL THREE
MINUTES OKAY, THREE MINUTES FOR A SECOND ROUND AND THEN WE WILL GO ON WITH OUR SECOND PANEL. OKAY THANKS. UH SO IN TERMS OF WHEN. WE HEAR. THAT YOU KNOW DEVELOPERS CAN'T
MAKE. >> THE NUMBERS. WORK YOU KNOW. LIKE THEY. WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU WHEN YOU HEAR THAT. YOU KNOW IS IT IS IT TRUE IS IT YOU KNOW. DO YOU THINK THAT THEY SHOULD
BE LOOKING HARDER SHOULD BE LOOKING TO THE. NDCS OR SOMETHING LIKE. WHAT DO WE DO THAT INFORMATION . >> OR THAT I SPOTS. JUST FOR CLARIFICATION COUNCIL YOU MEAN MARKET RATE DEVELOPMENT RIGHT. UH NO I WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BUILDING AFFORDABLE UNITS
. UH AND. THEY'RE YOU KNOW WE HEAR FROM DEVELOPERS THEY CAN'T THEY CAN'T MAKE ENDS MEET YOU. >> KNOW BUT. WITHIN A MARKET RATE DEVELOPMENT CORRECT? CORRECT. >> YES. THE PRIVATE YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, IN A PRIVATE CONTEXT.
SO UM, WE ARE HEARING I MEAN WE'VE BEEN HEARING THAT NOW FOR UM A GOOD AMOUNT OF TIME AND SO WHAT OUR TYPICALLY OUR FIRST RESPONSE. TYPICALLY IS TO HEY CAN YOU
SHARE YOUR NUMBERS WITH US YOUR DEVELOPMENT NUMBERS WITH US AND WE DO REVIEW THEM AND UH, IF THERE ARE SUGGESTIONS AROUND PARKING OR LOOKING AT YOU KNOW,
HOW THE BUILDINGS ARE BEING LAID OUT OR THOSE KIND OF THINGS, WE DO HAVE THOSE KIND OF CONVERSATIONS. WE ALSO INTERESTED. >> IN. WHAT THEIR INTEREST RATES ARE AND WHO'S PROVIDING EQUITY. BUT THEN WE DO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM ABOUT HOW THEY'RE GOING TO MEET THEIR
OBLIGATION. UM, BECAUSE IT'S IT'S A VARIABLE IT'S. ONE OF. >> IT'S ONE OF MANY BUT IT IS A VARIABLE AND LIKE I'VE SAID IT A FEW TIMES TODAY WE ARE VERY WILLING TO SIT DOWN WITH
DEVELOPERS AND NEGOTIATE HOW THEY MEET THEIR OBLIGATION NOT THAT THEIR OBLIGATION GOES AWAY BUT HOW THEY MEET THEIR OBLIGATIONS. SO IT IS WE ARE DOING WE YOU KNOW, WE'RE EXPLORING UH A LOT
OF THE VARIABLES WITH THEM. WE'RE LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS AND THEN IF WE FEEL THAT IT'S AS DEVIN SAID, IT'S A PROJECT THAT WITH SOME MODIFICATIONS COULD ACTUALLY START
CONSTRUCTION THEN WE ARE HAVING CONVERSATIONS. I MEAN I FEEL LIKE YOU KNOW, THEY I SAY IT'S THE BANK, IT'S THE INVESTOR. I MEAN SHOULD THEY BE LOOKING FOR OTHER BANKS OR SHOULD THEY
LIKE IS DO YOU KNOW DO YOU CREDIT THOSE SORT OF STATEMENTS FROM THE DEVELOPERS THAT REALLY CAN'T. MAKE THIS WORK? >> YEAH I MEAN YES. >> MOST DEVELOPERS THAT ARE COMING IN TO TALK ARE SEASONED DEVELOPERS. THEY'VE GOT A HISTORY
OF GETTING DEVELOPMENT DONE. THEY UM THEY KNOW. >> WHAT. CONSTRUCTION FINANCING SHOULD COST. THEY KNOW WHAT THEIR RETURNS NEED TO BE FOR THEIR EQUITY INVESTORS. SO THEY'RE THEY'RE EXPLORING ALL THOSE VARIABLES. SO I.
MEAN YEAH. SO DID YOU HAVE LIKE. WHAT I WAS JUST GOING TO. ADD THAT I THINK ONE THING THAT IS. MISCONSTRUED ABOUT. >> DEVELOPMENT OFTEN IS UM. I DEVELOPERS OFTEN DON'T PAY FOR DEVELOPMENT WITH OUR OWN MONEY. THEY'RE GOING OUT AND.
AND SHOPPING FOR INVESTMENT ON NATIONAL. >> AND. INTERNATIONAL MARKETS AND THOSE MARKETS. AS COUNCILOR. FITZGERALD WAS MENTIONING I HAVE. CHOICES OF WHERE TO GO. AND SO IF THEY'RE NOT IF THEY'RE NOT ATTRACTING INVESTMENT THAT'S. USUALLY AN. >> HONEST ANSWER.
BUT WE HAVE WE ALSO HAVE TOOLS. AND PEOPLE AVAILABLE TO HAVE A STAKE IN. AND THEN JUST LASTLY JUST SO IN TERMS OF THE BUYOUT I THINK WHAT'S THE AMOUNT AND IS IT ENOUGH. UH SHOULD WE BE LOOKING AT THAT.
SO UM THE BUY THE BUYOUT UH FOR THERE'S I YOU KNOW THE IDP POLICY UH IT'S IT'S IT'S DIFFERENT FOR RENTAL AND HOMEOWNERSHIP PROJECTS AND THEN IS IS A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT
CALCULATION SO IT DOES DEPEND ON THE WHEN WHEN THE DEVELOPMENT FILED AND IT DEPENDS ON THE TYPE OF OF DEVELOPMENT. UM BUT.
IT'S UM THESE ARE SET I THE IDP POLICY WAS SET WHEN UM WHEN PEOPLE APPLY WHEN DEVELOPERS APPLIED OR IT'S ACTUALLY IN ZONING IF WE'RE LOOKING AT UH AN EASY CASE SO THOSE THOSE ARE
SET I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE WISE FOR US TO START UM START YOU KNOW, REQUESTING ADDITIONAL BUYOUT BECAUSE DEVELOPMENTS ARE COMING IN SAYING I'M HAVING A HARD TIME MAKING THESE NUMBERS WORK.
SO I THINK THE LAST THING WE WANT TO DO IS START LOOKING AT LARGER BUYOUTS INSTEAD. IT'S LIKE IF YOU IF WE ARE GOING TO ENTERTAIN A BUYOUT, WHAT'S THE THE FEWEST NUMBER OF UNITS THAT YOU NEED TO BUY
OUT FROM. YEAH. >> UH I. JUST THIS IS ONE STATEMENT AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO REACT BUT IN TERMS OF LIKE YOU KNOW TRYING TO DEVIATE FROM THE PLAN WHERE BECAUSE IT'S TOUGH TO TO MAKE
ENDS MEET NOW DO WE HAVE HIGHER REQUIRE YOU TO DO WE HAVE A MORE FLEXIBLE DO WE GO THE OTHER WAY WHEN IT'S LIKE INTEREST RATES DROP TO 2.5% AND COSTS ARE LOW, DO WE GET TO REQUEST MORE.
SO THE THE IDP AND THE POLICIES ARE YOU KNOW THEY'RE UH THEY'RE SET WE UH DO COMMIT TO LOOKING AT THEM EVERY 3 OR 5 YEARS I THINK IT'S THREE YEARS.
UM BUT WE DO COMMIT TO LOOKING AT THEM USING USING THE VARIABLES THAT ARE UH AT HAND AT THAT TIME. BUT FOR ONE THING THE DEVELOPERS REALLY DO NEED IS THEY NEED PREDICTABILITY.
AND SO THEY WE NEED A POLICY THAT THEY UNDERSTAND AND THAT THEY CAN UNDERWRITE TO I THINK UH, HAVING A POLICY THAT IS DEPENDENT ON A LOT OF VARIABLES
WOULD BE VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO ADMINISTER. BUT WE DO. HAVE WITHIN THESE POLICIES SOME FLEXIBILITY ABOUT HOW THE OBLIGATION IS MET. AND THERE I THINK THAT'S WHERE
WE WANT TO MAINTAIN OUR FLEXIBILITY NOT SO MUCH CHANGE THE POLICY BASED ON VARIABLES THAT CAN CHANGE WEEKLY. AND JUST ONE QUICK COMMENT I DIDN'T. >> WANT. TO MAKE SURE AGAIN. ONTO THE. >> RECORD BEFORE THE MEETING ENDS IS. THE TWO PROJECTS. >> THAT YOU'VE MENTIONED AT THE
BEGINNING OF THE. HEARING COUNSELOR ARE. A UNIQUE SITUATION. THEY'RE NOT. >> THEY'RE NOT THE STANDARD SITUATION. >> OF MOST PROJECTS IN THE CITY WHERE THEY. ARE APPROVED AT A HIGHER LEVEL OF AFFORDABILITY. RELATED TO THE JPA OKS PLAN.
THAT HAPPENED BEFORE INCLUSIONARY ZONING WAS IN PLACE. >> SO YOU REALLY RARELY DO YOU HAVE A CASE WHERE THERE IS A AFFORDABILITY THAT. EXCEEDS THE INCLUSIONARY ZONING 17 TO 20%. THANK YOU FOR THAT. UH, COUNCILOR CULPEPER, YOU
HAVE THREE MINUTES. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KNOW FOR THE RECORD THAT AFTER MY COLLEAGUE COUNCIL. WEBER FINISHED, HE HAD ONE
ADDITIONAL QUESTION. AND SO LET'S JUST MAKE SURE WE REMEMBER THE TIME UH. A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
UH, DEVIN, YOU TALKED ABOUT WHAT THE ECONOMY MAY LOOK LIKE. UH, IN THE NEXT PHASE. AND SO. WHAT ARE. YOU LOOKING AT IN TERMS OF THE NEXT PHASE AND HOW ARE YOU
PLANNING FOR THE NEXT PHASE? YEAH. THEN I WANT YOU TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR DEMOGRAPHIC PROJECTIONS THAT YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT. YEAH. >> SO UM I. I'M PREPARING FOR THE NEXT PHASE.
WHAT I WANT AND WE MEANT TO. IMPLY THERE THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION THE CITY OF. AUSTIN THAT ARE. >> JUST NOT ECONOMICALLY. FEASIBLE AT THE MOMENT. HIGH RISE STEEL FRAME. UH. >> MULTIFAMILY CONSTRUCTION. JUST WITH.
TARIFF COSTS. COST OF CAPITAL, COST OF CONSTRUCTION. UH IT'S THERE YEAH. AT THE MOMENT THAT'S JUST NOT GOING TO PENCIL OUT UM. HOPEFUL THAT THOSE COST STRUCTURES CHANGE.
UH, AND AND THAT WE WILL. SEE A RETURN TO, UH, HIGH RISE CONSTRUCTION IN THE CITY. AND SO. >> WE'RE DOING WORK. TO ENABLE THAT'S WHAT PLAN. DOWNTOWN IS ALL ABOUT WITH UM WITH PREDICTABLE ZONING PATH FOR. UM, NEW CONSTRUCTION OF THAT
TYPOLOGY. AND CHARLESTOWN IN SOME. AREAS SORT OF. >> THE SAME STORY. UH, MEANWHILE TAKE UH. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD'S. POINT THE. THINGS THAT ARE FEASIBLE TODAY WE'RE WORKING REALLY. CLOSELY WITH THOSE DEVELOPERS TO. >> MAKE SURE TO DO.
EVERYTHING WE CAN TO GET THOSE HOUSING UNITS AND CONSTRUCTION UH, ON THE. DEMOGRAPHIC PROJECTIONS. UH. >> WHERE WE HAVE A TEAM OF DEMOGRAPHERS UPSTAIRS. UM, THAT. >> USE CENSUS. DATA TO LOOK. UH, RETROACTIVELY ABOUT WHAT? YOU KNOW.
>> WHAT'S THE HISTORY. >> OF OUR CITY? >> WHAT IS WHAT'S WHAT ARE WE SEEING HAPPENING, UH, IN TRENDS IN POPULATION AND THEN USE THAT TO FORECAST INTO THE FUTURE. SO UM. WE'RE WORKING. WITH THEM TO.
ESTABLISH WHAT OUR WHAT UM, UH ,VARIABLES WE THINK ARE LIKELY WORK TO DRIVE THOSE PROJECTIONS . UH, WHAT IMMIGRATION RATES. ARE WE LIKELY TO SEE OVER THE NEXT UH UH. FIVE YEARS?
UM, WHAT UH. HEADSHIP RATES THE CREATION OF NEW HOUSEHOLDS AT BIRTH RATES. UM, USING HISTORICAL DATA AND THEN AND USING. >> THAT TO THEN PROJECT WHAT WE. THINK THE GROWTH OF BOSTON IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE. THAT'S ALSO. >> TIED INTO THE LABOR MARKET
AND THE ECONOMY. . OBVIOUSLY THE GREATER JOB GROWTH WE HAVE IN THE CITIES OF GREAT GREAT MIGRATION WE'RE GOING TO HAVE. AND SO ALL OF THAT BROUGHT TOGETHER. BY IS THAT UM, ECONOMIC AND DEMOGRAPHIC PROJECTIONS. >> UM.
SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT D7 UH AND YOU LOOK AT DISPLACEMENTS AND GIVEN WHAT ARE YOU THINKING IN TERMS OF THE PROJECTIONS? YEAH, I DON'T HAVE THE ROXBURY DEMOGRAPHIC PROJECTIONS IN FRONT OF ME IN I DON'T THINK
WE'VE. COMPLETED THEM. YEAH. AND YOU'VE GOT A CHANCE. >> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY HAPPY. TO BE HAPPY TO SHARE BUT I DO UM CERTAINLY ONE OF. >> OUR. SOUTH AND I GOT TO SOUTH IN A LITTLE BIT. FENWAY THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF DORCHESTER. YEAH.
BUT WHEN YOU GET A CHANCE IF YOU CAN PROVIDE THEM FOR ME I JUST HAD A ONE QUESTION. YEAH. ONE MORE FOR, UH. SHEILA. SHEILA, WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT
THE, UH, THE AND THE PROJECTS THAT ARE STUCK AND AND CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE ONES THAT ARE STUCK? HOW CAN WE AS A COUNCIL HELP
YOU GET THEM UNSTUCK? SO I UM. I THINK THE COUNCILORS ROLE AND AND UM MANY OF THE COUNCILORS HERE HAVE HEARD FROM US THAT WHEN UM WHEN WE THINK THAT
THERE'S A. REASONABLE UM. UH, PROPOSAL. ON THE TABLE. RIGHT. >> UH, WE WE ARE REACHING OUT. >> TO THE ELECTED OFFICIALS FIRST AND FOREMOST TO DISCUSS THAT WE'VE, YOU KNOW, MET WITH SOME A. DEVELOPMENT TEAM.
THAT WE. HAVE RECEIVED. THIS PROPOSAL. AROUND THEIR AFFORDABLE HOUSING . OBLIGATION AND TO GET THIS PROJECT DONE OR THEY'RE. LOOKING AT A REDUCED. PARKING OR THEY'RE LOOKING AT
MAYBE INCREASING THE UNITS ON THE UPPER FLOORS, WHATEVER IT IS. UM AND THEN I THINK WE DO NEED TO MOVE VERY QUICKLY, UH, INTO COMMUNITY CONVERSATION. SO I THINK HAVING MAKING SURE
THAT PEOPLE ARE AT THE TABLE AND THAT WE ARE UM THAT WE'RE ALL SORT OF COLLECTIVELY. HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS. WOULD BE EXTREMELY HELPFUL. UM, THERE'S A LOT OF STRONG OPINIONS. >> ON WHETHER PROJECTS SHOULD. CHANGE OR. >> WHETHER THEY SHOULD EVOLVE. >> OR WHETHER WE SHOULD ALLOW
BUYOUTS. SO I THINK. HAVING A LOT OF VOICES AT THE. TABLE AS WE. >> MAKE THESE DECISIONS WOULD BE. EXTREMELY HELPFUL. . >> AND I THINK, UH, COUNCILOR DURKAN MENTIONED A TASK FORCE. CAN WE TALK ABOUT FORMING SOME
KIND OF TASK FORCE SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK ON SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE DISCUSSED TODAY AND THEY JUST DON'T FALL BY THE WAYSIDE? I DO WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT
MORE LATER ABOUT THE IDP AND THE IMPACT. UM UH COUNCILOR FLYNN 13% BUT I KNOW MY I'M OUT OF TIME WITH ALL RESPECT TO MY CHAIR. UH WE'LL PICK YEAH.
SO I MEAN LIKE I THINK DEVIN MENTIONED WE DO MEET QUARTERLY WITH A VERY LARGE GROUP OF. UM. >> UH, ORGANIZATIONS FOR PROFITS, NONPROFITS, PEOPLE DOING FINANCE ADVOCATES. AND WE, YOU KNOW, TALK ABOUT
POLICIES AND. WHAT WE'RE. >> DOING AND WHAT WE'RE DOING. WELL ON AND. >> WHAT WE'RE FALLING SHORT ON AND WE GET A LOT OF VERY GOOD ADVICE IF THERE ARE SPECIFIC TOPICS THAT WE FEEL NEED TO BE EXPLORED IN MORE DEPTH AND YOU. WOULD, YOU KNOW, LIKE US TO
EXPLORE THAT WE'D BE GLAD TO DISCUSS FURTHER. ABSOLUTELY. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU COUNCILOR UM. COUNCILOR FISHER, DO YOU. HAVE ANY. >> FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS? OKAY, PERFECT. ONE QUESTION OKAY. SO. >> UH MORE MORE.
>> OF A COMMENT AS WELL I THE ONE THING I'LL LEAVE WITH IS UM ,SAINT MARY'S ANYTHING TO HELP? THANK YOU. SHEILA I APPRECIATE THAT. IT SEEMS. >> LIKE WE HAVE FEASIBILITY. BUT THAT MAKES ME FEEL GREAT. THAT IS THE MOST NEEDY OF ALL OF OUR HOUSING FOLKS SO I
APPRECIATE THAT. UM, SECONDLY, UH, COUNCIL CULPEPER THE BEST WAY TO GET HELP THESE PEOPLE GET UNSTUCK IS TO LET THEM GET OUT OF THEIR SEATS AND GO BACK AND FIX. >> THE HOUSING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I DON'T HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU COUNCILOR PERFECT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL RIGHT SO BEFORE WE GO TO OUR SECOND PANEL I WANT TO DO IN-PERSON PUBLIC TESTIMONY. UM, SO WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME
PLEASE COME TO EITHER ONE OF THE MICROPHONES TO YOUR LEFT AND TO YOUR RIGHT AND, UM, YOU WILL HAVE THE TRADITIONAL TWO MINUTES BUT I KNOW SOME FOLKS
HAVE IN NEED INTERPRETATION SO I WILL I WILL ALLOW YOU AN EXTRA MINUTE TO IF NEEDED. UM OKAY SO THE FIRST PERSON ON THE LIST IS JOANNE LEE.
I'M I'M SORRY. >> FOR MISPRONOUNCING IT. NO JOANNE LEE OR TOM. NO. >> OKAY. HOW ABOUT A JENNY JUANS? PERFECT.
>> UM, HI. >> IS THIS ON? YES. >> CAN YOU HEAR ME? OKAY. UM, HI. MY NAME IS JENNY HUANG. I AM A LOWER AUSTIN RESIDENT. UM. >> AS WELL AS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER WITH CHINESE
PROGRESSIVE ASSOCIATION A CHINATOWN. SO JUST SPEAKING FOR MYSELF, I ACTUALLY LIVING IN LOWER AUSTIN SEEING ALL THE DEVELOPMENT THAT A LOT OF UNIVERSITIES AND PRIVATE DEVELOPERS ARE DOING
LIKE I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE LIKE UM IDP AND NOW WE KNOW LIKE INSTITUTIONAL ZONING IN PLACE AS IT IS NOW BECAUSE I ALSO KNOW IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR FOR A LONG TIME.
SO I DO WANT TO SAY THAT ON BEHALF OF ALL OF OUR MEMBERS HERE TODAY AND THE RESIDENTS OF BOSTON CHINATOWN AS CHINESE PROGRESSIVE ASSOCIATION, WE HAVE COME HERE TODAY TO REMIND YOU ALL ABOUT THE URGENT NEEDS
FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. AND AS YOU ARE WELL AWARE, CPA HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY TO HELP RESIDENTS TO STAY IN HOMES AND VOICED THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT THE DWINDLING AVAILABILITY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING
THROUGHOUT THIS AREA. SO WHILE WE CONTINUE TO SEE THE CITY SUPPORT A LOT OF HOUSING, WE HAVE A HARDER TIME SEEING THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE CREATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING
UNITS SPECIFICALLY FOR OVER A DECADE CPA ALONG WITH OUR ALLIES SUCH AS KTAB HAVE BEEN PUSHING FOR THE PASSAGE OF REFORMS LIKE IDP WITH COUNCIL FUNDS RECENT RESOLUTION
THAT CALLS FOR THE REDUCTION OF IDP ID FROM 20% TO 13%. WE'RE EVEN MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE CITY'S GROWING NEGLECT OF THE NEEDS OF ITS COME CLASS FAMILIES IN CHINATOWN.
SO MANY OF US HAD HAD TO WAIT FOR YEARS FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY FOR AFFORDABLE PUBLIC HOUSING. AND WHILE ALL AROUND OUR RESIDENTS ARE SEEING THE BUILDING AFTER BUILDING OF A LUXURY APARTMENTS THAT HAVE REMAINED VIRTUALLY EMPTY AND TO
ADD TO THAT INCREASING NUMBER OF EVICTIONS IN BOSTON WE HAVE A GROWING HOUSING CRISIS ON OUR HANDS AND ONE THAT IS CRIPPLING OUR NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY. SO I ALSO WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT
CPA WE ARE NOT ANTI-DEVELOPMENT WE SUPPORT THE HEALTHY GROWTH OF A VIBRANT AND ECONOMICALLY DIVERSE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY ONE THAT MAKES ROOM FOR OUR IMMIGRANT AND WORKING CLASS FAMILIES AND A COMMUNITY THAT THE CITY CAN DO MORE TO PROTECT
US. IT FINDS A WAY TO CREATE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU SO MUCH JENNY. UM OKAY NEXT PERSON IS BEING
SHING MA. WELL I. >> MEAN I LIKE I'LL PASS IT ON YOU GUYS OKAY? NO NO. DO YOU HAVE ASHLEY NOTE?
HI EVERYONE. MY NAME IS BEING. >> YI MA. I LIVE IN OAK TERRACE. I'M AN AMERICAN. MY FAMILY HAVE BEEN LIVING IN BOSTON UH, FOR MANY YEARS.
WELL HI ALL LA FLAT ENOUGH NI GALA GUNG HOST YOUNGER THEN GIVE UP MY LOW LIGHT. GOOD NIGHT. CORNER FOR A HIGHLY PERMANENTLY
TOWARD THE FALL. LOOK AKAKA YOU DON'T CARE WHAT I'M ABOUT. OH, MANA. SO I'M SEEING WHAT'S HAPPENING IN BOSTON THE DEVELOPING UM
LANDSCAPE AND LIKE HOUSING OVER $1 MILLION ACTUALLY IT'S, UM, A LOT MORE THAN, UM, WHAT PEOPLE CAN AFFORD AND, UH, AFFORDABILITY IS IN PERIL.
IT AIN'T LAST LONG. LOOK, UH, ARE YOU TAKING MONEY FROM. YEAH. YOU GOTTA TELL YOU TEN HOMEOWNER. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AFFORDABILITY, UM, LET'S SAY
SOMEBODY HAD TO PAY A 1200 FOR THE RENT RIGHT NOW IS 1800 OR MORE. HERE I THINK I KEEP CLEAR BECAUSE UNLIKE THAT FREEZING SOUND WAS RECENTLY ANTI-COAL.
SO YOU CAN CALL HIM BONG HONK LIKE A YO YO YO YING YANG OFF. OH I'M OFF LONG. AND BECAUSE OF THIS STRESS AND
ALL THIS COST INCREASE, WE BELIEVE THE CHINATOWN'S AFFORDABILITY SHOULD BE 20%. OR MORE. ANYWAY HANGING GUY HIGH SIANG
KEAT HIGH LIKE A 14. UH, YOU GOT OX STICKERS? YEAH. COYOTE WHAT WE WANT PEOPLE TO SEE IN CHINA LIVE IN CHINATOWN
AND HE WAS SAYING UM A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING CLASS AND MIDDLE CLASS AND THEY WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE HERE. UM, KEY HIGH QUALITY THAT I'M
HOME THAT YOU WILL KICK I ACTUALLY MEAN ARE YOU ENJOYING LOW BOY BOY I'M WONG ARE YOU HIDING? YEAH. AND CHINATOWN IS VERY UNIQUE
DISTRICT IN BOSTON WE HAVE A LOT AND THE IMMIGRANTS IS VERY DENSE UM POPULATION AND WE NEED TO SUPPORT THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN LIVING THERE FOR A LONG TIME AND TO BE ABLE TO STAY IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD. YOU KNOW, YOU NEVER LENGTHEN. THE DATA FOR ME IF I GIVE YOU. LIKE OH, WE CAN'T TALK YOU CAN'T.
CHANG ON YOUNG HOW BECAUSE YOU CAN'T BRING 3G BONG LOOK BACK. THERE TALKS ABOUT UM ZONING CHANGES AND UM HAVE SOME PEOPLE
MOVED TO SOME OTHER AREAS IN THE CITY AS YOU KNOW IS GOING TO TAKE AT LEAST AN HOUR AND A HALF TO COMMUTE BACK AND FORTH, UM, FOR WORK AND FOR THE TRAFFIC TALK.
NOT ENOUGH. SO YOU ISLAND GOING ARE YOU IN GANG GANG? YOU MEAN LOGO SOUND WHAT'S CALLED NINE. TRANSPORTATION RACES?
UM INFLATIONS AND HOUSING. ALL OF THIS IS A LOT FOR OUR RESIDENTS. HEY, MONITOR FOR WHAT? YOU KNOW YO YO POWER DINGHY HALF LONG, LOT YOUNGER HALF
LANDLORD. GOSH I'M GOING OH MY. OH. I REALLY WELL GO TO VIRGINIA YOUR CARD YOU GOING TO GO EASILY AT. WE HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND THIS
CLEARLY WHAT WE ASKING FOR TO KEEP THE AFFORDABILITY IN AIM FOR THE AFFORDABILITY FOR 20% AND FOR THOSE DEVELOPER CANNOT COMPLY YOU SHOULD INCREASE
THEIR TAX UM IN ORDER TO COMPENSATE. THE UH FOR THE FOR THE FOR THE HOUSING THAT IS EMPTY UM THAT PEOPLE NOBODY LIVE THERE I
THINK THE TAX SHOULD BE INCREASED FOR THAT RIGHT. THANK YOU THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU KNOW YOU GET HOT WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO CALL HIM MAGGIE I SEE I LOVE YOU I.
CONCRETE I'M SHIELDING YEAH I'M THE. LONGER I I'M SLEEPING UH. OKAY SO WE WE KNOW THAT SOME HOUSING HAS BEEN AROUND FOR 20 AND 30 YEARS AND THERE'S NO
DEVELOPMENT BEING DONE THERE EMPTY. SO WE SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. I SAW YOU MY ON GOOGLE FIGHTING THE TIME TENDING. THAT'S WHAT OH THAT'S WHY I
HAVE NEIGHBOR IS DEVELOPMENT IS IT'S NOT MOVING FORWARD IT'S BEEN STUCK THANK YOU SO MUCH OKAY. THANK YOU IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN SIR. UM OKAY. YOU IN GANG?
>> HI NOW. HI. HOW ARE YOU? UH. WELL YOU GUYS I WAS THERE THAT WE'RE CALLING HIGH TECH ON MONDAY HOW YOU GOT THE VACCINE SO THAT YOU GO PYTHON GUYS ALL
Y'ALL HIGH. TONGUE ANGRY THAT I SAW WE UP THERE GO AND DON'T DEAL. YOU YOU. WELL HEY LET'S HI CALLER I AM
MORE IN A HEY KING FLAT JANUARY 14TH YOU GOT IT FOR HOLD THAT BABY GENOME BUT I SAW HAVE YOU . YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH UH PLEASE
DON'T LIE NOW EARLIER GOD I THOUGHT IT ON MONDAY THAT YOU GOT MONDAY THAT, UH. ,I HAVE. TO CONSIDER I WANT TO SAY ONE IS THE, UM I HOPE THE DEVELOPER
CAN BUILD THE BUILDING. NOT THAT HIGH. AND SAVE SOME. FOR THAT LOW INCOME RESIDENT. SO, UH, WE CAN, UH, CONTINUE TO. LIVE THERE. >> THANK YOU.
UNCLE. ARE YEAH. MY TALL GUY. UH UH. HOLD ON. IT'S ALL YOUR DATA WE HAVE ALL THEY'RE PAYING A LOT. YEAH. YES, I'M MORE PEACHY. GAIA. WE DO. WHAT'S UP?
WHEN THEY GOT A LITTLE GIRL, UH ,YELLOW. UH, SECOND. ONE THEY PULL NUMBER ONE. UM, YOU GOT LETTING WHAT HAPPENED IN THE DELTA LAD
PLAYING ON THE, UH, BETA YET THE ONLY FAMILY I GOT WHAT I DO YOU GO TO NOT WORK SO IT'S ALREADY OKAY. THANK YOU. GO TO THE HEY, OPEN CHALLENGE
YOU DON'T HIT BEING A VOLUME. WHAT DID YOU YOU HAVE TO COME DOWN HERE. THEY YOU KNOW THEY THEY ARE RAISING DO YOU HAVE TO GO? YEAH HOW YOU I'M SICK YANG JEFF
I TOLD YOU TO HANG ON TYPING I TOMATO I WHO CAN GET ON GAIA GOT TO STAY CLEAR GOT IT WILL TAKE THEM GOT THEM OKAY. UH, AS A. LOW INCOME RESIDENT I.
WE HAVE BEEN LIVING HERE FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS. 40 YEARS, 60. YEARS SOME OF THEM. >> SO I CAN. ONLY. >> UH I WANT TO SHARE TESTIMONY WITH YOU. I LIVE ON 15 B STREET.
UM, WE HAVE 15, UM, AFFORDABLE UNIT AND THEN, UM, THE OWNER HAS WANTED TO MOVE US, UH, WANT US TO MOVE TO THE SUBURBS AND THEY GIVE US 1 OR 2 MORE YEARS TO DO THAT.
CAN YOU IMAGINE THE RESIDENT IS IN SUCH AN AGE TO MOVE TO THE SUBURBS? SOME OF US BEEN LIVING FOR 2040 YEARS. WE CANNOT DO THAT BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE WE LIVE AND THEN FOR
THE MEDICAL FOR OUR LIFE IS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD I. UH COME OUT THERE AND UH WHAT IS WRONG GUY FOR YOUNG 35 YOU
WILL LET HIM ONLY THE THING FOR DEAD UH GTA TTD VACCINE TAKING OUR DEAD TO REALITY DEVICE BONG JAHANGIRI THAT IS. GENTLEMAN TOOK YOU TO ROLL CALL
FOR ME NOT YELLED BEEN THEY AT THAT THEY VOLUNTEER UH GET WHAT YOU SAY YOU ARE. INTO A DATA LOCKDOWN.
LIKE OKAY OKAY OKAY OKAY OKAY. SO WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS WHEN YOU WHEN YOU HELP THE DEVELOPER PLEASE HELP US. PLEASE HELP THE LOW INCOME
PEOPLE FIND A WAY TO BALANCE IT AND HELP US TO BUILD A COMMUNITY THAT WE CAN STAY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. THAT'S ALL I'M TRYING TO SAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR TESTIFYING.
UM, OKAY. UM NEXT WE HAVE I'M JUST GOING TO NAME A FEW. SO BE READY. ALEX. ALEX THEN MARSHA MOORE. ,MINNIE. >> MCMAHON AND DANIELLE SUMMER.
AND I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU. UH IT'S. OKAY ALEX YOURS. HELLO. >> MY NAME IS ALEX. I LIVE IN DORCHESTER. I'M 25 AND I CAN ONLY AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE CITY BECAUSE I LIVE
WITH FAMILY. UM, I'VE BEEN RELEGATED TO WORKING CLASS LABOR DESPITE GRADUATING. UM. AND I THINK THAT A LOT OF THE DISCUSSION AROUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS CENTERED AROUND HOME OWNERSHIP. UM, THIS IS A SLOW PROCESS AND OUT OF THE REACH OF MUCH OF THE
CITY EVEN AFFORDABLE UNITS WORKING CLASS PEOPLE CURRENTLY WORK 2 TO 3 JOBS TO AFFORD RENT AND THEY ARE NOT IN A PLACE TO TAKE ON A MORTGAGE, DOWNPAYMENT, INSURANCE, REPAIRS AND TAXES. THE CITY IS SERIOUS ABOUT AFFORDABILITY.
IT NEEDS TO DO BASIC MATH ON WORKING CLASS WAGES VERSUS ABSURDITY OF RENT. I'VE HEARD FROM MANY LANDLORDS THAT RISING TAXES FORCE THEM TO INCREASE RENTS. THE CITY NEEDS TO PURSUE OTHER REVENUE SOURCES TO FUND ITS SERVICES.
I PROPOSE MANY IDEAS TO THE COUNCIL SUCH AS EPR LAWS, CONGESTION PRICING AND A WASTE TAX. RENT MUST BE PEGGED TO MINIMUM WAGE OFFICE SPACES EMPTYING OUT AND LOSING VALUE AS ANOTHER TESTIMONY BROUGHT UP.
IF UNIVERSITIES HAS MORE OF THEIR STUDENTS PRESSURE WILL EASE ON HOUSING MARKETS UH DOWNTOWN'S OFFICE SPACE CAN BE REDEVELOPED INTO A DISTRICT FOR SHORT TERM STAYS UH, FOR TOURIST PROFESSIONALS AND
PEOPLE SETTLING INTO THE CITY. UH, THIS ALONG WITH EXPANDED UNIVERSITY HOUSING OPENS UP MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE UP LOST REVENUE. UM I'M HERE REPRESENTING DSA. I AND I THINK THAT IT'S WORTH EXPANDING THE ACQUISITION
OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM IN CONJUNCTION WITH NEIGHBORHOOD LAND TRUST UH THAT MAKE NEIGHBORHOODS OWNERS OF LAND AND UNITS UH THE HEALTH AND VIBRANCY OF THE CITY DEPENDS ON ITS ABILITY AND ITS POPULATION. UH, THAT MEANS THAT COMMUNITIES
THAT GROW MUST BE ABLE TO CARE FOR THE INDIVIDUALS AND OFFER THEM STABILITY AND WHERE THEY LIVE. THANK YOU ALEX, THANK YOU FOR, UH, YOUR TESTIMONY ON THAT. UM. >> WE HAVE MORE ACTION.
MORE. HIGH SO OUR MARKET SHARE MORE UM, I HAVE A JUST A COUPLE OF TALKING POINTS.
UM, NUMBER ONE IS WE WERE HEARING A LOT THAT IT IS ECONOMICALLY CHALLENGING FOR DEVELOPERS TO BUILD MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UM, AND IF LIKE I JUST WANT TO SAY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE ARE ABLE TO LIKE EAT AT PLACES LIKE MORTON'S AND DEL
FRISCO'S LIKE THEY'RE TELLING US THEY CAN'T DO THIS VERSUS PEOPLE WHO ARE STANDING IN FOOD LINES TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD FOOD BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO PAY FOR RENT. UM, DEVELOPERS OF MY WHAT I
WANT TO SAY TO THAT IS DEVELOPERS CAN BETTER SHIELD THEMSELVES FROM ECONOMIC CHALLENGES THAN REGULAR RESIDENTS IN BOSTON.
UM AND AND STILL MAKE MONEY IN THE LONG RUN AND THE RESIDENTS IN BOSTON THAT THIS AFFECTS LIKE IT IT IT AFFECTS BIPOC PEOPLE LIKE WE'VE WE'VE FOUGHT TO MAKE THESE CHANGES BECAUSE
WE NEED THIS FOR BIPOC PEOPLE. UM AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT LIKE THERE'S THIS THING THAT, UH, MAKING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS THE REASON WHY DEVELOPMENT HAS STOPPED.
I JUST WANT TO THROW A COUPLE THINGS OUT THERE. THERE ARE LABOR SHORTAGES THERE. UH, THE COST OF LAND IS RIDICULOUS NOW BECAUSE WE ARE ALLOWING IT TO BE WE ALLOWING
PEOPLE TO COME IN HERE AND PREY ON THE CITY OF BOSTON. THERE'S THE TARIFFS, THERE'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. UM, AND WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING SHOULD NOT
BEAR THE BRUNT OF ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE CONTRIBUTING TO SLOWING DOWN DEVELOPMENT. THAT'S NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO, ROLLING BACK THE IDP AND ANY INCLUSIONARY ZONING
GAINS THAT WE FOUGHT WITH LIKE SEAT UM I'M HERE FOR C TAB FOUGHT ALONGSIDE RESIDENTS AND CITY COUNCILORS TO GET AND I
WANT TO STRESS THAT WE WON 17 WE GOT TO 17% WE WON IT. WE'RE NOT LIKE 20% IS NOT WHAT WE WANT.
3% IS FOR UM SUBSIDIES BUT WE ONLY WENT FROM 13 TO 17% ENROLLING AND WE MUCH NEEDED THAT HOUSING WE HAD AND IT WAS NOT ENOUGH. THERE ARE A LIST THERE WHERE
PEOPLE ARE WAITING FOR TEN YEARS FOR A HOUSING AFFORDABILITY. YOU CAN WALK RIGHT OUT THAT LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT I HEARD SOME WE WANT TO BE BOOMING LIKE THEY ARE IN CALIFORNIA AND ALL
THESE PLACES THEY'RE BOOMING AND THERE'S HOMELESSNESS RAMPANT EVERYWHERE. WE CAN WALK RIGHT OUTSIDE OF THIS BUILDING AND SEE PEOPLE WHO CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE. IT'S NOT THAT LIKE WE THERE'S
THIS THING THAT SAYS IF WE BUILD, BUILD, BUILD, BUILD WE'RE GOING TO BUILD OUR WAY INTO AFFORDABILITY. THERE'S NO EVIDENCE THAT SUPPORTS THAT. BUT THERE'S PLENTY OF EVIDENCE
THAT SAYS THE OPPOSITE BECAUSE WE'RE ALL STILL HERE FIGHTING FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY HARMFUL FOR
PROTECTED CLASSES TO ROLL BACK THOSE THOSE THINGS AND TO UH AND WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE DEVELOPERS LIKE THEY'RE NOT HURTING. WE CAN'T TAKE THE SIDE
OF PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT HURTING OVER THE PEOPLE WHO WILL BE ART. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM. >> NEXT WE HAVE MINI MCMAHON. AND THEN DANIELLE SUMMER. HELLO. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK MINI MCMAHON.
>> I'M A RESIDENT OF JAMAICA PLAIN. UM I JUST WANT. >> TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS HERE. WE SHOULD NOT CHIP AWAY AT AFFORDABILITY PROTECTIONS ON A PROJECT BY PROJECT BASIS OR BY ROLLING BACK EXISTING POLICIES.
WHAT THESE DO I THINK I THINK WE'RE ALL INTERESTED IN SOLUTIONS HERE BUT TO ME THE SIGNAL A REDUCE COMMITMENT TO AFFORDABILITY IN BOSTON GOVERNMENT HELPS DETERMINE WHAT'S POSSIBLE THROUGH WHAT IS
REQUIRED OR INCENTIVIZED. AND LET'S NOT REWARD. DEVELOPERS WHEN THEY PAY TOO MUCH FOR LAND. WE HAVE TO. >> GET OUT. OF THE CYCLE. INVESTORS AND DEVELOPERS MAKE A BET. THAT THEY CAN. MAKE A. >> PROFIT ON WHATEVER THEY'RE
THROWING YOU KNOW, THROWING THEIR MONEY BEHIND AND LARGE ECONOMIC FACTORS FAR OUTWEIGH THE AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS THAT WE AS A CITY HAVE UM, ENACTED.
AND IT'S NOT UP TO THE CITY OR THE PUBLIC TO CUT BACK ON AFFORDABILITY TO BAIL OUT DEVELOPERS FROM THE COSTS. UM, WHEN THEIR BETS. >> DON'T. TURN OUT IN THEIR FAVOR. UM. AND THERE. >> SEEMS TO BE THIS PREVAILING
IDEA THAT BUILDING MORE HOUSING THAT IS NOT. AFFORDABLE TO THE MAJORITY OF. BOSTONIANS WILL. UH. >> SOMEHOW RESULT IN. MORE HOUSING THAT IS. AFFORDABLE TO THE MAJORITY OF BOSTONIANS. THIS IS.
COMPELLING FOR. >> ALL. OF. US EVIDENTLY. UM AND AS OTHER OTHERS HAVE NOTED, THERE ARE MANY COSTS AND FACTORS THAT THAT CONTRIBUTE TO OUR ISSUE RIGHT NOW. AND I WONDER IF WE'RE SIGNALING
,UH, SINGLING OUT AFFORDABILITY BECAUSE IT FEELS. LIKE THE ONLY. THING WE. CAN CONTROL UM, IF WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT ALL OPTIONS ON THE TABLE, LET'S THROW OUR WEIGHT BEHIND PUBLIC LAND FOR
PUBLIC GOOD THROUGH NONPROFIT AND SHARED OWNERSHIP. MODELS LIKE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST. LET'S MAKE. ONE TIME INVESTMENTS DURABLE. LET'S MAKE THEM LAST. THROUGH PERMANENT AFFORDABILITY
PROGRAMS AND MODELS INCLUDING COMMUNITY LAND TRUST. LET'S GET BEHIND REAL ESTATE. TRANSFER FEE THAT. WOULD BRING MAJOR. REVENUE TO THE CITY. EVERY SINGLE YEAR FROM OUR
WEALTHIEST RESIDENTS AND IN MANY CASE NONRESIDENT INVESTORS . UM I KNOW MY TIME IS UP. I'LL JUST SAY WITH WE HAVE. >> TO ATTACH THAT REVENUE TO. PROGRAMS TO TO. LONG TERM AND TO A RANGE OF GOOD.
HOUSING PROGRAMS OF DIFFERENT TENURE TYPES. UM, DEVELOPERS SHOULD GET BEHIND REAL ESTATE TRANSFER FEE. I DON'T SEE WHY THEY WOULDN'T. UM LASTLY. >> I APPRECIATE JUST ABOUT THE THIRD PUBLIC PROCESS.
I APPRECIATE THAT THERE ARE PROJECT COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH LONGER. PROCESSES RIGHT? THAT'S PART OF WANTING TO CHANGE. ZONING AND. PERMITTING AND REVIEW. >> LET'S KEEP THINGS MOVING AND NOT INCREASE COSTS.
UM BUT WE HAVE TO UH HAVE INTEGRITY WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THESE PROJECT BY PROJECT UH CHANGES AND SAY LOOK IS THIS A SMALL. CHANGE OR NOT. IS GOING FROM 70% FROM A 50%
AMI COMMITMENT FOR X AMOUNT OF UNITS? OH, IT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO HAVE TO. >> BE 70 OR 80% THAT MATTERS FOR PEOPLE. THAT'S A REAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN. >> WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN'T AFFORD. SO I JUST REALLY. WANT TO. CAUTION AGAINST. THE PIECEMEAL LET'S LET'S JUST.
DO WHAT WE CAN TO BUILD THIS HAS REAL. IMPACTS ON. >> PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. >> UM DANIELLE SUMMER. HI. >> MY NAME IS DANIELLE SUMMER QUIET. I'M POLICY DIRECTOR FOR HOMES
FOR ALL MASSACHUSETTS. I ALSO DO CONSULTING WITH BOSTON TENANT COALITION. UM AND I'M HERE ALSO AS A LIFELONG BOSTONIAN. UM I FEEL LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR A LOT. OF, UH, PIECES AND I WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE, YOU KNOW, DEVELOPMENT EBBS AND FLOWS AND IT'S TRUE THAT IN ADDITION TO THAT TITLE DYNAMIC. UH, WE. ARE REALLY IN AN UNPRECEDENTED TIME ONE IN WHICH FACTORS THAT
EXCEED WHAT CAN BE ADDRESSED IN THIS CHAMBER, UH, REALLY ARE IMPACTING THAT IS THINGS LIKE TARIFFS, BORROWING RATES, REDUCTIONS IN FEDERAL FUNDING FOR EXAMPLE THEY'RE ALL
IMPACTING PRODUCTION. UM AROUND THE COUNTRY REALLY WHERE BUILDING IS NOT REALLY HAPPENING ANYWHERE. UM THAT BEING SAID, UM, I REALLY DO FEEL COMPELLED TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT ABOUT A
NUMBER OF IDEAS THAT GET BANDIED ABOUT AS EITHER REASONS FOR OR SOLUTIONS TO OUR HOUSING CRISIS. UM, FIRST TO BE VERY CLEAR THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS TRICKLE DOWN HOUSING. UM. >> RECENT RESEARCH FROM
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY, FROM THE GROUNDWORK COLLABORATIVE FROM THE LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS JUST TO NAME A FEW. THERE'S A BODY OF EVIDENCE ABOUT THIS. UM, THEY ALL SHARE CONSENSUS ON THIS THAT WE CAN EITHER RELY ON
MARKET BASED PRODUCTION NOR DEREGULATION TO CREATE A HOUSING AFFORDABILITY. AND SO UPLIFTING THAT GEORGETOWN UH STUDY IN PARTICULAR THEY LOOKED AT SEVERAL HIGH GROWTH CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY AND FOUND
THAT RATHER THAN INCREASING AFFORDABILITY FOR LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME HOUSEHOLDS THROUGH SUPPLY SIDE SOLUTIONS ALONE, THESE MARKETS HAD STAGNATION OR DECREASING UM
SUPPLY OF UH FOR THE THEIR LOWER INCOME HOUSEHOLDS. UH LOOKING. >> AT THEIR SUBMARKETS. UH YOU DO FIND THAT COSTS WENT DOWN BUT THAT'S ONLY FOR THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY PAYING A LUXURY LEVEL RENT.
UM, AND IN TURN THERE'S AN INCREASED PRESSURE ON NOEL HOUSING AND LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSEHOLDS. UH, ADDITIONALLY, UH, SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE POTENTIAL OF ROLLING BACK UH, THE AMOUNT OF AFFORDABILITY
REQUIRED IN PROJECTS, UM, WE SHOULD ADDRESS DEREGULATION AND THE LOOSENING OF RULES. ROBOTICS AND DRUG REGULATION WILL NOT PRODUCE MEANINGFUL IMPROVEMENTS IN AFFORDABILITY.
UH, MUCH OF WHAT IS DRIVING THE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS IS GROUNDED IN RISING INEQUALITY. UH, IT WILL TAKE DECADES FOR SUPPLY TO HAVE MEANINGFUL IMPACT ON THE AFFORDABLE CRISIS THAT WE FACE.
AND IN THE MEANTIME, THOUSANDS OF BOSTONIAN HOUSEHOLDS WILL BE DISPLACED. DEREGULATION WILL NOT SPUR THE CAN TRUCK THE CONSTRUCTION NEEDED FOR, UH, MEANINGFUL
IMPROVEMENTS TO AFFORDABILITY. AND, UM, AND, UH, WHAT WE NEED NOW ARE IS A STRONGER GOVERNMENTAL ROLE IN PRODUCTION, STRONGER TENANT PROTECTIONS AND MEASURES THAT
ENSURE NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING CAN BE BUILT QUICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY AND THAT EXISTING STOCK IS PRESERVED AS WELL. AND YOU KNOW, OFTEN WHAT GETS LOST IN THESE CONVERSATIONS ARE
THE ACTUAL PEOPLE, UH, THAT ARE IMPACTED BY THESE TYPES OF DECISIONS THEIR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, THEIR SERVICE WORKERS ESSENTIAL LIFEBLOOD OF OUR CITY WHO ARE RELYING ON THESE AFFORDABLE UNITS.
DO YOU KNOW THAT THE MAJORITY OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEES CITY OF BOSTON EMPLOYEES ALL QUALIFY FOR THESE TYPES OF AFFORDABLE UNITS? UH, ARE YOU WILLING TO LOOK AT YOUR OWN STAFF?
THESE ARE THE ACTUAL PEOPLE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AND SAY YEAH, WE NEED TO BUILD MORE. IT'S JUST NOT ACTUALLY FOR YOU. AND IF THE ANSWER IS NO, THEN WE NEED TO HAVE DIFFERENT AND UH, MORE PRACTICALLY GROUNDED
SOLUTIONS AND I WILL SAY I'M HAPPY TO SHARE ALL OF THOSE STUDIES WITH ANY OF YOUR STAFF. UH, IF YOU WOULD LIKE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I KNOW WE HAVE ONE MORE THAT
WOULD LIKE TO GO NOW IS PURPLE RAIN BUT I BELIEVE SHE'S ON ZOOM. UM, SO, UM, THAT WAS THAT WAS ERIC. YEAH.
TO MAKE SURE AND THEN FOR IN THE MEANTIME SO WE CAN SAVE SOME TIME. UM, IF THE SECOND PANEL COULD TAKE YOUR SEATS, YOU KNOW, ON THE CHAMBER FLOOR. GEORGE MCCARTHY, JESSE LEE
GOODMAN, JAKE UPTON, TYRONE THE LIST. AND THEN I BELIEVE WE HAVE OUR MONEY WHITE. BUT HE IS VIRTUAL, CORRECT? OKAY. UM.
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? HEY. >> YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU. WE HAVE YOU HAVE. AWESOME, AWESOME. I'M GOING I'M GOING TO I KNOW. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS PURPLE RAIN. I LIVE IN ROXBURGH, JAMAICA PLAIN AND I AM SOMEONE WHO HAS DIRECTLY BENEFIT FROM
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS NOT ABSTRACT TO ME. IT IS STABILITY. IT IS SURVIVAL. IT IS THE REASON I AM ABLE TO STAND HERE TODAY. AND I DIDN'T STOP THERE. I JOINED THE JAMAICA PLAIN NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL AND OTHER
COMMUNITY GROUPS BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN GIVING BACK BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE PEOPLE MOST IMPACTED YOU HAVE A VOICE IN THE DECISIONS THAT SHAPE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. THAT IS WHY I AM ASKING YOU TO
NOT WEAKEN AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS TO FAST TRACK PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT. WHEN DEVELOPERS ASK FOR CUTS, WHAT THEY'RE REALLY DECIDE IS WHO GETS TO STAY AND WHO GETS
PUSHED OUT. DEVELOPERS MADE PROMISES THEY ACCEPTED PUBLIC FUNDING. THEY GAVE MANY OF THEM NOT ALL. THEY GAVE COMMUNITY SUPPORT BASED ON THOSE PROMISES.
BUT NOW WHEN IT'S TIME TO DELIVER, WE'RE BEING TOLD AFFORDABILITY IS NO LONGER POSSIBLE. I'VE SEEN FIRST HAND WITH 3326
WASHINGTON STREET THAT BUILDS IN THE COMMUNITY SUPPORTED STRONG AFFORDABILITY ONLY TO HAVE THOSE COMMITMENTS PULLED BACK AT THE VERY LAST MINUTE. AND ONCE AGAIN THE COMMUNITY
HAD TO FIGHT JUST TO BE HEARD. LET'S BE CLEAR. QUOTATION MARKS, CAREER PARENTHESES WHATEVER CHANGES TO AFFORDABILITY ARE NOT SMALL ADJUSTMENTS. THEY ARE MAJOR CUTS TO THE VERY
UNITS PEOPLE DEPEND ON. UNITS AT 3,830% EXCUSE ME AND 50% MI ARE NOT OPTIONAL. THEY ARE ESSENTIAL. PLANS LIKE J.P. WALKS WERE
BUILT ON A PROMISE MORE DEVELOPMENT IN EXCHANGE FOR DEEPER AFFORDABILITY. YOU CANNOT KEEP THE BENEFITS AND ABANDON THE AGREEMENT BECAUSE WE ALLOW THIS. WE SEND A MESSAGE THAT
AFFORDABILITY IS NEGOTIABLE BUT PROFIT IS NOT. AND ONCE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DISAPPEARS IT DOESN'T COME BACK . SO I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH THIS ONE QUESTION.
IF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE WORK HERE AND FIGHT FOR THESE COMMUNITIES CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO STAY, THEN WHO? WHO? PLEASE TELL ME WHO ARE WE BUILDING THIS CITY FOR?
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. >> PURPLE RAIN RIGHT ON TIME. OKAY. UM. I JUST NOTICED THE PRINCE REFERENCE THERE. WHY YOU DID THAT? OKAY. ALL RIGHT.
UM. ALL RIGHT. WE WE ARE JOINED NOW BY OUR SECOND PANEL OF OUR AMAZING COMMUNITY PANEL AND THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS DO REGARDING HOUSING. UM, WHAT I'LL DO IS I'LL JUST
GIVE YOU THE FLOOR AND EACH OF YOU COULD DO INTRODUCTION WHO YOU ARE, WHO YOU WORK FOR, WHAT TYPE OF WORK YOU DO AND THEN WE'LL JUMP RIGHT INTO QUESTIONS. OKAY SWEET. HISTORICALLY.
THANK YOU. MY NAME IS LEE GOODMAN. UH, WE'RE. WATERMARK DEVELOPMENT. WE'RE JAMAICA PLAIN BUILDER DEVELOPER. UH, MY DAD STARTED THE COMPANY 40 YEARS AGO AND I'VE BEEN
DOING PROJECTS IN JP FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS, SO I'VE KIND OF SEEN THE TWO TIME FRAMES THE 2012 TO 2020. UH. >> STEADY TIME WHEN
CONSTRUCTION PRICES WERE MORE OR LESS HOLDING WHERE THEY UH HAD BEEN YEAR OVER YEAR AND YOU COULD KIND OF KNOW WHEN YOU FINANCED A PROJECT WHERE YOU WERE GOING TO END UP IN
OBVIOUSLY AT EXPERIENCE THE LAST FIVE YEARS WHICH HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT AND YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF FACTORS THAT GO INTO A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT ON A MICRO LEVEL BUT ON A MACRO LEVEL IT'S
IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE. IT'S LAND COSTS HARD COST, SOFT COST, HARD COSTS ARE THE SUBCONTRACTORS AND CONSTRUCTION COSTS OF A BUILDING. SOFT COSTS ARE COMMUNITY
PROCESS AND ATTORNEYS AND ARCHITECTS AND INTEREST MAINLY INTEREST UM AND THOSE THINGS HAVE JUST SPIRALED UPWARDS IN THE LAST 4 OR 5 YEARS. SO YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK
THERE'S ONE THING THAT'S CAUSING THE ISSUES THAT ARE BEING DISCUSSED TODAY. IT'S THAT YOU HAVE A THREE LEGGED STOOL AND THEY HAVE TO KIND OF BALANCE THEMSELVES WITH LAND HARD COST, SOFT COSTS AND
WHEN TWO OF THOSE THINGS JUST RIPPLE OUT OF CONTROL THE THING TOPPLES OVER. UM SO IT'S JUST A UH, SIMPLIFIED WAY OF SAYING UM, WE
GOT TO LOOK AT IT FROM A FEW DIFFERENT ANGLES AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE ONE THING THAT FIXES IT. I THINK IDP IS A DIFFICULT THING TO OVERCOME IF IT MAKES THE SALES NUMBERS TOO LOW.
UH, MAYBE THERE'S A WAY LIKE SHEILA, UH, DILLON WAS DESCRIBING TO BIO UNITS ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS IT SEEMS LIKE THE CITIES HAVE HAD SUCCESS WITH THE OFFICE TO
RESIDENTIAL TAX BREAK. I DO THINK THAT MIGHT WORK FOR FOR RENTAL PROJECTS. IF YOU TAKE THAT POLICY AND SHIFT IT INTO THE MORE YOU KNOW, UH, TYPICAL 4 OR 5 STORY
HOUSING IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS. UM, IT'S NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING FOR HOME OWNERSHIP. SO THAT'S GOING TO BE A DIFFERENT SCENARIO. AND I AND I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO UNFORTUNATELY LOOK AT UM, SOME OF THE ADDITIONAL COSTS THAT HAVE BEEN LAYERED ON
WHETHER IT'S UH PASSIVE HOUSE STANDARDS OR BERTO OR IT'S NOT ONE OF THESE THINGS THAT'S CAUSING THE ISSUE, IT'S THAT YOU KEEP PUTTING MORE AND MORE BLOCKS ON THE JENGA TOWER AND IT'S TOPPLING. RIGHT.
UM, AND I DON'T THINK IT'S ANY ONE PERSON OR ANY ONE THING THAT'S CAUSING THIS. I THINK IT'S GOING TO MEAN POTENTIALLY REASSESSING SOME OF THESE POLICIES TO TRY AND
GET STUFF MOVING. UM SO ANYWAYS THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. ESTEEMED CHAIR PÉPIN. UM, AND I'M SORRY, VICE CHAIR.
UH, CULPEPPER HAD TO STEP OUT. I HOPE HE COMES BACK. MY NAME IS RHONDA ELLIS. I'M A CEO OF THE JAMAICA PLAIN NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. UM, JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND. I'M A SELF-TAUGHT AND BORN AND
RAISED GIRL. UH, SO I'M FROM THE CITY OF BOSTON. I HAVE, UH, A MY ROOTS ARE FROM PUBLIC HOUSING. UM, AND SO I REALLY DO APPRECIATE BEING ABLE TO SIT
HERE AND IN THIS CHAIR TODAY. UM, IN TERMS OF, UH, SORT OF OUR WORK UH, A COUPLE THINGS I WANT TO SHARE AS SOLUTIONS. UM, AND TO JUST SORT
OF PIGGYBACK ON MY MY FRIEND TO THE LEFT HERE, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT WE'VE LEARNED HOW TO DO WELL OVER THE LAST 50 YEARS AND I'VE BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS NOW SORT OF LED
THE REAL ESTATE GROWTH IN OUR PIPELINE FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS BEFORE I TOOK OMAHA. SEE? UM, IS THAT THERE ISN'T ONE ADDITIONAL THING THAT WE TODAY,
UM, CAN DO DIFFERENTLY OTHER THAN COLLABORATE. UM, IF WE DON'T UH AND REALLY START TALKING ACROSS THE BOARD I THINK ONE OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS MENTIONED UM,
YOU KNOW, SORT OF UH, A HEALTHY TENSION. I THINK WE NEED TO REALLY EXAMINE THAT TENSION BETWEEN CDC AND PARTICULAR EMERGING
DEVELOPERS, UM, TO BUILD THAT BRIDGE. UM, SO THAT WE ARE TALKING TO THEM THERE'S A LOT OF EXPERIENCE AND YOU KNOW, LEE SAID HE'S SEEN THE GOOD TIMES AND IS NOW FACING SIMILAR
TIMES. UM, AS ALL OF US IF WE'RE NOT TALKING MORE UM, WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SOLVE TO SOLVE IT WRIT LARGE SOME OF THESE REAL CHALLENGES BEFORE
US AND TRUTHFULLY RIGHT, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET THESE PROJECT UM PROJECTS UNSTUCK BUT IT WILL TAKE CDCS LIKE OURS AND MARKET RATE DEVELOPERS TO COME TOGETHER.
UM, THERE. >> ARE. VERY. >> VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD SOLUTIONS AND THEN THERE ARE SOME MORE REALLY NUANCED CHALLENGES IF WE CAN TALK EARLIER AND WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT UM, YOU KNOW, HOW DO I
GET UNSTUCK WHEN I'VE DUG MYSELF $4 MILLION IN THE HOLE? IT'S A VERY DIFFERENT CONVERSATION IF WE'RE TALKING EARLY AND WE'RE SAYING LOOK, LET'S LOOK AT THIS OPPORTUNITY
TOGETHER AND SEE WHERE WE HAVE SIMPATICO RELATIONSHIP OPPORTUNITIES TO LEVERAGE EXPERIENCE AND RESOURCES. IF WE CAN DO THAT, WE CAN GET A LOT OF WHAT'S STUCK TODAY OR WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS STUCK
TODAY UNSTUCK. SO I WANT TO OFFER THAT FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TODAY AND FOR THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. SHEILA MENTIONED RIGHT LIKE WE HAVE TO GET OUT OF THIS GLOOM AND DOOM MINDSET.
IT'S DIFFICULT FOR ANY PROJECT WHETHER IT'S OURS OR LEASE RIGHT? WE'RE BUILDING THE SAME THING HE MAY BE PUTTING IN KOREAN OR MARBLE UH BUT POUND FOR POUND
WE'RE BUILDING THE SAME BOX RIGHT WITH THE SAME MATERIALS AND THE SAME EXPERIENCES. IF HE'S ABLE TO DO IT FASTER THEN I'M GOING TO ENCOURAGE LEE TO GO DO THAT FASTER BECAUSE WHAT I'M SEEING IN OUR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING LOTTERIES WHICH I JUST WANT TO REFRAME IT'S INCOME RESTRICTED HOUSING . SO IT IS TRUE THE COMMUNITIES COMMENT A LOT OF MY STAFF A LOT OF OUR STAFF, ALL OF OUR STAFFS
ARE LOOKING AT THESE RENTS AND SAYING HEY LOOK I NEED TO BE ON THAT LOTTERY BECAUSE IF I'M NOT IF I CAN'T AFFORD TO, YOU KNOW, LIVE INDEPENDENTLY THEN I'M
EITHER AT HOME OR I'M QUADRUPLED UP IN AN APARTMENT THAT DOESN'T MEET THESE AMAZING STANDARDS THAT WE'RE BUILDING TOO, RIGHT? SO I'M SEEING A LOT MORE
WORKING CLASS FAMILIES ACTUALLY UNDERSTANDING THAT IF THEY SEE A LOTTERY APPLICATION OPEN IN A FLIER AND STOP AND SHOP OR WHOLE FOODS IT DOESN'T MATTER, RIGHT?
THEY'RE APPLYING FOR THAT INCOME RESTRICTED HOUSING TOO BECAUSE THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING BACK AND THEY'RE GOING YOU KNOW THEY'RE DOING A DOUBLE TAKE WITH THAT FLIER AND THEY'RE SAYING WAIT A MINUTE THAT IS MY INCOME.
I'M AN EARLY ENTRY NURSE PRACTITIONER OR I'M AN EARLY ENTRY LABOR FORCE INDIVIDUAL AND MY FAMILY COULD ACTUALLY MEET THAT STANDARD. SO WHAT THAT'S DOING IS IT'S PUTTING DOWNWARD PRESSURE ON
OTHERS RIGHT. SO WE ARE BUILDING WORKING FAMILY HOUSING AND WE'RE BUILDING IT AT A STANDARD THAT IS SUPERLATIVE I WOULD SAY RIGHT IF YOU WALK INTO OUR
HOUSING ANYWHERE WHETHER IT'S IN JP OR ROXBURY OR DORCHESTER AND OUR PORTFOLIO IS ABOUT A THOUSAND UNITS ACROSS NEIGHBORHOODS, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BELIEVE WHAT YOU SEE. SO THE MINDSET OF AFFORDABILITY
HAS TO SHIFT. IT'S A REFRAME WE NEED TO MAKE AND THEN WE NEED TO GET PEOPLE TALKING TOGETHER. WE HAVE EARLY ENTRY DEVELOPERS RIGHT NOW AND BY EARLY ENTRY
OKAY JP DC IS GOING TO BE 50 THIS YEAR. SO APOLOGIES IF I'M TALKING ABOUT FOLKS WHO ARE 15 YEARS IN THE BUSINESS OR TEN YEARS IN THE BUSINESS, BUT I KNOW THEY'RE HURTING.
I DO BECAUSE THEY'RE COMING TO US AND THEY'RE SAYING LOOK, I'VE GOT A 40 UNIT PROJECT. I'VE GOT IT READY FOR PERMITTING. I'VE GOT MY INVESTORS WHO ARE NOW ASKING FOR. DIFFERENT RETURNS.
HOW DO I MAKE THIS WORK? WHEN THEY COME AND TALK TO US WE CAN DO REALLY QUICK SPOT CHECK AND WE CAN LOOK AT THEIR COSTS AND WE CAN START HELPING THEM NEGOTIATE THESE COSTS THAT
THEY MAY HAVE JUMPED INTO A LITTLE TOO SORT OF ROSY EYED AND GET THOSE NUMBERS DOWN BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY IF THEIR LENDERS ARE IN FOR A PENNY, WE KNOW THEY'RE IN FOR A POUND AND SO THEY'RE GOING TO
HAVE TO GET OUT OF THAT DEAL. AND MANY OF THESE YOUNGER DEVELOPERS NOT MY COLLEAGUE HERE BUT SOME OF THEM HAVE THEIR HOUSES ON THE LINE. THEY HAVE THEIR CHILDREN'S COLLEGE TUITION ON THE LINE AND
I'M NOT NECESSARILY AGAINST THEM DEVELOPING HOUSING. I GET THAT THE FRUSTRATION IS YOU KNOW, THEY KNEW WHAT THEY WERE GETTING INTO BUT WE NEED TO GIVE THEM A LOT MORE OPPORTUNITY TO BE TRANSPARENT
WITH US. EARLY IF THEY ARE COMING TO OUR COMMUNITY WASTING OUR TIME. WE NEED TO GET OUT THAT EARLY. IF THEY ARE COMING TO OUR
COMMUNITIES WITH A BAKED DEAL AND NUMBERS LOCKED IN, THEN WE NEED TO HELP THEM ACCELERATE THAT HOUSING. BUT IF THEY'RE NOT AND THEY'RE SAYING THEY DON'T WANT TO, THEY WANT TO BURST THEIR CARDS THEN
WE NEED TO CALL THAT AS WHAT IT IS I CALL IT BLOWING SUNSHINE. THERE ARE OTHER DESCRIPTIONS OF THAT BUT LET'S NOT BLOW SUNSHINE WHERE THERE ISN'T ANY BECAUSE THEN WE HAVE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE THEN SAYING
LISTEN, YOU PROMISED US SOMETHING AND IF WE HAD ASKED THEM SOME MORE SORT OF PROBING QUESTIONS, WE COULD HAVE FIGURED OUT WHETHER OR NOT THEY WERE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER IT IN THE FIRST PLACE. SO I APPRECIATE THE TIME.
I KNOW WE HAVE A LONG PANEL BUT WE ARE HERE FOR SOLUTIONS AND WE WANT TO SEE ALL THE HOUSING BUILT BECAUSE SURE WE HAVE AN ECONOMIC CRISIS AND A NATIONAL ECONOMIC CRISIS.
WE STILL NEED THE HOUSING BUILT HERE NOW. THANK YOU. >> UH GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS GEORGE MCCARTHY. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE LINCOLN INSTITUTE OF LAND POLICY AND UH, OUR MAIN OFFICE IS IN CAMBRIDGE.
BUT, UM, SO I HAD A LOT OF COMMENTS TO MAKE, BUT I THINK I JUST NEED TO, UM, CONTEXTUALIZE WHAT WE'VE HEARD TODAY BECAUSE, UM, AT THE LINCOLN INSTITUTE WE WORK ALL
OVER THE WORLD AND I PARTICIPATE IN THESE KINDS OF CONVERSATIONS IN CHINA AND SOUTH AFRICA AND BRAZIL AND UM
,I HAVE TO SAY THAT UM, IN BOSTON YOU PROBABLY HAVE THE MOST SOPHISTICATED UM HOUSING COMMUNITY THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE YOU'RE GOING TO FIND IN THE WHOLE WORLD. RIGHT.
AND AND SO YOU KNOW, WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT UM, YOU CAN'T LOOK AT AUSTIN, YOU CAN'T LOOK AT CHARLOTTE, YOU CAN'T LOOK AT MINNEAPOLIS. I THINK THAT THE ANSWERS ARE TO
BE LIKE THEM BECAUSE THEY LOOK AT YOU FOR INNOVATION. AND YOU KNOW, THE THING THAT REALLY STRUCK ME REINFORCES WHAT I WAS JUST THINKING IS THE
COMMENTARY WE'VE HAD HERE TODAY . THE AUDIENCE HERE IS MORE SOPHISTICATED THAN A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE ACTUALLY ACTIVELY DOING HOUSING WORK AND LOTS OF THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.
SO UM, BOSTON IS USED IN MOST EFFECTIVELY SOME OF THE THE LEADING TOOLS THAT ARE USED IN THE UNITED STATES TO BE ABLE TO PROMOTE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. YOU HAVE THE LARGEST UM, SHARE
OF YOUR HOUSING AND IN BOSTON THAT IS INCOME RESTRICTED ALREADY FOR THE WHOLE NATION. RIGHT. UM AND YOU HAVE UM SOME OF THE MOST SOPHISTICATED NONPROFIT HOUSING DEVELOPERS, SOME OF THE
MOST SOPHISTICATED UH, FOR PROFIT DEVELOPERS, UM, PUBLIC SECTOR OFFICIALS WHO ARE UM AS WELL-INFORMED AS YOU'RE GOING TO FIND ANY PLACE IN THE COUNTRY. SO AND BY THE WAY, YOU'RE
LOSING GROUND, RIGHT? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? RIGHT. FIRST OF ALL, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO FIND A SOLUTION TO THE HOUSING CRISIS IN THIS HOUSING
MARKET INSIDE THE BOUNDARIES OF BOSTON BECAUSE WE'RE IN A HOUSING MARKET THAT ACTUALLY EXTENDS WELL BEYOND THE BOUNDARIES OF BOSTON. AND ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IS BOSTON ALREADY DOES MORE THAN ITS SHARE OF MEETING THE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEEDS FOR THE REGION WHILE THE REST OF THE REGION DOES LESS. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU NEED AND ONE OF THE THINGS YOU HAVE IS ACTUALLY A STATE THAT
IS UM, AN EFFECTIVE ALLY AND HAS BEEN A MORE EFFECTIVE ALLY IN TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO MAKE SURE THAT OTHER JURISDICTIONS BEAR THEIR UM BEAR THE BURDEN
TO THINGS LIKE THE MBTA COMMUNITIES ACT OR THE COMMUNITY PRESERVATION ACT OR PROP 40 B RIGHT? SO THERE'S THERE'S A THERE'S A CONSTELLATION OF THINGS AVAILABLE THAT CAN HELP YOU TO
TO DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO. BUT MY ADVICE IS TO UM, THINK ABOUT IF YOU'RE ALREADY ON THE CUTTING EDGE, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO GET FURTHER OUT THE ENVELOPE
IN BEING ABLE TO SHOW IN SOME WAYS THE REST OF THE WORLD WHAT CAN BE DONE IN A HOUSING MARKET THAT'S ABOUT AS CONSTRAINED AS YOU'RE GOING TO FIND. AND SO ALL RIGHT, SO I'M PRESIDENT OF THE LAND POLICY INSTITUTE AND THE ONLY THING I
CAN TELL YOU IS THAT UM, MOST PEOPLE AND EVEN PEOPLE IN BOSTON DON'T APPRECIATE HOW IMPORTANT LAND IS IN AND AND HOW WE TREAT LAND IN THE WAY THAT WE'RE ABLE TO KIND OF UM,
MEET HOUSING NEEDS AND IN PARTICULAR AND IT'S BEEN TALKED ABOUT MANY TIMES TODAY ONE OF THE THINGS THAT BOSTON IS ALREADY KIND OF A LEADER IN THE NATION AND BUT IT CAN BE MUCH BETTER AT IS FINDING WAYS TO UM
ALLOCATE AND DEDICATE PUBLICLY OWNED LAND FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND YOUR PUBLIC LAND FOR PUBLIC GOOD IS UM ALMOST A MODEL FOR THE REST OF THE COUNTRY BUT IT'S STILL NOT
HITTING WHERE IT COULD HIT I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IN THE INVENTORY YOU DID IN 2022 YOU FOUND 1200 PARCELS OF PUBLICLY OWNED LAND IN MASSACHUSETTS THAT ACCOUNTS FOR AND IN BOSTON
THAT ACCOUNTS FOR ABOUT 218 ACRES. THAT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A LOT, BUT THAT COULD SUPPORT PROBABLY 5000 UNITS OF HOUSING AT AVERAGE DENSITY FOR BOSTON. RIGHT. SO THAT'S NOT NOTHING.
UM, PLUS YOU HAVE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THAT PEOPLE HAVE EVEN LOOKED AT. FOR EXAMPLE, ALL THE CHURCH OWNED LAND IN BOSTON A LOT OF THE CHURCHES DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THEY OWN. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING AT THE LINCOLN
INSTITUTE OF LAND POLICY IS WE'VE BEEN ACTUALLY HELPING CHURCHES TO MAP OUT THE LAND THEY OWN AND TO FIGURE OUT STRATEGIES FOR MAKING MORE EFFECTIVE USE OF IT. AND WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT FOR THE LYNCH FOUNDATION HERE IN
MASSACHUSETTS. AND THERE'S A LOT OF CHURCH OWNED LAND IN MASSACHUSETTS. SO. IT'S NOT THAT YOU'RE NOT DOING THE BEST THAT YOU CAN AND IT'S NOT THAT YOU'RE UM IT'S NOT
THAT YOU UM AREN'T YOU REALLY PROVING TO THE REST OF THE WORLD WHAT CAN BE DONE? BUT NOW YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE BOUNDARIES ARE AND WHERE YOU CAN PUSH THE BOUNDARIES. SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE KEEP HEARING ABOUT IS THIS
EFFORT TO PUSH BACK INCLUSIONARY HOUSING REQUIREMENTS. RIGHT. UM AND I WOULD SAY THAT THAT'S PROBABLY A MISTAKE BUT I'LL ALSO SAY THAT UM, A SINGLE
NUMBER INCLUSIONARY HOUSING TARGET IS A BLUNT INSTRUMENT FOR GETTING INCLUSIONARY HOUSING BUILT AND BECAUSE IT DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE ECONOMICS OF ANY PARTICULAR DEVELOPMENT AND SOME OF THEM
WILL NOT TOLERATE A 20% INCLUSIONARY REQUIREMENT. BUT THE QUESTION IS HOW DO YOU GET TO WHAT A INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT WILL TOLERATE? AND WE HAVE TOOLS IN FACT WE
HAVE TO PARTICIPATE IN DEVELOPING WHAT WE CALL NOW INCLUSIONARY HOUSING CALCULATORS IS PROBABLY AT LEAST A HALF A DOZEN. I KNOW OF THEM OUT THERE WHERE YOU CAN ACTUALLY TAKE AND WHAT WE DID WAS WE REVERSE
ENGINEERED THE PRO FORMA THAT IT USED FOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND ASKED THE QUESTION UM WHAT NUMBER OF INCLUSION UNITS WILL THIS DEVELOPMENT ACTUALLY
TOLERATE IF WE IF WE USE ALL THE LEVERS AT OUR DISPOSAL AND WHAT IT IS IT'S A SCENARIO PLANNING TOOL AND IT CAN ASK IMPORTANT QUESTIONS LIKE WHAT ARE THE TRADEOFFS THAT WE GET IF WE UM PROVIDE A DENSITY
BONUS? WHAT ARE THE TRADEOFFS WE GET IF WE REDUCE PARKING REQUIREMENTS? UM, HOW IMPORTANT IS THE CAP RATE IN DETERMINING WHAT THE NUMBER OF AFFORDABLE UNITS CAN
BE BE MADE AVAILABLE AND SO GROUNDED SOLUTIONS THAT WORK UM TURNER CENTER IN CALIFORNIA UM THE THE UM UH STREET LEVEL ADVISORS THESE THESE TOOLS
ALREADY EXIST AND WHAT WERE YOU NEED TO DO NOW IS FIND WAYS TO DEPLOY THAT TOOL IN AN EQUITABLE MANNER SO THAT IF YOU ACTUALLY WANT TO ENFORCE A MEANINGFUL INCLUSIONARY HOUSING
CODE, WHAT YOU DO IS YOU SET A HIGHER THAN 20% TARGET AND THEN YOU HAVE UM AN APPEALS PROCESS THAT'S EFFICIENT AND FAST AND USES ONE OF THOSE SIMULATION
TOOLS TO ACTUALLY DO UM, A REALLY UNDER THE HOOD A REVIEW OF WHAT THE ACTUAL ECONOMICS OF THE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ARE . AND IF YOU WANT I WILL SHARE WITH YOU ACCESS TO THESE TOOLS BUT THE IDEA WOULD BE ALL
RIGHT. SO THERE'S A LOT OF LET'S SAY YOU GO TO 25% THERE'S A LOT OF THEM THERE'S A LOT OF DEVELOPMENTS THAT WILL NOT SUPPORT A 25% INCLUSIONARY BUT
UM IF THEY SAY WELL WE CAN'T THEN YOU SAY ALL RIGHT, LET'S OPEN THE KIMONO, LET'S FIGURE IT OUT. WHAT COULD IT POSSIBLY UM, SUPPORT AND WHAT COULD WE DO AS POLICY LEVERS TO MAKE IT SUPPORT AS MANY UNITS AS
POSSIBLE. BUT WHAT YOU DON'T DO IS YOU DON'T ASK FOR, YOU KNOW, UM, A A REVIEW OR A NON REVIEW AND JUST REDUCE THE REQUIREMENTS BECAUSE UH, YOU KNOW THE
DEVELOPMENT YOU WANTED TO BUILD WHERE DOYLE IS USED TO BE IS NOT GOING TO SUPPORT WHATEVER THEY SAID THEY'RE GOING TO BUILD TEN YEARS AGO. RIGHT. SO I MEAN AND THAT'S AND THOSE THINGS THOSE ARE REAL DISCUSSIONS THAT CAN BE HAD BY
SOPHISTICATED PEOPLE. BUT AS IT TURNS OUT IN BOSTON YOU HAVE SOPHISTICATED PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE TABLE WHO SHOULD BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THIS AND FIGURE IT OUT SO I WON'T GO ON. THE ONLY OTHER THING I WOULD
SAY IS UM WE UM WE HAVE A LOT OF MAGICAL THINKING IN THE HOUSING WORLD, RIGHT? THIS WAS LIKE UM ONE OF THE COMMENTATORS BEFORE IT TALKED ABOUT WHAT WE CALL TRICKLE DOWN HOUSING. THEY CALL IT FILTERING AND
HOUSING ECONOMICS FILTERING IS A MYTH, RIGHT? AND YOU DON'T YOU CAN'T BUILD HOUSING AT THE TOP OF THE MARKET AND EXPECT MAGICALLY THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS JUST SHOW UP AT THE BOTTOM OF THE MARKET. RIGHT. BUT HOUSING ECONOMISTS WILL
TELL YOU THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS. AND SO THEY'LL SAY THE ONLY THING YOU HAVE TO DO TO TO DEAL WITH THE HOUSING CRISIS IS BUILD MORE AND BUILD MORE. WE CANNOT BUILD OURSELVES OUT OF A HOUSING CRISIS. AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE FORGET
IS THAT PRESERVATION IS ACTUALLY A MORE POWERFUL TOOL THAN BUILDING NEW. AND ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT LIKE THE BOSTON ACQUISITION FUND AND THE OTHER WAYS THAT BOSTON'S THINKING ABOUT TRYING
TO FIND WAYS TO PRESERVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS THE RIGHT WAY TO GO. BUT ALSO WHEN YOU CREATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING MAKE SURE YOU YOU MAINTAIN IT AS PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE TO DEVICES LIKE COMMUNITY LAND
TRUSTS. THERE'S THESE NEW EFFORTS AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT ARE SPROUTING UP CALLED MIXED INCOME NEIGHBORHOOD TRUSTS THAT ARE WAYS THAT YOU CAN MIX INCOMES IN NEIGHBORHOODS AND FIND WAYS TO, UH, KEEP THE LAND
IN TRUST AND KEEP NEIGHBORHOOD CONTROL OF THE LAND AND MAINTAIN ITS AFFORDABILITY AND ITS MIXED INCOME NATURE OVER TIME. SO THERE'S OTHER TOOLS OUT THERE THAT THE BOSTON SHOULD CONSIDER.
BUT DON'T BEAT YOURSELF UP. YOU'RE DOING ALMOST AS MUCH AS HUMANLY BE POSSIBLE GIVEN THE TOOLS AT YOUR DISPOSAL COMPARED TO THE REST OF THE COUNTRY, AND THE BIGGEST PROBLEM YOU HAVE IS
THE REST OF YOUR REGION NOT DOING THEIR SHARE OF THE WORK. HOW YOU CAN MOTIVATE OTHER PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF YOUR BOUNDARIES TO DO THEIR SHARE THEIR WORK IS A BIG QUESTION, BUT IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S NECESSARILY OUTSIDE OF YOUR POWER IF YOU FIGURE OUT THE
RIGHT WAYS TO DO THAT, ESPECIALLY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE STATE, I'LL END THERE AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. UH, HELLO, COUNCILORS. UH. >> THANKS FOR HAVING ME. I'M JESSE CANTS AND BEN.
ENOUGH AM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ABUNDANT HOUSING MASSACHUSETTS AND A DISTRICT SIX RESIDENT AND JAMAICA PLAIN . UH, I'M GOING TO OFFER A SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE THAN THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER AND HOW WE CAN MEET OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEEDS IN THE CITY,
INCREASING OUR STOCK OF PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE INCOME RESTRICTED HOUSING IS CRITICAL AND IN A CITY WHERE 80% OF THE HOMES ARE NOT SUBSIDIZED, ANY CONVERSATION ABOUT INCREASING AFFORDABILITY
FOR EVERYONE HAS TO INCLUDE EXPLORATION OF HOW WE CAN EXPLAIN THIS EXPAND THE SUPPLY OF MORE REASONABLY PRICED HOMES FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF BOSTON RESIDENTS. WE ALL KNOW THAT HOUSING IN
BOSTON IS FAR TOO EXPENSIVE AND IT'S INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO BUILD ANY TYPE OF NEW HOUSING. OUR CITY HAS A HOUSING SHORTAGE AND EXTREME HOUSING SHORTAGE, AS DOES OUR REGION AND OUR STATE THAT FORCES RESIDENTS TO
COMPETE AGAINST EACH OTHER FOR THE VERY FEW HOMES THAT ARE AVAILABLE. THIS CUTTHROAT COMPETITION DRIVES BIDDING WARS AND DIRECTLY DRIVES UP THE COST OF HOUSING FOR EVERYONE. THIS MEANS THAT THE PEOPLE OUR
COMMUNITIES RELY ON IS. A PREVIOUS SPEAKER SPOKE ABOUT OUR TEACHERS CHILDCARE WORKERS SERVICE RETAIL WORKERS CAN'T FIND HOMES THAT THEY CAN AFFORD IN THE CITY THAT THEY SERVE AND
WHEN THERE'S NOT ENOUGH HOMES THE WEALTHY WILL AND DO OUTBID WORKING PEOPLE AND EVERYONE ELSE HAS TO MOVE FURTHER AWAY OFTEN OUT OF OUR CITY IN ORDER
TO ADDRESS BARRIERS TO BUILDING MORE AFFORDABLE HOMES, WE MUST FIRST RECOGNIZE THAT BUILDING NEW HOMES OF ALL TYPES IS A CRITICAL PART OF THE SOLUTION. INCREASING THE SUPPLY OF INCOME
RESTRICTED AND YES REASONABLY PRICED MARKET RATE HOUSING MUST BE CENTRAL TO OUR AFFORDABILITY STRATEGY. UNFORTUNATELY WE'RE FALLING SHORT ON BOTH FRONTS TODAY BECAUSE HOME BUILDERS FACE
SKYROCKETING MATERIALS, MATERIAL COSTS, HIGH INTEREST RATES AND A DEVELOPMENT APPROVAL PROCESS THAT IS ARBITRARY, TIME CONSUMING AND EXPENSIVE. TOO OFTEN THIS IS ENOUGH TO STOP NEW PROJECTS BEFORE THEY
EVEN GET STARTED. UM, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER, I THINK WE ABSOLUTELY MUST LOOK AT OTHER CITIES FOR EXAMPLE THE LAWS OF ECONOMICS DESPITE HOW ADVANCED ADVOCATES, BUILDERS
ETC. ARE HERE UH THE CITY OF BOSTON DON'T STOP AT OUR BORDERS. A YEAR AND A HALF AGO UM, WE BROUGHT A DELEGATION OF AUSTIN CITY COUNCILORS AND THE MAYOR OF AUSTIN TO THESE VERY
CHAMBERS TO DISCUSS HOW THEY ADDRESSED A 93% INCREASE IN RENT PRICES BETWEEN 2010 AND 2019. IN SHORT, THEY MADE IT EASIER TO BUILD MARKET RATE AND INCOME RESTRICTED HOUSING THROUGH A
SERIES OF REFORMS SUCH AS LEGALIZING ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS, ELIMINATING PARKING MINIMUMS, CREATING DENSITY BONUSES FOR PROJECTS THAT PROVIDE INCOME RESTRICTED HOMES, ISSUING MUNICIPAL
ISSUING MUNICIPAL BONDS DEDICATED TO BUYING LAND AND BUILDING HOMES. THE RESULTS ACCORDING TO A RECENT ANALYSIS FROM THE PEW CHARITABLE TRUSTS, WAS THAT MORE WAS MORE HOMES AND CHEAPER
RENTS BETWEEN DECEMBER 2021 AND JANUARY 2026 THE AVERAGE RENT PRICE DECREASED 16%. WHILE THE CITY'S POPULATION HAS GROWN AT A MUCH FASTER RATE THAN OURS IS HERE IN THE CITY
OF BOSTON. OF COURSE AUSTIN IS NOT BOSTON AND I BRING THIS UP A LOT. SOME OF YOU MAY BE TIRED OF HEARING ME TALK ABOUT AUSTIN, BUT I THINK IT'S AN EXPERIENCE THAT CAN AND SHOULD
HELP GUIDE US AS OUR OTHER CITIES LIKE CHARLOTTE AND MINNEAPOLIS. I WILL. JUST NOTE. THAT THE CITIES THAT ARE BUILDING ARE NOT FACING THE SAME HOUSING AFFORDABILITY
PRESSURES THAT WE ARE. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO TODAY'S DISCUSSION. IT'S BEEN INFORMATIVE ALREADY AND I HOPE WE CAN USE OUR TIME TOGETHER TO DISCUSS DISCUSS SOME SPECIFIC POLICIES SUCH AS
FUNDED INCLUSIONARY ZONING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING OVERLAYS AND OF COURSE COMPREHENSIVE REZONING HERE IN THE CITY ALL OF WHICH WILL MAKE IT EASIER TO BUILD NEW INCOME RESTRICTED AND
REASONABLY PRICED MARKET RATE HOMES IN BOSTON BY FUNDED INCLUSIONARY ZONING I MEAN POLICIES WHERE THE MUNICIPALITY PROVIDES MONEY OR TAX ABATEMENT TO HOME BUILDERS TO OFFSET THE
COST OF PROVIDING INCOME RESTRICTED UNITS. THIS TYPE OF POLICY IS ALREADY IN PLACE IN PORTLAND, OREGON, SEATTLE, BALTIMORE AND CHICAGO AMONG OTHERS AND IT'S BEEN
SHOWN TO OFFSET OBVIOUSLY THE THE THE CHILLING IMPACT THAT HIGH INCLUSIONARY ZONING CAN HAVE ON NEW DEVELOPMENT AND BROAD AFFORDABILITY. I RECOGNIZE THAT THE BUDGET CHALLENGES THAT THE CITY FACES
ARE REAL. UH, SO WE'LL MAY NEED TO FIND CREATIVE WAYS TO ADDRESS THIS. UM, BUT WE'VE SEEN HOW EFFECTIVE FUNDING UH, FUNDED HOUSING DEVELOPMENT POLICIES CAN BE WITH THE CITY'S OWN
OFFICE TO RESIDENTIAL CONVERSION PROGRAM. AFFORDABLE HOUSING ZONING OVERLAYS ARE ANOTHER STRATEGY FOR MAKING IT EASIER TO BUILD INCOME RESTRICTED UNITS. I KNOW I WAS IN A PRESENTATION
WITH THE BPD MAYBE FOUR YEARS AGO NOW CERTAINLY NOTHING HAS MOVED FORWARD. THE WORK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING OVERLAYS WORK BY PROVIDING DENSITY BONUSES AND OTHER REGULATORY RELIEF TO PROJECTS
THAT BUILD MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING RIGHT ACROSS THE RIVER IN CAMBRIDGE WE HAVE SEEN THEIR AFFORDABLE HOUSING OVERLAY LEAD TO NOW OVER 1000 NEW AFFORDABLE
HOMES IN THE PIPELINE, THE VAST MAJORITY OF WHICH WILL SERVE HOUSEHOLDS UH MAKING UH LOWER ON THE AMI SPECTRUM. AND I WOULD NOTE THAT THIS IS IN CONTRAST TO THEIR 20% INCLUSIONARY, WHICH HAS
PRODUCED APPROXIMATELY 200 HOMES SINCE 2017. LASTLY, I'VE TALKED TO THIS COUNCIL BEFORE ABOUT THE NEED FOR COMPREHENSIVE REZONING. THE FACT REMAINS THAT OUR ZONING CODE IS BROKEN IF WE
WANT TO MAKE IT EASIER TO BUILD MORE AFFORDABLE HOMES, WE NEED WE NEED TO DEAL WITH THE 4000 PAGE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM. I'M HAPPY TO TALK MORE ABOUT ANY OF THESE REFORMS AS WELL AS
OTHERS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP TODAY. BUT FUNDAMENTALLY WE MUST CHANGE HOW WE THINK ABOUT HOUSING IN BOSTON. WE NEED TO REJECT THE FALSE CHOICE OF BUILDING MORE MARKET RATE HOMES VERSUS MORE INCOME
RESTRICTED HOMES. WE MUST DO BOTH IF WE TRULY WANT TO ADDRESS OUR CITY'S AFFORDABILITY CRISIS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. >> HELLO. UM, MY NAME IS JAKE UPTON. UM.
I'M A PRIVATE DEVELOPER. UM, A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY FOR ME. I STARTED OFF. UM, WORKING. >> FOR TRAMMELL CROW WHICH WAS. >> AT THE TIME THE LARGEST RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPER IN THE WORLD. UM. >> I THEN. WENT AND WORKED FOR AN A IN
THAT CAPACITY. UM, I WORKED IN CORPORATE SERVICES WHICH UH I HAD A LARGE ACCOUNT IN THE SOUTHERN END AND TELEPHONE AND MANAGED THE RESTRUCTURING OF THEIR REAL ESTATE. PORTFOLIO SO THAT THEY COULD BE COMPETITIVE.
>> IN THE NEWLY DEREGULATED TELEPHONE MARKET. AND GOT VERY INVOLVED WITH IN AS THE THIRD LARGEST LANDOWNER AND PROPERTY OWNER IN THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT, A LOT OF MUNICIPAL. NEGOTIATIONS AND.
>> TRADE OFFS OF UM URBAN PLANNING POLICIES AND ZONING UM AS WELL AS TAX CREDITS UM I THEN WENT TO WORK FOR A UH PRIVATE EQUITY GROUP IN
CALIFORNIA THAT UH, GREW THEIR PORTFOLIO APARTMENT PORTFOLIO FROM 5000 UNITS TO 15,000 UNITS UM UH BY ACQUISITION AND
REDEVELOPMENT OF EXISTING UM, UH MULTIFAMILY HOUSING AND HAD A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN TRANSITIONING AFFORDABLE HOUSING INTO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS AND TAX PROGRAMS WITH THE DIFFERENT
MUNICIPALITIES. UM, I. UH RECENTLY UM WORKED FOR ED FISH WHO IS THE LARGEST UH, DEVELOPER UH ONE OF THE MOST ALERT UH, WELL, A PART OF A
VERY PRONOUNCED GROUP. OF UH, UH. AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON, UM, WAS INVOLVED WITH SOME. VERY SOPHISTICATED. EXECUTIONS HIGH RISE, UH,
CONSTRUCTION UM, UH, ONE PROJECT THAT REALLY STOOD UP TO ME IN MY EXPERIENCE WAS. THE METROPOLITAN, WHICH WAS A VERY INNOVATIVE COLLABORATIVE PROCESS WITH THE CITY OF BOSTON . UH, THE THE THE CHINATOWN
NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS UM, TO TO CREATE A RANGE OF DIFFERENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING. EXECUTIONS UM WITH UNDER VERY TIGHT CONSTRAINTS. UM, THE PERSON WHO DID THE FINANCING OF THAT. WAS OFFERED.
>> TO TEACH AT MIT. REAL ESTATE SCHOOL, UH, HOW THAT STRUCTURE HAPPENED. SO JUST WANTED TO GIVE UH, SOME BACKGROUND UH, I'VE NOW HAVE MOVED ON AND STARTED UM,
DEVELOPMENT UH, A COMPANY CALLED OPTUM PARTNERS WITH MY FATHER. MY FATHER WE MOVED TO BOSTON. HE WAS THE PROJECT MANAGER FOR QUINCY MARKET'S REDEVELOPMENT. UM, HE ALSO DID THE 2,000,000FT2 OF UH, APPROVALS
AND THEN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW BOSTON GARDEN AND THE NEW BUILDINGS THAT ARE NOW JUST BEING EXECUTED SO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SEE SORT OF OVER TIME IN THE CITY OF BOSTON KIND. OF WHAT. WORKS. >> WHAT DOESN'T WORK.
THE POLITICAL WINDS GROW DIFFERENT MARKET CYCLES. UM, JUST HAVE BEEN ABLE TO OBSERVE THOSE. I'VE STARTED UP IN PARTNERS IN 2007 TO DO MY OWN DEVELOPMENT
COMPANY WITH MY FATHER. HE'S NOW UH, RETIRED. UM BUT. THAT'S JUST THE BACKGROUND CURRENTLY I HAVE A PROJECT THAT HAS BEEN IN PERMITTING AND
PRE-DEVELOPMENT STAGES FOR SINCE 2016. IT'S A PROJECT IN IN UH YOUR DISTRICT THAT'S THAT BELGRADE PROJECT 361 BELGRADE. UM, THERE'S A LONG HISTORY TO
IT. WE DID TRY. >> TO EXECUTE. A, UH. A CHARTER. SCHOOL THERE AND IT WAS VERY POLITICAL. WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO. REPOINT AND EXECUTE A
MULTIFAMILY THE BEAUTIFUL, VERY SOPHISTICATED UH AT AN URBAN UM. DOT LOCATION ON A MBTA TRACKS A LOT OF STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES OVERLAPPING UM AND WE
WERE CLOSE TO EXECUTING THAT AND HAVE BEEN COLLABORATING WITH BOTH THE STATE AND THE CITY OF BOSTON, UM, TO TRY TO FIND WAYS TO MAKE A PROJECT THAT IS ON THE ONE YARD LINE
GET OUT OF THE GROUND. SO UH, REALLY APPRECIATE THE SOPHISTICATION AND THE ENGAGEMENT AND THE SORT OF MUTUAL SUPPORT AND THE RESPECTFUL CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD TO TRY TO GET
SOMETHING GOING. AND THAT'S WHAT I THINK REALLY NEEDS TO HAPPEN MORE OFTEN IN THESE PROCESSES. AS WE. >> GO FORWARD. >> THERE ARE A LOT OF VERY GOOD IDEAS, EXCELLENT POINTS. THERE'S A. >> POINT. THAT UM, SOME WOMEN HERE HAD. >> MADE PREVIOUSLY.
THAT I WANT TO UNDERLINE IS THAT IN MY EXPERIENCE. THE AFFORDABLE. HOUSING IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO A BALANCE OF THE COMMUNITY. THESE COMMUNITIES. NEED TO FUNCTION AND WORK TO.
BE GOOD INVESTMENT PLACES FOR EVERYBODY AND THAT TAKES EVERYBODY GETTING INVOLVED. AND WHEN THE WHEN THE VALUE. CYCLE BREAKS DOWN THAT'S WHEN THE COMMUNITY BREAKS DOWN AND THAT'S WHEN THINGS GO IN THE
WRONG DIRECTION. SO UM THAT IS PARAMOUNT. THERE ARE. LOTS OF THINGS. >> THAT ARE CHALLENGING NOW THAT ARE SIGNS OF THE TIMES AND UH, I CAN GO INTO WHAT THE ENERGY TAX CREDIT REMOVAL THAT
THE TRUMP. ADMINISTRATION HAS DONE TO PASSIVE HOUSE INVESTMENT STANDARDS. I'VE CAN TELL YOU ABOUT GEOTHERMAL PROS AND CONS OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY. UM AFFORDABLE.
HOUSING IS PART OF THE MIX UM. IN OUR PROCESS THAT WE. HAVE WITH THE CITY OF BOSTON IT IS PROTRACTED. UH. SHEILA DOLAN IS ONE OF THE IS PROBABLY THE PREEMINENT PERSON IN THE WORLD. ABOUT AFFORDABLE.
HOUSING AND SHE IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT ABOUT HER ABILITY TO EXTRACT IS. ACCURATE WORD. AND YOU. >> SORT OF CRINGE AS YOU'VE GONE THROUGH THIS PROCESS. BUT THE CITY OF BOSTON HAS IT HAS. HAD A VERY PROTRACTED.
PROCESS THAT HAS. BEEN GEARED TOWARDS EXTRACTING AND IT'S BEEN AT TIMES ASSUMED TO BE ADVERSARIAL AND THAT'S CREATED BARRIERS AND BLINDERS TO HOW THINGS ARE DONE.
AND WHEN YOU HAVE A PROCESS THAT NEVER REALLY ENDS UM, AND THERE'S YOU CAN'T PUT YOUR CARDS ON THE TABLE TO SORT OF PROBLEM SOLVE HOW YOU'RE GOING TO EXECUTE THESE PROJECTS. EVERY SINGLE PROJECT IN THE CITY. >> OF.
BOSTON IS NONCONFORMING, HAS PROBLEMS, NEEDS THIS. NEEDS THAT TO BE ABLE TO BE EXECUTED. YOU KIND OF HAVE TO LOOK AT IT ALL TOGETHER AND YOU. CAN TRY AS A DEVELOPER. TO YOU KNOW, DO URBAN DESIGN TO
GET PUSHED ON A FANCY BUILDING AND HAVING IT BE. BEAUTIFUL YOU CAN GET. PUSHED ON ADDING OF OPEN SPACE. >> YOU CAN. >> GET PUSHED ON UM YOU KNOW DOING TRAFFIC INFRASTRUCTURE THAT THE CITY REALLY SHOULD BE DOING. SEWER UPGRADES.
WATER, WATER SUPPLY UH. ALL OF. THESE THINGS GO. ALL THE WAY DOWN THE LINE AND I THINK SOMETIMES IT'S ALSO HARD WHEN YOU HAVE GROUPS THAT ARE LOOKING TO ACHIEVE.
ONE SPECIFIC THING. THAT ARE SO. PASSIONATE IN THEIR RIGHT IN WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND THEY'RE NOT WRONG AND HOW THEY'RE APPROACHING IT BUT THERE'S A BLEND OF. >> LIKE HEY, THIS IS GOOD WORK. >> YOU GOTTA YOU GOTTA. >> YOU GOTTA. PUT SHOES. YOU KNOW.
SHOVELS IN THE GROUND AND YOU GOT TO BUILD AND YOU GOT TO FINANCE IN TODAY'S WORLD. SO THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE YOU KNOW, CHALLENGING PARTICULARLY CHALLENGING RIGHT NOW FROM A DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVE. UM THEY'RE.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS PART OF. THAT AS THE STANDARDS. >> FOR WHAT. NEEDS TO BE DEVELOPED HAVE BEEN RISEN AND WITH GOOD. PUBLIC POLICY ALL WELL-INTENDED . UM, BUT. IT'S SOMETIMES WHEN YOU LAYER.
ALL OF. THOSE THINGS. >> AND THEN HAVE THESE. MARKET RATE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN HAPPENING IN THE IN THE FINANCE INDUSTRY, UM SUPPLY CHAIN, UM LABOR YOU KNOW, UH
THERE'S JUST TOO MUCH PRESSURE AND WHAT HAPPENS. AND TYPICALLY. >> WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. IS PEOPLE JUST WAIT THEY WAIT. >> FOR THE PRESSURE. OF THE UH. >> TO. TO RISE. >> THE TIDE FOR WHAT YOU CAN GET ON THE INCOME TO. >> TO KIND OF. MAKE UP FOR ALL THE THINGS THAT
YOU COULDN'T ACTUALLY. DO AND THEN IT DOESN'T HAPPEN. SO AS WE'RE TRYING. >> TO GET. THINGS GOING I DO HAVE DIFFERENT IDEAS TO TO SHARE AND TO COLLABORATE ON UM ON KIND OF WHAT PRACTICAL THINGS CAN BE
DONE TO SORT OF GET. THINGS TO BE. UH, UNSTUCK. UM, TAX. ABATEMENT IS IS A BIG ONE. IT'S YOU KNOW, NOT NECESSARILY POLITICALLY. UH COMFORTABLE TO DO BUT TO TO
BE. OFFERING SOME DEFERRED TAXES. >> TO BUILD THE TAX BASE OVER. TIME TO. >> GET INVESTMENT. >> TO HAPPEN ON. >> THE ASSURANCES THAT IT. GOES IN THE GROUND RIGHT AWAY. IS SOMETHING THAT. >> CAN BE CONSIDERED. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S TRADEOFFS TO THAT. BUT SHORT TERM LONG TERM YOU'VE
. SEEN CITIES OF. IN TEXAS YOU'VE SEEN CITIES AND YOU KNOW. CHARLOTTE HAS BEEN A GREAT EXAMPLE OF OFFERING TAX BENEFITS TO. PROMOTE GROWTH AND TO GET THINGS GOING.
SO UM I DO THINK THAT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY THERE THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES AND A LOT OF THINGS THAT THE. CITY IS. >> ALREADY DOING UM, DIFFERENT TYPES OF BOND FINANCING, DIFFERENT TYPES. OF UM AGGREGATING.
UH TAX TAX CREDITS AND UM AND VOUCHERS UM DIFFERENT TYPES OF VOUCHERS. UM BUT IT TAKES THAT. COLLABORATION AND UM ONE THING THAT I WOULD. ALSO SAY IS THE CITY BOSTON'S POPULATION IS AGING AND ONE
OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS THAT I SEE THAT. NOBODY REALLY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT. IS THAT. SENIORS NEED A. PLACE TO GO AND. THE PEOPLE THAT. >> ARE HAVE HOUSES AND THEY PASS THOSE THINGS ON. AND THEY'VE. YOU KNOW, SCRAPPED IT OUT.
THEY NOW NEED A PLACE, THEY NEED. >> THE CARE AND. >> THEY NEED THE. THE ECONOMICS THAT ARE TIED UP THEIR EQUITY IN THEIR HOMES. THE PROBLEM WITH. >> THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THE BIGGEST THING ON THE IDP IS THAT I. DO NOT BELIEVE. >> THAT THE IDP SHOULD BE
APPLIED TO. SENIOR HOUSING. IT'S A SERVICE. IT'S LIKE IT'S LIKE IF YOU HAD AN IDP FOR HOTELS THERE'S SERVICES THAT ARE INVOLVED. WITH THIS AND WHEN YOU ARE.
PUSHING OFF TO CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR. AFFORDABLE HOUSING. YOU'RE PUSHING OFF WITH THE COST OF. >> ALL. THE. SERVICES AND. WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS YOU'RE MAKING NONE OF IT. FEASIBLE IN ORDER TO MAKE. IT TO TO GET THE LIFE CYCLE
OF PEOPLE. GETTING THEIR EQUITY OUT OF THEIR. HOUSES, HAVING A PLACE TO GO. THAT'S NOT DRIVEN BY FEDERAL. SUBSIDIES OR FEDERAL. FUNDS TO. >> BUILD SUBSIDIZED. AFFORDABLE HOUSING. >> BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT. >> CAN BE DONE. AND THOSE.
THE MODEL. >> FOR. THAT IS A. VERY SMALL MODEL. THEY CAN ACCOMPLISH LIKE 60 UNITS AT A TIME. IF YOU WANT TO REALLY GET. THIS GOING GET. IT UP. >> TO BE MARKET RATE SUPPORTED . GET THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OUT
OF THE EQUATION. FOR THAT PRODUCT TYPE. BECAUSE PEOPLE IN BOSTON NEED. THOSE SERVICES. MY PARENTS ARE AGING ALL. >> OF MY. CONTEMPORARIES PARENTS. >> ARE AGING. THEY NEED. SUPPORT AND THEY NEED SOMEWHERE
TO GO. THAT'S NOT. JUST APARTMENTS. UM SMALL APARTMENTS THEY NEED THEY. NEED MORE. . >> AND THE CITY OF BOSTON. >> IS KIND OF SHOOTING. THEMSELVES IN THE FOOT BY. HAVING THE IDP FOR. THAT PRODUCT TYPE BECAUSE WHAT
IT WILL DO IS IT'LL FREE. UP SOMETHING FOR FAMILIES TO COME INTO THAT ARE AFFORDABLE. IT'LL IT'LL CREATE UH, DIFFERENT ECONOMIC CYCLES. THAT WILL BE. SELF-SUPPORTING AND I THINK WOULD BENEFIT. >> THE CITY. AND IN MY OPINION THAT'S AN
UNDERSERVED UNDER IDENTIFIED UH, DEMOGRAPHIC THAT IS KEY RIGHT NOW UH, FOR PART OF THE REJUVENATION OF THE CITY. SO ANYWAY. UM, I'M HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT MY PROJECT. >> THE SPECIFIC THINGS THAT.
IT'S GONE THROUGH THAT AND. HOW CLOSE IT IS RIGHT NOW. UM, IT MAY BE ANOTHER FORM THAT IT'S BEST. TO DO THAT. BUT I'M WILLING TO ENGAGE AND FIND ANY WAY POSSIBLE. TO GET. >> THAT OVER THE LINE. THANK YOU. >> CAN I RESPOND TO THE GUY WHO
DOESN'T THINK THAT DOYLE'S IS THAT IMPORTANT? UH, QUICKLY? UM, BECAUSE. >> I THINK IT'S PERFECT A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHAT'S WRONG. RIGHT? YEAH. PEOPLE WHO DON'T BUILD ANYTHING WHO AREN'T FROM THIS AREA ARE
SAYING LIKE IT'S NOT THAT IMPORTANT FOR THIS PROJECT OR THAT PROJECT BUT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE WHAT DO WE SEE IN JAMAICA PLAIN? TONS OF PROJECTS APPROVED NOT BEING BUILT VACANT PARKING LOTS, FORMER TOLL YARDS.
IT HAS AN IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY. SO YES, IT'S NICE TO SIT IN LIKE A CUBICLE SOMEWHERE WITH A CALCULATOR AND SAY OH YEAH YOU DO 25% NO PROBLEM. BUT IF THE END RESULT IS
NOTHING GET TO BUILD. YOU'RE DEFEATING THE PURPOSE OF WHAT WE'RE INTENDING TO DO WHICH IS REDEVELOP FORMER INDUSTRIAL AREAS AT LEAST IN JAMAICA PLAIN. SO WE HAVE TO BE CLEAR LIKE
THERE HAVE TO BE TRADE OFFS IF WE WANT TO GET THIS STUFF MOVING. THERE'S A MASSIVE BUDGET GAP IN THE CITY OF BOSTON BECAUSE NO ONE ELSE IS COMING HERE TO START PAYING TAXES. SO YOU HAVE TO START FIGURING
OUT WAYS TO POTENTIALLY LET DEVELOPERS BUY OUT, WHICH COULD THEN SUPPORT NONPROFIT DEVELOPERS AND MAYBE YOU I'VE HAD A LOT OF EXPERIENCE WITH GH, NDC AND OTHER NONPROFITS IN
JP WHERE WE DIRECTLY SUPPORT PROJECTS THAT ARE ALL AFFORDABLE THROUGH OUR MARKET RATE PROJECTS. SO THERE'S MANY WAYS TO TACKLE THIS BUT YOU CAN'T JUST SAY LIKE IT'S NOT THAT IMPORTANT FOR THIS PROJECT OR THAT.
JUST TO BE CLEAR, I WASN'T SAYING THAT YOU SHOULD GO TO 25% OF WHAT YOU SAID. >> THAT'S ALL. I SAID THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE A TRANSPARENT PROCESS FOR REVIEW IF YOU DECIDE NOT TO GO TO 25% YOU SHOULD HAVE EFFICIENT I
DON'T KNOW THAT THAT PROJECT COULD SUPPORT 25% INCLUSIONARY ,BUT WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE KIND OF SOME KIND OF I'M. I'M A. >> BUSINESSMAN OR SOMEBODY ELSE UH, A MEDIATOR WHO CAN LOOK AT THE ACTUAL PROFORMA AND DECIDE
WHAT DOES THIS PROJECT ACTUALLY SUPPORT? IT MIGHT ONLY SUPPORT 10%. IT MIGHT SUPPORT 15%. BUT THE PROBLEM IS THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME STANDARD BY WHICH YOU CAN ACTUALLY LOOK AT THE ECONOMICS OF THE PROJECT
AND DETERMINE. WHAT WHAT IT WILL SUPPORT AND. BUT I UM I. JUST WANT. TO I NEED TO INTERRUPT. HERE I THINK THIS IS WHY THIS PANEL SO. IT'S A VERY WELL BALANCED PANEL
. >> SO SHOUT OUT TO COUNCIL MEMBERS TEAM UM BECAUSE WE NEEDED ALL THESE PERSPECTIVES IN THE ROOM FOR THE EXACT REASON WHY WE'RE FACING THIS HOUSING PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE IN THIS CITY. BUT WE DO HAVE ONE MORE AMAZING PANEL THAT I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE
HIM THE OPPORTUNITY TO ALSO INTRODUCE HIMSELF. UM HE'S ON ZOOM ARMANI WHITE AND THEN WE CAN JUMP INTO THE QUESTIONS AND GO INTO THE MEAT OF THIS. SO ARMANI UM, THE FLOOR IS
YOURS AND THEN WE WILL CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION NOW. >> THANK YOU. CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY. YES OKAY. YES. SO GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIR. UH, AND GOOD AFTERNOON MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL AND EVERYONE IN ATTENDANCE. SO MY NAME IS ARMANI WHITE.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT RECLAIM ROXBURY AND I'M ALSO THE COORDINATOR OF THE. COALITION FOR TRULY AFFORDABLE BOSTON. JUST DAB. UH, AND I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE CITY'S UH, FORMAL UH,
FIRMLY FURTHERING FAIR HOUSING COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE. SO LONG NAME BUT UH AND I'M JUST HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE HISTORY OF WHY AS ADVOCATES SUPPORT THE CITY'S 20% INCLUSIONARY ZONING REQUIREMENT. UM, AND AS WE'VE HEARD YOU
KNOW, MANY OF US KNOW BOSTON IS IN A HOUSING CRISIS. AND AS THIS HEARING ORDER OUTLINES RISING COSTS, DISPLACEMENT PRESSURES AND BARRIERS TO BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING ARE REAL AND YOU KNOW, CHALLENGES THAT WE ALL UNDERSTAND.
UH, BUT WE HAVE TO BE CLEAR THAT THE SOLUTION IS NOT TO LOWER OUR STANDARDS, UH, BUT IT'S TO STAY COMMITTED TO THEM AND ENSURE YOU KNOW THAT THEY'RE WORKING AS INTENDED. AND WE KNOW THAT STRONG STANDARDS ACTUALLY DO WORK.
SO EVERY CLAIM ROXBURY WE'VE SEEN THAT FIRSTHAND IN 2018 WE SUCCESSFULLY FOUGHT TO EMBED EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS INTO PUBLIC LAND IN NUBIAN SQUARE WE CALL, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC LAND FOR PUBLIC GOOD. AND THOSE STANDARDS DIDN'T STOP
DEVELOPMENT. THEY HELP ACTUALLY SHAPE IT. AND AS A RESULT NUBIAN SQUARE ALONE IS NOW SEEING OVER 1000 AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS IN THE PIPELINE. UM, AND IT'S UM YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE
CLEAR ABOUT WHAT I WORK WITH. PUBLIC LAND LOWERS THE ONE OF THE BARRIERS TO AFFORDABILITY, WHICH IS THE ACQUISITION COST AS WE TALKED ABOUT. SO IT'S NOT APPLES TO APPLES WITH PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT BUT
THAT'S WHY, YOU KNOW, IT MATTERS THAT WE AS OTHERS HAVE SAID IN THIS PANEL THAT PUBLIC LAND IS USED FOR PUBLIC GOOD MORE UM, AND THAT WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO GET THE RIGHT OUTCOME. AND SO WHEN IT COMES TO LIKE
YOU KNOW, OUR ADVOCACY IT DIDN'T JUST STOP AT NUBIAN SQUARE WITH THE STANDARDS BUT IT HELPED DRIVE THE CITY TO ADOPT THESE STANDARDS MORE BROADLY, UH, AND ALSO CONDUCT A CITYWIDE AUDIT OF PUBLIC LAND
WHICH WAS MENTIONED EARLIER TO IDENTIFY WHERE THE SAME STRATEGY COULD BE APPLIED. AND THAT EFFORT, UH, LED TO THE DESIGNATION OF THE BOSTON WATER SEWER LOTS JUST FOUR ACRES, UM, FOR DEVELOPMENT OF 300 NEW
HOUSING UNITS UH, BY MWBE DEVELOPERS. AND SO I THINK AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THAT FOLKS DON'T KNOW THERE'S A FEW KEY PROJECTS IN NUBIAN SQUARE THAT NEED TO GET OVER THE FINISH LINE AND WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE COUNCIL WORK TO ENSURE,
YOU KNOW, WORK WITH THE THE CITY AND THE STATE TO HUDDLE TO MAKE UH, MAKE SURE THOSE PROJECTS GET BUILT. UM, BECAUSE THIS IS ACTUALLY IT'S NOT JUST A DEVELOPMENT ISSUE, IT'S A IT'S A FAIR HOUSING ISSUE. UM, AND SO YOU KNOW, WITH KTAB
WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE CITY TO SHAPE AND TEST THE FEASIBILITY OF INCLUSIONARY ZONING INCREASES IN TERMS OF PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT FEASIBILITY, UH, MEMBERS YOU KNOW, THE UH THAT I SPOKE EARLIER WERE ACTUALLY ON THE
COMMITTEE THAT ANALYZED THAT DATA AND THIS POLICY, YOU KNOW, WAS STEADY AND IMPLEMENTED WITH THOSE REAL WORLD CONSIDERATIONS AND AS MENTIONED EARLIER, ALSO THE OFFICE OF RESIDENTIAL CONVERSION, WHICH IS ONE OF THE
IDEAS COMING OUT OF THE ADMINISTRATION HAS SHOWN TO BE SUCCESSFUL 25 APPROVED PROJECT APPROVED PROJECTS, 262 INCLUSIONARY UNITS, UM AND UH YEAH.
SO THAT'S THAT'S LIKE A BIG DEAL AND UM I THINK YEAH. SO I HOPE THAT 25 APPROVED PROJECTS AND THEN ALONE IN ROXBURY THERE'S 262 UH, INCLUSIONARY UNITS THAT HAVE BEEN BUILT 43 INCOME RESTRICTED
HOMEOWNERSHIP UNITS. SO I FEEL LIKE IT IS LIKE IT DOESN'T POINT TO A SYSTEM THAT'S BROADLY FAILING AND WE SHOULDN'T ROLL BACK, BUT IT POINTS THAT IT'S WORKING AND I THINK IT'S ALSO JUST TO WANT TO POINT OUT IT WAS GOOD TO HEAR
EARLIER FROM CHIEF DILLON THAT THERE'S NO NEED TO EXTEND THE OFF-SITE DISTANCE FOR AFFORDABLE UNITS LIKE RESPECTFULLY THAT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT ALIGNS WITH MANY OF US IN THE COMMUNITY I'VE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR FOR A WHILE. AND SO I JUST THAT WAS GOOD TO
KIND OF GET THAT WRAPPED UP. AND I GUESS IN THAT SAME SPIRIT PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN UM WANTING TO PUSH BACK ON THIS, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE THAT THE 3226 WASHINGTON STREET
PROJECT THAT THE CITY DOESN'T ALLOW ROLLBACK OR REVISION OF THE AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS BECAUSE IT'S REALLY GOOD TO STICK TO THE STANDARDS BUT YOU KNOW, ARE WORKED OUT WHEN POSSIBLE AND AS
MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND TO MAKE IT HAPPEN UM AND IT'S IMPORTANT ALSO THE BUILDING TRUST UH ENSURING THAT OUTCOMES YOU KNOW RESIDENTS FOUGHT FOR DELIVERED AND SO I'LL SAY ALSO UM IN
TERMS OF ONE OF THE THE LIKE WHAT'S TALKED ABOUT THE ECONOMIC CHALLENGES UM WE WE'RE WE'RE HEARING I FEEL LIKE IS THAT PROJECTS AREN'T LIKE PENCILING BASICALLY SO THAT YOU KNOW THEY CAN'T BE BUILT AND
THEY'RE NOT PROFITABLE AS THEY WERE BEFORE. AND YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT JUST THE DEVELOPERS, IT'S THE BANKS. UM, AND THE THE DEVELOPMENT YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NAVIGATING ALL THESE HIGH INTEREST RATES AND INCREASING CONSTRUCTION COSTS AND THE OPERATING COSTS UH, THE
INVESTOR RETURNS AND THE CITY THAT YOU KNOW, WITH THAT IN MIND, THE CITY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THOSE ARE OF GREATER IMPACT THAN THE INCLUSIONARY ZONING REQUIREMENTS, WHICH IS GOOD TO HEAR. UH, AS ADVOCATES WHO, YOU KNOW,
WANT TO SEE THIS STAY UM, AND IT SEEMS LIKE THAT MAYBE YOU KNOW, I'M EVEN TOO OPTIMISTIC HERE BUT FOR THE MOMENT MAYBE SHIFTING THE FEDERAL RESERVE STARTED TO, UH, CUT INTEREST RATES A BIT AND UH, MORTGAGE RATES HAVEN'T DROPPED AS
QUICKLY. THE THE EXPECTATION IS THAT THEY WILL YOU KNOW, THINGS WILL IMPROVE. SO I FEEL LIKE IT'S IMPORTANT WE DON'T MAKE PERMANENT POLICY ROLLBACKS IN RESPONSE TO WHAT TO BE LIKE A TEMPORARY MARKET
CYCLE LIKE IF I'M BEING YOU KNOW OVERLY OPTIMISTIC BUT THEN ALSO WE UM IF WE RESPOND RIGHT NOW BY LOWERING THE AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS, WE'RE BASICALLY ASKING I THINK AS PEOPLE HAVE SAID EARLIER FOR WORKING CLASS, YOU KNOW, BLACK,
WHITE ASIAN LATINO COMMUNITIES TO SUBSIDIZE THE IMPACT THIS IMPACT THROUGH DISPLACEMENT, UH, WHICH IS NOT COOL AND I THINK WE'RE STILL GOING WITH THE MUSIC REFERENCES MICHAEL JACKSON WOULD SAY THAT IT FEELS LIKE THEY DON'T REALLY CARE ABOUT US.
UM, BUT YEAH, THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE. AND UM, I'LL JUST WRAP UP BY SAYING LIKE THE FAIR HOUSING WHAT I MENTIONED EARLIER IT'S IT'S ACTUALLY THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY TO AFFIRM THE
FURTHER FAIR HOUSING. UM SORRY ABOUT THAT. AND THEN THE THAT MEANS CONTINUING AND STRENGTHENING THE BOSTON'S FAIR HOUSING ANALYSIS CONTINUING THAT AUDIT . UM, AND WE WE ACTUALLY HAVE SEEN HOW POWERFUL THAT IS TO
PUSHING BACK ON THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S KIND OF, UM, ATTACKS ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND EFFORTS TO ADVANCE, UM, FAIR HOUSING IN WASHINGTON STATE. THE COURT UH, RECENTLY UPHELD
UPHELD A HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAM THAT WAS DESIGNED TO ADDRESS RACIAL DISPARITIES BECAUSE THE STATE BACKED IT WITH STRONG EVIDENCE BASED, YOU KNOW, A RECORD OF PAST DISCRIMINATION DISCRIMINATION. AND THE COURT FOUND THAT THOSE DISPARITIES WERE REAL
DOCUMENTED AND THEN REJECTED TRUMP ADMINISTRATION EFFORTS TO BLOCK THE PROGRAM. AND SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, BOSTON HAS THAT SAME HISTORY AND THE SAME RESPONSIBILITY TO FURTHER FAIR HOUSING. AND SO IF YOU WANT TO DEFEND POLICIES LIKE INCLUSIONARY
ZONING AND OTHER EQUITY, UH, FOCUSED HOUSING TOOLS, WE NEED TO CONTINUE BUILDING THAT RECORD AND GROUNDING IN OUR DECISIONS AND DATA, UH, IN HISTORY TO IMPACT UM, SO YEAH, WE JUST I THINK THAT THERE ARE
QUESTIONS THAT ADVOCATES DO WANT TO UNDERSTAND BETTER ABOUT SOME OF THE DECISION MAKING AROUND THESE LIKE ONE ONE OFFS LIKE YOU KNOW, WHAT CRITERIA ARE USED TO APPROVE OFFSITE INCLUSION UNITS AND YOU KNOW, HOW IS THAT EQUIVALENCY
DETERMINED RELATIVE TO THE ONSITE REQUIREMENTS AND YOU KNOW, UNDER LIKE WHAT CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES ARE DEVELOPERS ALLOWED TO MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS INSTEAD OF BUILDING UNITS? BUT YEAH, I FEEL LIKE THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS WE SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON AND WE WANT TO WORK
WITH THE CITY COUNCIL, YOU KNOW, WHERE MEMBERS OF THIS QUARTERLY ADVOCATES MEETING THAT HAPPEN WITH THE CITY AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO YEAH JUST BE IN BETTER COORDINATION. SO THE CITY IT SEEMS LIKE THE CITY'S DOING GOOD THINGS RIGHT NOW WITH 20% INCLUSIONARY
ZONING THAT PLANNING ACADEMY COMING OUT EDUCATING RESIDENTS OFFICE TO RESIDENTIAL UH THE PUBLIC LAND FOR PUBLIC GOOD. BUT WE NEED TO SEE LIKE PROJECTS GET OVER THE FINISH LINE AND STAND BY THESE THINGS . SO I'LL JUST WRAP THERE, UM,
AND SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO I KNOW WE'VE LOST SOME COLLEAGUES BUT I THINK THAT BETWEEN DISTRICTS FIVE, SIX AND SEVEN YOU KNOW
CHAIR OF HOUSING VICE CHAIR AND COUNCILOR WEBER HERE UM, I THINK WE COULD GET AT THE CRUX OF ALL OF THIS AND JUST AGAIN WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR OPENING REMARKS AND FOR THE WORK YOU DO. I'M GOING TO GIVE MY COLLEAGUES
I WANT YOU THIS JUST THREE OF US, BUT I'M GOING TO START OFF BY SEVEN MINUTES JUST TO CREATE A TIME FRAME AND THEN WE'LL DO THE SECOND ROUND AND THEN CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION. SO COUNCILOR WEBER THE FLOOR IS
YOURS. YEAH I JUST I JUST WANT TO THANK THE PANEL I. HONESTLY THAT WAS I THINK THE MOST INFORMATIVE UH SUBSTANTIVE DISCUSSION YOU. >> KNOW JUST HEARING FROM.
PANELISTS UH LIKE THAT SO I JUST JUST TO PLAY THIS OUT JUST BECAUSE I THINK MR MCCARTHY IN TERMS OF DOYLE'S UH I THINK WHAT I HEARD FROM YOU IS LIKE
WE WE HAVE 25% WE LOOK AT WHETHER WE CAN WHETHER THE DEVELOPER CAN ACTUALLY BUILD THAT AMOUNT. AND I THINK WITH DOYLE'S ESPECIALLY THAT PROJECT GOT HELD UP I THINK BY THE CITY.
FOR YEARS. UH, AND THEN WHEN MR GOODMAN IT CAME TIME TO BUILD UH CONDITIONS HAD CHANGED AND HE HE MADE THE CASE TO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD AND YOU KNOW, I THINK I SUPPORTED HIM AND MOST PEOPLE AND BECAUSE HE HE COULDN'T HE AND HE BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY HAD PLANNED APROX WHICH IS ABOVE THE IDP HE WAS
AT 26% AFFORDABILITY UH AND SO HE HE THERE HE WENT IT JUST I MEAN NOT A HUGE PROJECT NO OFFENSE LEE UH BUT UH, YOU KNOW, WE WENT FROM 6 TO 4 OR HE
WENT FROM 6 TO 4 UNITS. SO I THINK UNDER YOUR KIND OF SCENARIO WHERE YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION, HE DID START AT 26 AND THAT IS THAT IS THAT WHEN I
WHEN I HEARD YOU DESCRIBE THAT SORT OF SYSTEM AND I, I, I I IT MAY HAVE JUST MISSED YOUR COMMENT ON DOYLE'S BUT UH I THINK WHAT YOU'RE I THINK YOU'RE BOTH ACTUALLY AGREEING.
WELL YEAH I'M NOT DISAGREEING WITH WHAT YOU CAN DO IN ANY PARTICULAR PROJECT. WHAT I'M SAYING IS YOU DON'T REALLY HAVE A TRANSPARENT PROCESS FOR ADJUDICATING, UM,
WHAT IS A REASONABLE REQUEST ON A PROJECT BY PROJECT UM ON A PROJECT BY PROJECT BASIS. RIGHT. AND THE A SYSTEM THAT WOULD DO THAT WOULD BE ONE WHERE YOU SET UM, AN AMBITIOUS INCLUSIONARY HOUSING GOAL.
RIGHT? AND IF YOU CAN'T MEET IT THEN YOU ACTUALLY HAVE A PROCESS WHERE YOU GO THROUGH IN, YOU KNOW, REAL DETAIL THE ECONOMICS OF THE PROJECT AND FIGURE OUT
HOW MANY INCLUSIONARY UNITS THE PROJECT ITSELF COULD UM, SUSTAIN AND THAT WE HAVE TOOLS FOR DOING THAT. THERE'S A SET OF TOOLS ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT ARE USED EVERYWHERE AND THEY'RE USUALLY CUSTOMIZED FOR THE
DIFFERENT MARKETS. BUT THE PROBLEM IS THAT IF YOU GO THROUGH AN EXTRA JUDICIAL PROCESS AND SOMEONE GOES AND JUST ASK PERMISSION NOT TO MEET THOSE GOALS AND IT DOESN'T HAVE PUBLIC REVIEW, IT DOESN'T HAVE
ANY KIND OF REAL MEANINGFUL DISCUSSION. AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED IN THE DOYLE'S CASE. I JUST REMEMBER IT WAS BECAUSE THAT USED TO BE ONE OF MY FAVORITE WATERING HOLES. BUT THE. >> THE UM THE THE OTHER CASE
THAT WAS BROUGHT UP WAS ONE IN WHICH PEOPLE JUST THOUGHT THAT THEY COULD DO IT WITHOUT ACTUALLY HAVING A PUBLIC HEARING AND A DEEP UH, DISCUSSION OF THE ACTUAL ECONOMICS OF THE OF THE PROJECT. RIGHT.
AND I THINK THAT SEE, THE PROBLEM IS AND YOU CAN'T HAVE, YOU KNOW, UM, CUSTOMIZED SOLUTIONS TO EVERY DIFFERENT. UM. >> DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE YOU'RE JUST GOING TO YOU'RE GOING TO TIE UP THE PIPELINE FOREVER. RIGHT?
SO HOW DO YOU GET EFFICIENT AND HOW DO YOU GET EQUITABLE AND HOW DO YOU GET UM YOU KNOW SOME WAYS THAT THAT THAT ARE DEFENSIBLE FOR MAKING THOSE KINDS OF CHOICES. >> CAN YOU JUST SO MY MY
CONCERN WHEN I HEAR THAT IS THAT IS IT BASED ON THE SORT OF ECONOMIC STATUS OF THE LOCATION LIKE THAT THIS TOOL WOULD RESULT IN NO AFFORDABLE
UNITS GOING IN IN ONE LOCATION BUT ALL OF FOR YOU KNOW, THE 26% BEING REQUIRED AND I DON'T KNOW HOW WHICH IF THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, ECONOMIC UH STATUSES OF DIFFERENT
NEIGHBORHOODS THIS IS IS THIS WE LIVE IN A VERY SEGREGATED CITY, UH, YOU KNOW, LIKE HOW WOULD THAT HOW WOULD YOU YOU'D. >> HAVE. TO LOOK AT THE TOOL BECAUSE WHAT THE TOOL DOES IS IT LOOKS AT THE LAND COSTS IT LOOKS AT
THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS, IT LOOKS AT THE THE REQUIREMENTS YOU HAVE RIGHT NOW ON SITE PARKING. REQUIREMENTS UM AND WHETHER OR NOT AND THEN IT ASKS QUESTIONS LIKE WHAT COULD YOU TWEAK TO BE
ABLE TO GET TO THE ZONING THAT YOU WANT RIGHT. COULD YOU GET A DENSITY BONUS AND WHAT WOULD THE DENSITY BONUS BUY YOU IN TERMS OF UNITS COULD YOU REDUCE THE PARKING REQUIREMENTS BUT WILL THAT BUY YOU IN TERMS OF UNITS RIGHT.
AND ALL IT IS IS IT IS IT PROVIDES A STANDARDIZED PROFORMA THAT EVERYBODY CAN LOOK AT AND AGREE ON THAT THIS IS A REASONABLE THIS IS A REASONABLE DEPICTION OF THE ECONOMICS OF THE DEVELOPMENT.
YEAH THAT'S ALL RIGHT. THAT'S THAT SOUNDS GOOD I, I THINK THAT WE WERE GOOD UH ON THAT UH BUT SO I GUESS WOULD TORONTO LIKE TO WHAT YOU TALKED
ABOUT CTCS AND LIKE SO WHAT CAN THE CITY DO TO LIKE BRING THE CDC MORE INTO THE CONVERSATION . OR YOU. >> KNOW, EMPOWER THEM WITH LIKE WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN JP WE'VE
SEEN YOU KNOW, DC AND URBAN EDGE AND COMMUNITY BUILDERS LIKE COME TOGETHER AND DELIVER ON PROJECTS. WE NEED THE CDC TO BE WORKING WITH EACH OTHER RIGHT. LIKE HOW DO WE UH YOU KNOW,
HELP KIND OF SET THE TABLE FOR CITIES. AND SO I MEAN THE ANSWER IS WE CAN HELP. UM, NOTHING BEATS EXPERIENCE SO I CAN RUN THE PROFORMA THAT
HE'S TALKING ABOUT WITHOUT A TOOL BECAUSE WE HAVE 50 YEARS OF PERFORMANCE ON HOW TO DO THIS. SO IF A DEVELOPER IS COMING TO THE COMMUNITY THEY'RE SAYING
YES TO A LOT OF THINGS. MY QUESTION IS TO YOUR POINT DO WE ASK THEM FOR THE DATA TO BACK UP RIGHT. ARE THEY GIVING US RECEIPTS? AND I KNOW MANY MANY OF US USE
THAT COLLOQUIALISM BUT IT'S TRUE RIGHT? WHEN WE SHOW UP WE ARE FULLY TRANSPARENT ABOUT EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR THAT IS GOING TO BE SPENT ON THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION WHERE WE ARE
WITH MANAGING OUR CONTRACTS, WHO'S LOCKED IN FOR WHAT TERM AND AND THE LIKE. RIGHT. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINK ABOUT THE ANATOMY OF A DEAL. THE ANATOMY OF THE DEAL IS BY
THE TIME SOMEONE COMES TO THE COMMUNITY THEY'VE LIKELY PURCHASED THE PROPERTY, THEY'VE LIKELY TALKED TO THEIR INVESTORS AND MAYBE THEY'VE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THE BANK. THAT'S IT. SO THEY'RE IN FOR IF THEY'VE
COME IN AND THEY'VE BOUGHT AT LET'S SAY UNFORTUNATELY THAT THEY BOUGHT AT $100,000 A UNIT $150,000 A UNIT THAT THEY'RE EXPECTING. RIGHT.
SO WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT SPECULATION THEY MAY BE ABLE TO PULL OFF THAT DEAL AND WHEN THEY COME TO THE COMMUNITY THEY'RE SAYING YES WE CAN DELIVER THIS 20%. THAT MEANS THE DEAL HAS AT
LEAST 20% OF GIVE IN IT FROM THE START. IF YOU THINK ABOUT A BANK THEY'VE ALSO TALKED TO THEIR BANK RIGHT. AND THE BANK IS EITHER GOING TO UNDERWRITE THAT DEAL OR THEY'RE
NOT. IF THE BANK UNDERWRITES THAT DEAL, YOU KNOW THE 20% IS IN THERE BECAUSE THEY KNOW WHAT THE CODE IS GOING TO BE, WHAT'S REQUIRED OF THE DEVELOPER.
SO THERE'S GOT TO BE CUSHION IN THAT DEAL. SO WHERE DOES THAT KIND OF CUSHION FALL OUT. IT FALLS OUT IN GOODNESS TWO YEARS OF THREE YEARS OF TRYING
TO GET THE DEAL DONE AND. OR TEN OR 10. >> OR 10 RIGHT. SO IF THE BANK IS RACKING UP 15 20,000 OR MORE RIGHT I'M BEING GENEROUS OF INTEREST A MONTH THEN THAT'S THE EROSION THAT
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT? THAT'S THAT'S THE THAT'S WHAT LEAF WAS TRYING TO DESCRIBE RIGHT. SO TODAY THAT DEAL CAN TOLERATE 25% BUT IF HIS RATE CHANGES IF
HE'S IN A RIGHT WE'VE ALL BEEN IN HOMEOWNERSHIP DIALOGS. ARE YOU IN A LOCKED IN OR YOU'RE NOT LOCKED IN THAT'S WHAT I MEAN ABOUT WE CAN HELP SORT OF ANALYZE THE ANATOMY
OF THE DEAL AND WE CAN TELL YOU FROM THE BEGINNING ARE WE BLOWING SUNSHINE WHERE THERE ISN'T ANY OR ARE WE ACTUALLY ABLE TO SEE IN CASES WHERE THINGS ARE TAKING TOO LONG WHEN
WE HAVE A ZONING CODE THAT ISN'T TRANSPARENT IF IT'S GOING TO TAKE 12 MONTHS LONGER, WE CAN TELL YOU HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO COST THE. DEVELOPER HAVE THEY DONE THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES REALLY
DONE? THERE'S EASILY A MILLION TO UPWARDS OF MULTIPLE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT COULD BE HIDING IN THE DIRT. BUT IF THEY'RE TELLING US THEY CAN DO THE DEAL WE CAN ASK THEM
SPECIFIC QUESTIONS TO SAY SURE ,LET'S LET'S GET YOU THE PROVISIONAL APPROVAL. LET'S GET THE PROJECT MOVING. BUT THEN THAT'S ALSO LET'S DIG IN. THE CHALLENGE WITH PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT IS THAT MAYBE THEY
ARE NOT GOING TO FEEL THAT WILLINGNESS TO BE TRANSPARENT, BUT WE HAVE THE LEVERAGE BECAUSE THEY'RE SITTING THERE TELLING US YES. SO IF THEY HAVE THE EXPERIENCE
THEY'VE MITIGATED AS OUR TEAMS DO A LOT OF THAT RISK, THEN THEY CAN TELL YOU THEY CAN DO THE 20% THEY CAN BUT IF THEY HAVEN'T MITIGATED THEIR RISK THE THING THAT THEY'RE BANKING
ON IS THERE ISN'T LIKE IN LARGE PROJECT REVIEW IF THERE'S A 10% SHIFT UP OR DOWN IN THAT DEAL YOU HAVE TO COME BACK. IT'S A REQUIREMENT IN SMALL PROJECT REVIEW YOU DON'T HAVE
THAT 10% SHIFT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER TO THE GOOD OR NOT YOU HAVE TO COME BACK SMALL PROJECT REVIEW YOU KNOW YOU HAVE TO TALK TO YOUR CITY COUNCILOR HOPEFULLY RIGHT?
YOU GUYS HAVE A LOT OF POWER BUT IF WE'RE NOT WE'RE MAKING IT A REQUIREMENT AND COMMUNITIES LIKE ROXBURY OR JP OR ROSSI OR WEST ROCK YES WE HAVE SOME OF THE SMARTEST
COMMUNITY RESIDENTS EVER BAR BY FAR. THEY'RE GOING TO ASK THAT DEVELOPER QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR PERFORMANCE. IF THE DEVELOPER IS PRESSING THEIR CARD THEN WE WANT TO ASK
MORE QUESTIONS NOT FEWER RIGHT . BECAUSE I'M BUILDING THE SAME THING THAT IS AT THE SAME COST PER SQUARE FOOT LIKELY I'M
BEING TRANSPARENT ABOUT ALL OF MY NUMBERS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. I AM TELLING YOU WHERE I AM WITH MY CONTRACT IF MY GC HASN'T LOCKED IN A PRICE FOR ME TODAY THEN I KNOW THAT THEY
HAVE REAL EXPOSURE THERE. IF I DO HAVE THAT PRICE LOCKED IN THEN I NEED THE CITY COUNCIL TO PUSH THAT PROJECT QUICKLY BECAUSE I'M ONLY GOING TO HAVE THAT PRICE LOCKED IN FOR MAYBE SIX MONTHS NINE MONTHS AT.
BEST. >> BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT. SO THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS WE NEED TO BE ASKING OUR FRIENDS IF THEY'RE READY. AND SHEILA CONTINUED TO SAY THAT IT'S A READINESS STANDARD
IF YOU'RE REALLY READY WE NEED TO GET YOU GOING BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO BE HITTING THE UNKNOWN UNKNOWNS WITHOUT BUFFER IN THE DEAL BECAUSE GUESS WHAT'S GOING TO BE SCAPEGOATED
AT THE END THE BANK IS GOING TO SAY MY EQUITY IS IN THAT DIFFERENCE IN $500 IN RENT OVER 20 UNITS AND I WANT THAT EQUITY
PRESERVED AND THEN YOUR YOUR YOUR DEVELOPERS ARE COMING BACK TO YOU AND SAYING LOOK I DON'T HAVE ANY OPTION OTHER THAN TO START TALKING ABOUT TRADE OFFS THAT NO ONE REALLY WANTED TO
HAVE BUT THE BANK IS DRIVING AT THAT POINT SO WE NEED TO GET THERE EARLIER. IF THERE'S $3 MILLION IN THE DIRT THAT THEY HAVEN'T DONE THEIR PHASE 1234.
THERE'S YOUR THERE'S YOUR CUSHION FOR $3 MILLION TO MAKE IT EASY TO SPEND THAT KIND OF MONEY ON ENVIRONMENTAL COSTS THAT FOLKS HAVEN'T REALLY PAID ATTENTION TO BECAUSE THEY'RE
PRO FORMA IN BEST CASE WE HAVE A VERY DIFFERENT STANDARD BY WHICH WE HAVE TO SPEND YOUR RESOURCES RIGHT? WE NEED TO KNOW THINGS EARLY AND THEN WE CAN MITIGATE RISK.
SO IF THERE'S $5 MILLION IN A DEAL THAT JUST GETS SORT OF EATEN UP BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T DONE THE HOMEWORK AND THAT'S WHAT I MEAN ABOUT EXPERIENCE THEN THEY'RE COMING AND SAYING WAIT BUT IT'S THE AFFORDABILITY
. NO SIR. THE COST PER SQUARE FOOT IS THE SAME AS MINE. YOU'RE MOVING FASTER THAN I AM, WHICH MEANS YOU'RE BUILDING AT LESS OF A COST IF YOU CHOOSE TO
PUT MARBLE AND GRANITE FINISHES OR WHATEVER THAT'S THE ONLY DIFFERENCE. AND WE SAID WE NEED TO DEMYSTIFY THIS FOR THE CITY. WE HAVE ALL THE DATA IF THEY'RE NOT WILLING TO SHARE AND BE
TRANSPARENT UPSET UH UPFRONT THAT'S WHERE THE MAJORITY OF THE RISK AND THAT IS WHERE THE MAJORITY OF THE CUSHION IN THE DEAL IS IF YOU LET THEM GO
AND THEY WE AREN'T ANSWERING THESE QUESTIONS UPFRONT AND THEY BLOW $5 MILLION IN A PERFORMANCE AND EASY TO DO THIS WASN'T WHAT REALLY DID RIGHT.
HE REALLY HAD DELAYS. IF WE CAN MITIGATE DELAYS PERMITTING ZONING ALL OF THOSE THEN HE CAN GO. HE WANTED TO DELIVER 25% AFFORDABILITY WHEN HE DIDN'T HAVE TO.
BUT THAT'S THAT'S THE KIND OF ISSUE. AND SO THAT'S THE STIGMA THAT WE'RE GETTING AS A CITY BECAUSE IT'S LIKE OH WELL THINGS ARE TOO DIFFICULT. THEY'RE CUMBERSOME, THEY'RE
DIFFICULT AND INVESTORS HAVE CHOICES AS WAIT GREATER BOSTON IS BECOMING THE THE LANGUAGE ON EVERYONE'S TONGUE. IT'S BECAUSE BOSTON IS A LITTLE BIT MORE CLUNKY.
WE NEED TO CATCH UP REALLY FAST . THEY WANT TO SPEND MONEY HERE BECAUSE THERE'S MORE VALUE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. DON'T LET THEM FOOL YOU RIGHT?
THERE'S MORE VALUE IN THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS HERE, BUT WE HAVE TO LET THEM MOVE FASTER IF WE HAVE A DEVELOPER LIKE THESE GENTLEMEN AND THEY'RE WILLING TO BE TRANSPARENT ALL DAY LONG,
I WANT TO HELP MITIGATE THOSE RISK WITH THEM. WE DID STOP AND SHOP PLAZA. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THIS ABOUT JP AND DC. WE HAVE HELPED SO MANY EMERGING
AND OR LARGE TIER DEVELOPERS BECAUSE WE PARTNER WITH THEM. WHY? BECAUSE IT MAKES HEALTHY SENSE FOR THE COMMUNITY WHEN IT IS A DEAL THAT WE CAN LOOK AT AND SAY THERE'S MUTUAL BENEFIT FOR
THE COMMUNITY WE'RE GOING TO PARTNER. MANY PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT WE OWN A PERCENTAGE SHARE ON THAT. SO WE WERE THERE TO HELP MITIGATE ENVIRONMENTAL RISK. MULTIPLE MILLION DOLLARS SAVED
IN THAT PROJECT. AND NOW OUR COMMUNITY HAS A GROCERY STORE WHERE NO ONE EVER WANTED TO COME HERE. SO THERE ARE THOSE TYPES OF THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TOGETHER. BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO, YOU
KNOW, PLAY ONE ANOTHER AGAINST YOU KNOW WELL YOUR VALUE OR YOUR TIMING OR YOUR MONEY OR YOU KNOW, THEN WE'RE NOT GOING TO MOVE FORWARD. WE ARE SMART. BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT WE YOU
KNOW, WE HAVE THE TOOLS I MEAN I'D LOVE TO SEE THE CALCULATOR BUT YOU KNOW MY TEAM RAMPS PERFORMANCE FOR BREAKFAST LUNCH. >> AND. DINNER I. CAN DO IT IN MY HEAD. THANK YOU. >> OKAY.
THANKS. UM, COUNCILOR PEPPER. THANK YOU. CHAIR PEPPER AND AND UH, TO RHONDA. MISS ALICE, WE FINALLY CONNECTED, HUH? YES, SIR.
AND YOU'RE DOING THAT DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH HALL. YES, SIR. ON CHAINING. SENIOR HOUSING, SIR. WHERE NO ONE THOUGHT ANYTHING GOOD COULD HAPPEN. YES. >> AND THAT'S GOING TO HAVE
REVERBERATING COMMUNITY IMPACT. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A COMMUNITY SPACE FOR HEALTH SERVICES NOT JUST FOR THE RESIDENT. BUT ALSO FOR ANY MEMBER OF THE. COMMUNITY WHO NEEDS TO HAVE
THEIR BLOOD PRESSURE SCREENINGS OR HEART SCREENINGS. WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO A LOT OF REALLY GOOD SERVICE THERE. THAT'S GREAT. AND YOU KNOW THE ROLE FOR COMMUNITY CENTER IS COMING
RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET. YES REAL SOON AND YOU KNOW WIN A FIGHT FOR TRY AND PUT A STEAM ROOM THERE IN THE COMMUNITY CENTER. UH THE MEN AND THE FOLKS THERE
THE SENIORS HAVE ASKED FOR IT. SO I JUST WANT TO COMMEND YOU ON THAT SPACE AND EVERYONE IN THE WORLD NEEDS TO GO SEE THAT SPACE BEFORE BECAUSE IT'S
BEHIND THE LIQUOR STORE. IT'S BEHIND THE CLEANERS IS UH IT'S BEHIND THE DRY CLEANERS. I MEAN, IT'S AMAZING WHERE SHE PUT IT THAT I DRIVE THERE ALMOST EVERY DAY.
I NEVER THOUGHT ANYTHING GOOD WOULD HAPPEN THERE. BUT I JUST WANT TO COMMEND YOU BECAUSE IF YOU CAN DO THAT THERE, YOU CAN DO IT ANYWHERE. I JUST WANT TO ASK YOU A QUICK QUESTION.
UM, AND THE TIME THAT YOU GAVE MY BROTHER HERE, TAKE YOUR TIME . THANK YOU. UH, CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT AND WE HEARD, UH, THE MENTION OF THE LAW OF ECONOMICS
. I WANT YOU TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR ECOSYSTEM APPROACH AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
SO I HAVE TO SAY THAT WAS A PERSONAL WIN FOR ME THAT GROWTH. >> HALL SITE. BECAUSE WHEN I WAS ABOUT AFTER. ALL OVER 17 I USED TO RUN THROUGH THOSE STREETS. IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I HAD
SEEN AN AUTOMATIC WEAPON IN THAT COMMUNITY AND I REMEMBER BEING AFRAID AND ALSO REMEMBERING WHAT MY GRANDMOTHER USED TO SAY WHICH WAS IF YOU
FEEL FEAR YOU'VE GOT TO CHARGE AT THE PROBLEM. AND SO BEING ABLE TO DELIVER SENIOR HOUSING THERE. SO I THINK ABOUT THE COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC SPHERE TOGETHER UM AND CYCLICALLY RIGHT. I'M OFTEN THINKING ABOUT THE CHILDREN WHICH WE ARE RUNNING, YOU KNOW, A UH FAMILY CHILDCARE
NETWORK OF SUPPORTING ABOUT 600 CHILDREN A DAY. SO I'M THINKING ABOUT THE ENTRANCE. THOSE PARENTS NEED CHILDCARE SO THAT THEY CAN GET TO WORK SO THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES.
AND AT THE OTHER SIDE OF IT IS YES, WE ARE FACING A SILVER TSUNAMI AND SO I CANNOT FORGET ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO RAISED ME. UM, SO OUR APPROACH IS ALWAYS
BOTH AND IT'S ALWAYS TAKING A BIT TO THINK ABOUT WHERE WE ARE DELIVERING SOLUTIONS. SO FOR OUR SENIORS WE ALWAYS ARE AND REALLY DO HAVE A
FORMULA FOR HOW WE ARE ADDRESSING SENIOR SUPPORT BECAUSE THEY ARE THE FOLKS WHO GOT US HERE. WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT THE HOMEOWNER OPPORTUNITIES TO CREATE OFFSHOOTS IN OUR
ECOSYSTEM AND THAT'S REALLY THE ECONOMIC COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOCUS. WE HAVE BUILT OVER 150 HOMEOWNERSHIP UNITS ONE ALMOST MORE THAN I THINK ANY OTHER CITY YOU.
SEE IN THE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON WE NEED TO BE DOING AND PUSHING MORE OF THAT. AND I REALLY RECOMMEND THE CITY AND THE STATE FOR REALLY PICKING UP THAT CHARGE AND RUNNING IT WITH ANYBODY WHO CAN OWN.
AN AFFORDABLE HOME. OR EITHER A HOME ANYWHERE REALLY WITHIN BOSTON OR GREATER BOSTON IS GOING TO BE SOMEONE WHO IS NOT APPLYING FOR THE INCOME RESTRICTED HOUSING ON
THE RENTAL SIDE, RIGHT? SO I'VE GOT EMPLOYEES WHO ARE SPENDING ALL DAY TALKING TO RESIDENTS OF OUR GREAT CITY ABOUT ECONOMIC MOBILITY AND
PROSPERITY. SO WE HAVE TO SHIFT THE MINDSET AS CAN DO AND HOW DO WE WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE OPENING EVERY PORTAL AND
EVERY AVENUE OF A MINDSET SHIFT AND A RESOURCE SHIFT? SO THAT'S HOW WE'RE THINKING ABOUT IT. SO IT'S ALWAYS BOTH AND. AND AND AND IT'S INTERESTING. SO YOU USED TO RUN AROUND THAT AREA RIGHT.
YES SIR. >> YEAH SO I USED TO RUN AROUND SILVER STREET. MY GRANDFATHER HAD A STORE A SHOE STORE ON WASHINGTON STREET RIGHT AND GROVE HOME THAT I
WORKED IN AND 14 YEARS OLD. YEAH SELLING CAPEZIO AND SO UH SO THANK YOU. UH, AND I STILL I WANT TO SEE THIS THROUGH THE HOUSE AND MY
GRANDMOTHER GRANDFATHER FOUGHT TO BUY ON THE STREET BECAUSE AT THAT TIME IT WAS PREDOMINANTLY JEWISH. THEY DIDN'T WANT BLACK FOLKS BUYING HOMES ON SILVER STREET.
BUT MY GRANDFATHER FOUGHT THE GUY THAT HOUSE BUILT THE CHURCH ON HUMBOLDT AVENUE IN 1941 PLEASANT HILL. I'VE BEEN THERE 30 YEARS BUT LET ME JUST MOVE TO MR MCCARTHY
FOR A MINUTE AND I WANT TO JUST MOVE TO ANOTHER AREA AND I KNOW YOU PROBABLY CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE YOU MISS INTERNATIONAL, BUT I REALLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT SHAUN DONOVAN AND WHAT HE DID WITH
THE RENTAL ACQUISITION DEMONSTRATION AND PUBLIC HOUSING. I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE FUTURE OF PUBLIC HOUSING, ESPECIALLY NOW THAT DEVELOPERS ARE INTO PUBLIC
HOUSING. WHAT'S THE FUTURE OR OR WILL WE HAVE PUBLIC HOUSING IN 20 YEARS? WELL THAT'S UM I GUESS THAT DEPENDS ON POLITICAL WILL
BECAUSE THE FAILURE OF PUBLIC HOUSING WAS UM PREMEDITATED. I MEAN IT WAS A IT WAS USHERED IN BY ED BROOKE AND BY RONALD REAGAN WHILE THEY WHEN THEY.
NUMBER ONE THEY MADE SURE THAT PUBLIC HOUSING ONLY SERVED THE POOREST OF THE POOR THOSE AT BROOKE AND THEN RONALD REAGAN JUST CUT THE CAPITAL BUDGETS AND THEN THEY MADE SURE THAT MILLIONS OF UNITS OF PUBLIC HOUSING BECAME KIND
OF UNSUSTAINABLE OVER THAT PERIOD OF TIME. I GREW UP IN PUBLIC HOUSING I GREW UP IN THERE ARE STILL PROJECTS OVER IN THE ROSLINDALE HYDE PARK AREA. RIGHT. UM AND WHEN I WAS FIVE I MEAN,
YOU KNOW BUT. WILL IT EXISTS IN 20. WELL ONE IT EXISTS IN ITS CURRENT FORM AND IT SHOULDN'T EXIST IN ITS CURRENT FORM BECAUSE THERE'S UM ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE DEMONSTRATED OVER
TIME IS THAT THE PUBLIC SECTOR IS NOT A GOOD LONG TERM, UM, STEWARD OF HOUSING. UM, THEY JUST DON'T DO A GREAT JOB OF BEING ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE QUALITY OF THE HOUSING OVER TIME.
AND ONE OF THE REASONS IS BECAUSE YOU MAKE THE UM THE CAPITAL BUDGETS A UM A POLITICAL WEAPON. RIGHT? SO WHEN RONALD REAGAN DECIDES HE GOING TO PULL THE CARPET OUT
FROM UNDER THE PUBLIC HOUSING FUNDING, NOBODY DOES ANYTHING ABOUT IT. AND SO IF YOU ACTUALLY MAKE IT THE RIGHT KIND OF PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP THAT ACTUALLY REALLY BUILT THE HOUSING IN THE FIRST PLACE AND
MAINTAINED IT FOR A GOOD 2030 YEARS BEFORE THE BOTTOM FELL OUT. YES. BUT MY MY GUESS IS YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A DIFFERENT KIND OF PUBLIC HOUSING AND RIGHT NOW THE RAD PROGRAM IS PROBABLY OUR
BEST HOPE OF BEING ABLE TO PRESERVE, UM, WHAT'S LEFT OF THE EXISTING PUBLIC HOUSING STOCK AND KEEP IT IN REASONABLE SHAPE BECAUSE UM, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF IT A LOT OF THE PUBLIC
HOUSING JUST WE ALLOWED TO DETERIORATE BECAUSE WE JUST DIDN'T MAINTAIN IT OVER TIME AND THEN WE BLAME THE RESIDENTS OF COURSE BECAUSE YOU KNOW, WE SAID CONCENTRATED POVERTY WAS A PROBLEM. IT ACTUALLY WASN'T IT WAS IT WAS THE DETERIORATION IN THE
BUILDINGS AND ONLY THE PEOPLE WHO HAD THE ADVANTAGE OF LIVING IN THE DETERIORATED BUILDING STAYED THERE AND THERE WAS THIS ADVERSE SELECTION. ANYBODY THAT WAS FUNCTIONING HAD TO LIVE. WHO'S GOING TO LIVE IN A 50 STOREY BUILDING WITHOUT AN
ELEVATOR? UH, SO UM I DON'T KNOW IF I ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION BUT THE THE THE PUBLIC HOUSING AS WE'VE KNOWN IT FOR THE LAST ALMOST
100 YEARS NO, THERE WILL BE PUBLIC HOUSING AND THERE WILL STILL BE PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITIES THAT HAVE A ROLE IN PROVIDING DEEPLY, DEEPLY SUBSIDIZED HOUSING FOR THE POPULATION. BUT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO
IT DIFFERENTLY. AND SO REAL QUICK, UH, WE KNOW THAT HUD HAS THE DECLARATION OF TRUST THE DEED OF TRUST ON THE PUBLIC HOUSING. AND WE KNOW AS THE HOUSING
TRANSITIONS FROM UH, STRICTLY PUBLIC HOUSING TO SOMEWHAT PRIVATE THEY HAVE MARKET RIGHT NOW IN SOME OF THE FORMERLY PUBLIC HOUSING THE D THE TRUST BEING TRANSFERRED TO THE
TENANTS SO THE TENANTS WILL HAVE SOME KIND OF OWNERSHIP INTEREST JUST IN CASE ONE OF THE DEVELOPERS LET'S SAY WHEN THEY'RE DOING THE
MCCORMICK RIGHT, THEY 1200 UNITS OF PUBLIC HOUSING RIGHT. THEY PUT IN 1000 UNITS OF MARKET RATE RIGHT AT THE END OF THE SECTION EIGHT. HE'LL HAVE THE OPTION IF HE WANTS TO OPT OUT OF SECTION
EIGHT RIGHT. THEY'LL GIVE THE TENANTS CERTIFICATES. THEY'LL FIND SOMEPLACE ELSE TO LIVE. HE CAN THEN CHANGE THOSE FORMERLY PUBLIC 1200 UNITS TO
MARKET RATE RIGHT THEN WHAT HAPPENS TO THE TENT? THEY'RE GONE. IT'S NO LONGER PUBLIC HOUSING. RIGHT. >> AND SO MY QUESTION IS. WELL THAT'S A THAT'S JUST A POLICY RIGHT?
THE POLICY IS HOW LONG DO YOU REQUIRE IT TO MAINTAIN AFFORDABILITY. BUT YOU COULD ACTUALLY THERE ARE WAYS THAT YOU CAN UM SET UP THE ECONOMICS OF PUBLIC HOUSING TO BE AFFORDABLE IN PERPETUITY.
YOU JUST HAVE TO PUT MORE CAPITAL AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE UM A CAPITAL BUDGET THAT IS SUSTAINED OVER TIME THAT ALLOWS IT TO BE TO INVEST IN THE MAINTENANCE AND HAVE, YOU KNOW, RAINY DAY FUND IF SOMETHING
ELSE GOES WRONG A ROOF OR SOMETHING ELSE. >> BUT WITH A SECTION EIGHT THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE. I MEAN YOU'VE GOT TO SAY WHY. >> IS IT I MEAN IT'S NOT POSSIBLE BECAUSE THE RULES ARE THE WAY THAT YOU. DECIDE TO OPT OUT. IF HE DOES, HE'S OUT RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. >> BUT NOW ALL RIGHT LOCAL
LOCAL RULES HAVE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO BE APPLIED TO MAKE SURE THAT RESIDENTS HAVE A RIGHT TO PURCHASE WASHINGTON DC EXPIRING UM, SUBSIDIZED HOUSING. RESIDENTS HAVE A RIGHT TO PURCHASE RIGHT. THEY CAN MOBILIZE THEMSELVES,
CREATE A CO-OP. THEY CAN PURCHASE A BUILDING THAT'S A STATE LAW. I MEAN THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE IN LOCAL CONTROL THAT YOU CAN DO THAT DON'T REQUIRE A REVISION OF THE SECTION EIGHT
PROGRAM AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL. RIGHT. >> I'D LIKE TO TALK MORE ABOUT THAT WASHINGTON DC MART I REALLY WOULD MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO LOOK AT HERE. LET ME JUST QUOTE WITH THIS COUNCIL COUNCILMEMBER WEBER COME ON.
UH MICHAEL JACKSON SAID DANGEROUS OKAY. LET ME JUST CONCLUDE WITH WITH UH BECAUSE I MISS UPTON I THINK YOU'RE UNDER SOMETHING BECAUSE AND BY THE WAY, THIS ONE COURT
THAT WAS I HAD HEARD FOR 27 YEARS THAT THE REGIONAL COUNCIL BUT WHEN HEARD FINISHED WHEN CONGRESS CUT OUT THE 2028 11 PROGRAM THAT'S WHEN ALL THE
SENIOR HOUSING WAS WIPED OFF THE MAP. SO WHAT I SAY IS WHEN THESE CONGRESSMEN BECOME A LITTLE OLDER RIGHT. WE'LL GET BACK TO THE TWO I'D ARGUE.
SINCE THEY HAVE TO CHANGE THEIR PARENTS DIAPERS THEY CHANGE THEIR PERSPECTIVE. YEAH BUT THAT'S WHEN THAT HAPPENED AND NOTHING HAS REPLACED IT SINCE AND MAYBE AT SOME POINT WE'LL COME BACK TO
IT BECAUSE THAT REALLY WAS WHERE ALL THE SENIOR HOUSING WAS COMING FROM. UH THE 2 TO 811 PROGRAM. YEAH. >> WITHOUT A DOUBT IT'S BEEN THE PUBLIC SUBSIDY TO DO THE LARGER SCALE ECONOMIES OF SCALE. UM.
I THINK THAT THERE ARE SOME SOME LESSONS LEARNED ON DIFFERENT GOVERNMENTAL PROGRAMS. I DO AGREE THAT THE PROBLEM WAS. WITH UH. ONE OF A MAJOR HISTORICAL PROBLEM WITH PUBLIC HOUSING IS THAT.
THE PUBLIC SECTOR DOES NOT MANAGE WELL OVER TIME EFFICIENTLY OR QUALITATIVELY. IT'S JUST A DISCIPLINE TO REINVESTING IN PROPERTIES THAT PEOPLE NEED TO HAVE AS AN OWNER .
AND UM, I DO THINK THAT THE STATE'S 40 B UM DEVELOPMENT WHERE IT'S A PRIVATE OWNER THERE IS UH A 20 OR 25% UM
AFFORDABILITY TYPICALLY THAT IS ENDED UP BEING IN PERPETUITY BUT IT IS NEGOTIATED ON A DEAL BY DEAL BASIS. BUT WHAT THAT DOES IS IT SPREADS THE AFFORDABILITY OUT.
IT GETS UH PUBLIC SECTOR FINANCING CREDIT AND RESOURCES TO ACTUALLY EXECUTE. IT'S DONE AT RISK BUT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DONE WITHIN
PARAMETERS AND THEN YOU HAVE AN OWNER OVER TIME THAT THAT KIND OF MAKES SURE YOU KNOW BECAUSE IT MAKES SENSE TO YOU KNOW, WANT TO GROW. THE THE. FUNCTIONALITY AND THE AND ULTIMATELY THE PROFIT LEVEL.
THERE'S A PROFIT INCENTIVE THAT GUIDES IT BUT THE PROFIT DOESN'T NEED TO BE THE EVIL THING IN THE ROOM. IT CAN BE PART OF WHAT GETS ALIGNMENT. SO I THINK AS YOU LOOK AT THESE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS KIND
OF MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S PARALLEL ALIGNMENT, YOU KNOW, INTEREST AND AND INFORMATION AND DISCLOSURE I THINK ARE VERY IMPORTANT UM, TO BUILD THE TRUST THAT THAT THINGS GET EXECUTED OVER TIME.
SO MY POINT WITH MY WITH THE SENIOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON THE IDP PERSPECTIVE. IS THAT THERE'S A SERVICE COMPONENT, UM, AND YOU KNOW, UNDERSTANDING ALL OF THE
DIFFERENT UM SERVICES THAT ARE IN UH SENIOR HOUSING THERE'S THERE'S MANY, MANY LEVELS THAT YOU CAN GO AND IT'S PROBABLY BEST IF THERE'S A RANGE THAT PEOPLE CAN HAVE AS THEY NEED IT
. UM, BUT THAT SERVICES. >> IS VERY EXPENSIVE. UM AND SO IT IMPLODES THE FINANCIAL MODEL FOR THESE THINGS WHEN YOU WANT THE PUBLIC SECTOR TO EXECUTE IT.
UM SO IT'S LIKE A HOTEL IF YOU HAVE AFFORDABLE HOTEL ROOMS THE COST WOULD BE SO HIGH FOR THE PEOPLE AT THE MARKET RATE TO SUBSIDIZE THEY WON'T DO IT AND IT WON'T KIND OF, YOU KNOW,
HAVE A FUNCTIONAL MODEL TO IT. UM, SO THERE'S A BALANCE TO IT. IT NEEDS. >> TO BE EXECUTED. SENIOR HOUSING SUPER IMPORTANT BUT GETTING TO A POINT WHERE A PRIVATE SECTOR CAN CAN GENERATE THAT THAT'S WHEN YOU'RE GOING
TO GET SCALE AND THAT'S WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO GET REALLY NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCES IN SUPPLY WHEN IT'S A PREDICTABLE OUTCOME THE PROGRAMS ARE FAIR. EVERYBODY SEES WHAT THEIR RISK
REWARD IS IN IT AND THEN THEY CAN LOCK HANDS ON GETTING IT DONE. UM THAT'S WHERE I THINK YOU'LL SEE, YOU KNOW THE BIGGEST LEVEL OF CHANGE. UM LET ME JUST THANK ALL OF THE
PANELISTS FOR THE SUBSTANTIVE INFORMATION THAT YOU BROUGHT TO US. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR EXPERTISE. I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MY WIFE WHO COULDN'T BE HERE
BUT HIS PRESENCE IS STILL FELT. THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST INFORMATIVE PANELS IN MY 90 DAYS OF BEING. SO CLOSE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'LL TAKE CREDIT. >> FOR THAT.
UM I'M GOING TO DO A QUICK. MUSIC REFERENCE SINCE EVERYONE'S DOING ONE YOU KNOW HIGH. >> SCHOOL MUSICAL IS MORE FROM MY ERA. IT'S ABOUT UM WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER, RIGHT? SO UM JUST.
KIDDING BUT I BEFORE I CONTINUE I ALSO JUST WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO SOMEONE IN THE AUDIENCE MARY CELESTE FROM THE SOUTHWEST CDC WHO DOES A LOT OF WORK IN MY DISTRICT ON MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE PUSHING FOR MORE AFFORDABILITY.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE JUST HAD AN AMAZING MEETING A FEW DAYS AGO. SO TO LEARN ABOUT SOME OF THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING IN SOME WAYS WE CAN ALSO IMPROVE SUPPORT IN CDC ACROSS THE CITY. SO JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A
QUICK SHOUT OUT. UM, I ALSO WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SENIOR HOUSING AND I HAVE SOME PRETTY GOOD EXAMPLES IN MY DISTRICT HONESTLY UM BEEN A IT HAS BEEN ABLE TO CONSTRUCT UM 1201 RIVER
STREET IN HYDE PARK ALL 100% AFFORDABLE FOR 55 YEAR OLD OR OLDER. UH IT JUST GOT DONE BEAUTIFUL BUILDING AND CLEARY SQUARE AND THEN WE HAVE THE PRIDE. EVERYONE TALKS ABOUT THE PRIDE AND A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT WAS
THAT'S ANOTHER UM GOOD ONE. AND THEN WE HAVE THE FIRST SCORES AND STREETS PROJECT HAPPENING IN ROSS LITTLE SQUARE WHERE THEY'RE STILL GOING THROUGH THEIR FUNDING PROCESS BUT THEY WERE APPROVED IN TERMS
OF UM THEIR PLANS FOR BERNIE BREATH IN WASHINGTON STREET IN ROSLINDALE. SO SENIOR HOUSING IS AN AREA THAT I KNOW IT'S PART OF THE SOLUTION THAT CREATES THAT WAS PART OF THE DOMINO EFFECT WHERE
IF WE. ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE HOUSING FOR SENIORS, IT OPENS UP A LARGER HOME AND I DON'T KNOW RENVILLE ,HYDE PARK, MATTAPAN, ROZZI AND THEN THAT OPENS UP A HOUSING NUMBER DO FOR HER
FAMILY THAT'S MOVING IN. SO UH UM THERE'S A LOT OF FOCUS IN MY DISTRICT ON SENIOR HOUSING, SO I WOULD LOVE TO PICK YOUR BRAIN AFTER THIS ABOUT IF NOT IDP REQUIREMENTS THEN WHAT?
SO BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WHEN YOU SAID THAT IT KIND OF CONCERN ME A LITTLE BECAUSE THE SENIORS THAT ARE MOVING IN THEY'RE ON RESTRICTED INCOMES AND RETIRED OR THEY'RE LIVING ON SOCIAL
SECURITY OR THEY'RE LIVING ON PENSIONS AND I KNOW THAT UM, THEY DON'T HAVE MUCH FLEXIBILITY ON HOW MUCH THEY CAN PAY. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S AT THE TOP OF THE CONVERSATION AS WELL.
UH, ON HOW WE MOVE FORWARD WITH SENIOR HOUSING I LOVE THERE WAS A COMMENT MADE BY TORONTO, UM, ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH LEA AND I'M NOT SAYING SPECIFICALLY THE RELATIONSHIP
YOU TWO HAVE BUT I THINK IN GENERAL SPEAK IN TERMS OF HOW A CDC AND A PRIVATE DEVELOPER CAN WORK TOGETHER. TO BUILD. HOUSING AND IF YOU'RE NOT GOING
TO BUILD ON AFFORDABLE, HOW CAN HE PAY INTO THE AFFORDABILITY FUNDS AND ETC. I WOULD LOVE TO JUST PICK YOUR BRAIN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT BOTH OF. YOU HONESTLY OR YOU JAKE IF YOU
WANT TO JUMP INTO THIS ABOUT HOW IS IT THAT THE RELATIONSHIPS WITH CDC WORK AND HOW YOU HAVE SEEN OR YOU COULD USE AN EXAMPLE OF A POSITIVE
PROJECT THAT YOU THINK THAT THE CITY COULD USE AS AN EXAMPLE MOVING FORWARD. UM, SO WE CAN LEARN FROM SURE. UH. >> WE HAVE SEVERAL. WE HAVE SEVERAL UH, WE CAN TALK ABOUT 3371 WASHINGTON STREET
THAT'S A SENIOR HOME UH, SENIOR SITE. IT WAS A VILLAGE WAS A COMMUNITY. UH. >> PUSHING WITH A DEVELOPER WHO REALLY WASN'T INTENDING TO DO. WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE THERE.
UM, IN A IN A. VERY GOOD WAY. UM. WE DIDN'T HAVE 100% CAPACITY ON MY TEAM AT THE TIME. UH, BUT WE HAVE A HISTORY OF WORKING WITH OTHER SEASONED
MARKET RATE DEVELOPERS AND SO WE CALLED THEM UP. WE SAID, HEY, WHAT WHAT'S ON YOUR. PIPELINE DOCKET? WE'VE GOT SOME SPACE. UH, WE'LL WE'D LIKE TO PARTNER WITH YOU. THAT WAS.
THAT'S THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY SOON. SAME THING HAPPENED AT THE BERKELEY FLATS. THAT'S 45 HOME OWNERSHIP UNITS . WHERE THE MARKET RATE DEVELOPERS SAID, HEY, YOU KNOW ,WE GOT WORD THAT, YOU KNOW,
MAYBE SOMETHING IS SHAKING OUT. CALLED UP. JP AND SEE WHAT YOU KNOW. WHAT DO YOU HAVE ON YOU IN YOUR PIPELINE? WHAT DO YOU HAVE FOR CAPACITY. AND SO WE WE LOOKED AT THAT
SITE THAT WAS ALSO DONE THROUGH COMMUNITY PROCESS. UM I. LOVE AS I SAID REALLY TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY WITH THAT WITH GOING SO THAT WE HAVE
A GOOD ROLLING SERIES OF DIFFERENT TYPOLOGIES. UM, THAT MARKET RATE DEVELOPER CALLED WE PARTNERED UM 5050 RIGHT. UH WE HAVE 5045.
NEW HOMEOWNERS IN JP NEAR FOUR SALES SO WE CAN DO THESE JOBS TOGETHER. UM. >> THEIR TEAM MAY HAVE STRENGTH ON THE CONSTRUCTION SIDE. MAYBE I HAVE SOME FINANCING. MAYBE THEY'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, A
WEAKER TEAM ON THE CONSTRUCTION SIDE BECAUSE THEY'RE TIED UP. I CAN BRING MY TEAM TO BEAR SO WE CAN DO THESE DEALS TOGETHER. I THINK, UM, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF MARKET RATE DEVELOPERS WE'VE WORKED WITH, UH, WHO.
I THINK I WOULD. INVITE THE COUNCIL TO. MAYBE FOLLOW UP UH. IN OTHER MORE DETAILED WAYS BECAUSE WE WE DO HAVE MATTRESSES UM, YOU KNOW, WE
CALCULATE DEALS AND WE SAY OKAY, IT'S WORTH US MOVING THE HOUSING FORWARD. THAT'S THE INTENT. AND IF WE CAN AGREE THAT IT'S NOT THE BIG YOU KNOW, JUICY YOU
KNOW, PROFIT MARGIN. BUT WE CARE ABOUT DELIVERING THE HOUSING THEN WE CAN MOVE THE DEALS FORWARD. YEAH I. >> WOULD AGREE 100% WITH WHAT SHE'S SAYING THAT THE EXECUTION THE POTENTIAL FOR VERY.
SOPHISTICATED UM MANY DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS FOR THESE PROJECTS THAT ALL HAVE A WHOLE HOST OF THINGS THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH UM, YOU KNOW, OFTEN UH THE MOST SUCCESSFUL
OVERALL ARE THE ONES THAT THERE'S SOME KIND OF A PARTNERSHIP AND A SHARING OF RESOURCES AND EXPERTISE TO KIND OF EXECUTE THAT. UM, AND ANYTHING THAT CAN BE
PROMOTING THAT AND BUILDING TRUST BETWEEN PARTIES IS IS AND THAT INCLUDES THE PUBLIC SECTOR. TO NOT JUST THIS THAT IS IS IS GOING TO MAKE EVERYTHING BETTER.
WE'RE RIGHT NOW WORKING WITH. DEVELOPER ANOTHER EMERGING DEVELOPER WHO IS IN THE QUEUE AND WE'RE PROVIDING THEM SMALL BUSINESS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE RIGHT AS ANOTHER WAY TO SPUR
THAT DEVELOPMENT, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH THEIR PLANS, WE'RE LOOKING AT WHERE THERE MIGHT BE GAPS, HOW THEY TIGHTEN UP. WE'RE CALLING THEIR BANKS, WE'RE CALLING THEIR ARCHITECTS ,WE'RE CALLING THEIR CONTRACTORS AND WE'RE CALLING
B.S. ON SOME THINGS THAT DON'T NEED TO BE IN THERE RIGHT TO TIGHTEN THAT DEAL UP AND GET IT TO THE TO THE FINISH LINE. WE'RE WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT. ANOTHER PROJECT.
THAT AGAIN WE CAN WE CAN HELP IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS EVEN IF IT'S NOT BRINGING. ACTUAL YOU KNOW, CASH. RESOURCES. THERE'S A LOT OF EXPERIENCE. UM THAT CAN. BE LEVERAGED.
I THINK TO THE BERKELEY FLATS EXAMPLE IS UH AN EXAMPLE OF WHERE THE MARKET RATE. >> COULDN'T. SUPPORT THE EXISTING AFFORDABILITY AS APPROVED. IT WAS A CLASSIC LIKE 8020 MARK
AT AFFORDABLE SO THAT DEVELOPER FAILED AND THEY HAD TO GET OUT AND JPA DC WHICH OF COURSE COULD COME IN AND SAY WHY DON'T WE CONVERT THIS TO 100% AFFORDABLE AND USE SUBSIDIES TO
MAKE THIS WORK? WHICH IS A GREAT THING RIGHT? BUT THAT REVOLVED AROUND ARPA MONEY AND SHEILA'S MONEY AND ALL THESE DIFFERENT SOURCES THAT MIGHT NOT BE THERE ANYMORE.
THE THE PROJECT THAT ONE WE WE DO WITH JPA DC WAS BENEATH ARTICLE 80 WAS A NINE UNIT PROJECT THAT SUBSIDIZED EIGHT AFFORDABLE UNITS BECAUSE WE BOUGHT TWO SITES AND GAVE THEM
ONE SITE AND SO IT WASN'T A REQUIREMENT BUT IT'S AN EXAMPLE RIGHT? SO I THINK THE PROBLEM WITH THE IDP BEING IMPLEMENTED INTO LAW IS IT'S SO STRINGENT AND IT'S
SO DIFFICULT SOMETIMES TO GET AROUND AND IF IT'S GIVEN SOME FLEXIBILITY ESPECIALLY I THINK TO WHAT MONIQUE AND SHEILA WAS TRYING TO SAY, YOU MIGHT FIND THAT YOU HAVE A DEVELOPER. ANY DEVELOPER BUT ME HAS AN
EXAMPLE WITH TORONTO I MIGHT BE ABLE TO SAY LOOK, YOU KNOW THIS HYPOTHETICAL 50 UNIT BUILDING IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE TEN AFFORDABLE UNITS BUT WHY DON'T WE JUST KIND OF CHECK FOR $4
MILLION BECAUSE TO RHONDA HAS SOMETHING READY TO GO A BLOCK AWAY LIKE THERE HAS TO BE MORE ABILITY TO CROSS UH COLLATERALIZE EACH OTHER. OTHERWISE IT'S JUST THEY ALL
GET STUCK AND CLEARLY THE ARPA MONEY'S GONE. M0 IS PROBABLY OUT OF MONEY I'M ASSUMING SO THE BUYOUT SOUNDS WORSE THAN IT IS AND I THINK THAT YOU KNOW, IT COULD HELP TO
REPLENISH THAT FUND WHICH WOULD THEN ALLOW ALL THESE, YOU KNOW, REAL SEASONED CBDCS TO DO AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT CLIPS OF 40 UNIT 50 UNIT BUILDINGS AS
OPPOSED TO TWO HERE, THREE HERE FOR THERE I THINK IT'S THE ONLY WAY RIGHT. YOU GOT TO GET THESE THINGS MOVING AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW YOU CAN DO IT WITH NO MONEY. SO I THINK THAT WILL BE THE SIMPLEST WAY TO TARGET.
OF OPTIONS. YEAH YEAH YEAH THIS PANEL HONESTLY IN IZED TERMS YOU'VE TRIGGERED A LOT OF VARIANCES QUESTIONS. YES.
UM WHERE I WANTED TO ASK YOU HOW KIND OF LIKE A THEORETICAL ONE WAY HOW OFTEN DO YOU FIND YOURSELVES IN ROOMS TOGETHER. IS THERE THIS IS ME ASKING YOU GENERALLY LIKE HOW MANY HOURS
IS THERE ANY OPPORTUNITIES OTHER THAN A PHONE CALL OR LIKE A ONE OFF PROJECT? IS THERE ANY I'M THINKING LONG TERM HERE I'M THINKING ABOUT LIKE HOW CAN WE ENSURE THAT THESE CONVERSATIONS ARE HAPPENING OUTSIDE OF A CITY
COUNCIL HEARING? BECAUSE WHAT I'M SEEING IS THAT THERE'S A LOT OF SYNERGY AMONGST YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND DIFFERENT BUT I THINK THE OVERALL GOAL IS THE SAME IS HOW DO WE BUILD MORE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, HOW DO WE BUILD MORE HOUSING, HOW DO WE GET OUT OF THIS CRISIS THAT WE ARE IN? AND I THAT'S WHAT I'M SEEING AS THE OVERALL MESSAGE THAT YOU'RE ALL GIVING JUST IN DIFFERENT WAYS. SO I WANTED TO GENUINELY ASK
YOU THAT HOW DO YOU FIND YOURSELVES HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS OUTSIDE OF THIS HEARING? I MEAN THE SHORT ANSWER IS NO. I MEAN NOT NOT OFTEN ENOUGH. UM, I THINK I THINK THAT WHAT TENDS TO HAPPEN IS PEOPLE TEND
TO GET INVOLVED IN A PROJECT AND GET FOCUSED ON HOW THEY EXECUTE THERE AND THEY DON'T LOOK MORE BROADLY OR IT'S HARDER TO TO LOOK AT IT THAT WAY. UM, AND THAT'S WHERE CITY COUNCIL PEOPLE CAN BE A REAL
RESOURCE. >> TO. SAY HEY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO DO AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION PREVIOUSLY HEY, THIS IS THE NUMBERS. THIS IS THE CONSTRUCT. LIKE WE'RE BEING TRANSPARENT LIKE.
WE NEED TO DO A BUYOUT TO MAKE THIS WORK BUT WE WE CAN MAKE THAT WORK AND WE CAN BE MORE IMPACTFUL WITH THOSE DOLLARS AND GET MORE VALUE OVERALL FROM AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING
PERSPECTIVE IF WE PARTNER BUT HEY LET'S LET'S. >> LET'S LET'S LET'S LOOK AT THIS A LITTLE MORE BROADLY. DOES THIS NEED TO BE. >> RIGHT NEXT DOOR? DOES THIS NEED. IT HAVE TO BE IN A HALF A MILE. DOES IT CAN IT BE A. THREE QUARTERS. >> OF A MILE? UM, YOU KNOW JUST TO HAVE MORE
OPTIONS AND LESS. RIGIDITY ABOUT. >> THAT OR TO KNOW WHAT IS. ABLE TO BE EXECUTED OR NOT. >> SO THERE'S SOME MYSTERY SOMETIMES AROUND LIKE WHERE WHERE THOSE LINES ACTUALLY ARE UM IT'S COMPLICATED.
THERE'S A LOT OF LAYERS TO ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT THINGS TO KNOW WHEN YOU'RE READY, WHEN THINGS HAVE BEEN PREVENTED, WHEN YOU KNOW WHEN WHEN WHEN WHEN OPPORTUNITIES HAPPEN. BUT IT'S JUST GOOD TO KNOW. >> HEY LOOK BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER.
YEAH AND AND IN OUR WORLD RIGHT NOW WE NEED MORE PEOPLE BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER. YEAH I THINK WE WOULD ALL AGREE ABOUT THAT. BUT THE CITY COUNSELORS COULD BE THE MATCHMAKERS. YEAH, BECAUSE YOU GUYS ARE THE ONES WHO KNOW ALL THESE PARTIES
THAT MIGHT NOT KNOW EACH OTHER. I MEAN JAMAICA PLAIN IS UNUSUAL. THERE'S LIKE THREE REALLY STRONG CDC WHO BUILD THE MOST AFFORDABLE UNITS IN THE CITY. RIGHT. BUT I THINK THERE'S CDC IS IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD SO EVERY
COUNSELOR MUST KNOW THIS. AND I THINK IT PROBABLY WOULD BE SMART TO BRING THEM IN EARLY AND MATCHMAKE WITH THEM PRIVATE DEVELOPERS ETC.. YEAH I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU. YES. >> SO HOW DO YOU ACTUALLY GET
PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS DONE LIKE SO FOR EXAMPLE THE CITY SAID THEY WERE COMMITTED TO REDUCING PERMITTING TIME BY 50% AND THEY'VE GOTTEN 26%. BUT HOW MUCH DO THEY CONSULT UM
THE DEVELOPERS WHO ARE TRYING TO USE THE PROCESS FOR INPUT AS TO WHAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED AND UH, YOU KNOW, THE ZONING REFORM SOMEBODY WANTS TO FIX THIS 1400 PAGE ZONING DOCUMENT THAT'S A
GREAT IDEA WITH 4000 PAGES. HOW DOES IT GET. TO YOU KNOW. HOW DOES. >> IT HOW. DOES IT ACTUALLY HAPPEN UNLESS YOU ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, CONSULT WITH THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RIGHT OR RUNNING HEADLONG INTO IT.
AND WOULD IT BE, YOU KNOW, IN THE EGIS OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO PULL TOGETHER DEVELOPERS ROUNDTABLE TO TALK ABOUT THOSE THINGS? RIGHT. YEAH. THAT'S KIND OF WHERE I WAS
HEADED TOWARDS BECAUSE WHAT I'M SEEING IS THAT THERE IS A MAYBE NOT INTENTIONALLY BUT A LACK OF COMMUNICATION AMONGST EVERYONE THAT IS AROUND AT LEAST THE ONES ESPECIALLY HERE
TODAY THAT YOU ALL UM BUT THEN OUT OF A BROADER COMMUNITY THAT'S OUT THERE THAT I KNOW IS PROBABLY FACING A LOT OF THE CHALLENGES AND QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL HAVE HERE TODAY AND AS THE CHAIR OF HOUSING FOR ME,
HOW DO I MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT I THINK I TOLD UM, MISS ELLIS EARLIER WHERE MAYBE WE JUST DON'T DO COUNCIL HEARINGS. WE WE HAVE WORK IN SESSIONS. MAYBE WE HAVE POLICY BRIEFINGS
UM, AND BRING A LOT OF PEOPLE TO THE PRIVATE DEVELOPERS, CDC, UM POLICY EXPERTS INTO THE INTO THE TABLE SAY WHAT ARE THE GAPS? AND I THINK WE HAVE TO DO THAT WITH CHIEF DILLON'S DEPARTMENT
AS WELL. WE HAVE TO DO THAT WITH HONESTY AS WELL. UH, EVERYONE HAS TO BE IN THAT CONVERSATION. SO. UH. >> TO COUNCILOR CULPEPER POINT, I THINK THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MORE INFORMATIVE HEARINGS THAT I'VE BEEN A PART OF IN MY THREE YEARS AS A CITY
COUNCILOR. IT'S JUST AND I DON'T THINK IT'S A SURPRISE BECAUSE HOUSING IS THE TOPIC THAT IS ON EVERYONE'S MIND GOT IF YOU DON'T HAVE A ROOF OVER YOUR HEAD OR ONE THAT YOU CAN
AFFORD, YOU CAN'T THINK ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE. IT IMPACTS YOU AS A RESIDENT. YEAH LIKE IT JUST IT IMPACTS EVERYTHING. SO. I DON'T WANT TO BE TO LIKE
THEORETICALLY YOU'RE JUST I'M LEAVING INSPIRED HERE WITH SOME IDEAS THAT I THINK WE SHOULD REALLY. EXPLORE BUT I KNOW THAT UM WE'VE BEEN HERE FOR ALMOST FOUR HOURS FOR A LITTLE OVER FOUR
HOURS. COUNCILOR WEBER, DO YOU HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS? I HOPE NOT. I'M RUNNING OUT OF MICHAEL JACKSON. >> SO I'M UH. UM YEAH, I. JUST I I REALIZED NO NO, I
DON'T I DON'T HAVE I'M NOT GOING TO ASK YOU ANY MORE QUESTIONS. I DO. FEEL LIKE WE WE HAVE A LOT OF. WORK TO DO. UH, AND I KNOW YOU KNOW, I FILED THIS HEARING ORDER BECAUSE. THIS WAS A QUESTION.
>> THAT WAS COMING UP AND, YOU KNOW, I FELT LIKE SOME PEOPLE HAD THE ANSWERS BUT I DEFINITELY DIDN'T HAVE ANY OF THE ANSWERS. SO LIKE. I YOU KNOW, I. >> FEEL LIKE THIS IS GOING TO BE AN ONGOING CONVERSATION AND. HOW HOW TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS I HOPE WE CAN DO
SOMETHING. WE ARE THE LEGISLATIVE BODY. I MEAN WE DON'T REFORM THE ZONING CODE AND STUFF IN IT BUT I YOU KNOW, COUNCILOR CULPEPER HAS FILED UH, ORDINANCE. CHANGES OR. >> RULE CHANGES OR HEARING
ORDERS THAT TOUCH ON ALMOST EVERYTHING WE'VE TALKED ABOUT. OTHER COUNCILORS HAVE TO. SO I THINK WE HAVE THERE'S MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS. UM, AND SO I REALLY YOU KNOW, I
RESPECT EVERY I WANT MY SHOUT OUT AS TO MY STAFF WHO ASSEMBLED THIS UH, PANEL UH GREAT JOB. UM, AND UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK I'M I'M SURE EVERYONE HERE COULD GO.
>> ON FOR A LITTLE LONGER. >> I JUST, YOU KNOW. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING IN AND SITTING HERE FOR HOURS AND THEN, YOU KNOW, COMING UP WITH REALLY, YOU KNOW, COGENT RESPONSES TO THE WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AND
AND THANK THANKS FOR MAKING YOUR VOICES HEARD. THANK YOU CHAIR. . >> THANK YOU. UM, COUNCILOR CULPEPPER, ANY CLOSING REMARKS? THANK YOU TO. MY COLLEAGUE.
UH, AND MR CHAIR COUSIN. IT'S, UM AND MR CHAIR, UH, THIS THIS HEARING HAS BEEN A THRILLER.
I GET A LOT. >> AND, UH, MISS ELLIS, UH, MY COLLEAGUE COUNCIL WEBER AND I WERE FIGHTING THE OTHER NIGHT
OVER A 26 WHOSE DISTRICT WAS IN AND SO LOOK, IF HE WANTS A 26, HE CAN HAVE IT AS LONG AS WE CLAIM YOU FOR DISTRICT SEVEN.
SOUTH AND BORN AND BRED. AND LET ME JUST CLOSE WITH THIS. WE HEARD SHEILA DILLON TALK ABOUT A TASK FORCE AND WE DID TALK ONE AND I THINK THIS IS
MAYBE THE START OF THE COUNCIL FORMING SOME KIND OF HOUSING TASK FORCE. YES. TO KEEP THIS DISCUSSION AND THE
IDEAS THE YOU KNOW, WHAT WE HEARD TODAY WAS A LOT OF FIXES TO SOME THINGS THAT HAVE BROKEN. SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU. IT'S UP TO THE CHAIR. UH, I'M HIS VICE.
WHATEVER HE WANTS ME TO DO, I DO. BUT I RECOMMEND TO THE CHAIR THAT WE KEEP THE CONVERSATION AND MAYBE EVEN PUT TOGETHER A COUNCIL TASK. FORCE ON HOUSING TO LOOK AT
SOME OF THESE CRITICAL ISSUES. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THANK YOU AMANI. THANK YOU GUYS. WE'RE GOING TO PUT YOU ON THAT TASK FORCE. MY PLEASURE.
I COULDN'T AGREE MORE WITH BOTH OF MY COLLEAGUE'S REMARKS I I DON'T WANT THIS TO BE THE LAST TIME THAT YOU ALL ARE IN THE SAME ROOM TOGETHER. UM, THERE'S JUST SO MUCH WE CAN LEARN FROM EACH OTHER EVEN JUST
ME SITTING HERE. UM, THIS IS REFRESHING. THIS IS VERY REFRESHING. SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU. I KNOW THAT, UM, BEFORE I CLOSES OUT WE HAVE ONE BRAVE PUBLIC TESTIMONY THAT IS
WAITING ON ZOOM. SO I WANT TO, UM, GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO TO HAVE THEIR TWO MINUTES. UH, I THINK IT'S GEORGE LEE. OKAY. >> YEAH.
IF YOU HAVE TO GO, THAT'S OKAY. AND THEN WE'LL DO CLOSING. WE'RE ALL FREE. >> HELLO? >> CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, GEORGE.
PERFECT. YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES. UH. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. UM, BUT. >> SOMEONE. STRESSED A FEW POINTS. ONE IS WHICH I BELIEVE PEOPLE. BROUGHT UP IS THAT WE. ALL NEED. >> TO FOCUS ON THE HUMAN REALITIES OF WHAT'S GOING ON.
AND A LOT OF TIMES THERE'S TOO MUCH EMPHASIS ON HOW BROKE DEVELOPERS ARE OR WHAT THE CHALLENGES ARE. BUT THE ECONOMY HITS UM, PEOPLE UH, WORKING PEOPLE A LOT HARDER THAN IT DOES TO DEVELOPERS. I KNOW MARK, YOU SPOKE A LOT
ABOUT THAT BUT JUST EMPHASIZING THAT ALSO EMPHASIZING THE NEED FOR COMMUNITY PROCESS. UM, FOR EXAMPLE WITH 3326 WASHINGTON STREET UH, CHIEF DILLON WAS REALLY UM SUPPORTIVE
ACTUALLY REALLY MAKING SURE THAT THE VOICE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL WAS HEARD WHEN THEY EXPRESSED CONCERNS ESPECIALLY AROUND THE VOUCHERS SET ASIDE AND BY UPS THAT WE'RE PLACING ON SITE AFFORDABILITY.
UM, BUT I DO WANT TO CORRECT THE RECORD THAT THERE ACTUALLY WAS NO PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND NO, UM, CITY MEETING AFTER AFFORDABILITY CHANGES WERE ANNOUNCED SO THAT I THINK IT WAS AN UNINTENTIONAL MISSED. BUT THERE JUST NEEDS TO BE A
CLEAR POLICY OF GOING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY WHEN THERE'S AFFORDABILITY CHANGES THEN THAT NEEDS TO BE FOLLOWED CONSISTENTLY. UM, BUT THE BIGGEST POINT I WANT TO MAKE IS THAT UM, THE THE NEED TO NOT LOOK AT
REDUCING AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS AND MAKING EXCEPTIONS AS A MAGIC BULLET SOLUTION TO TO MAKING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UM AND THE NEED INSTEAD OF A LARGER PLAN THAT REALLY HAS A LOT
OF SOLUTIONS AS PART OF IT. UM, I KNOW GEORGE MCCARTHY YOU HAD SAID BEFORE YOU CAN'T BUILD YOUR WAY OUT OF A CRISIS, BUT A LOT OF THE TIMES THAT'S WHAT WE OFTEN HEAR IS LIKE, OH, WE NEED TO BAIL OUT THESE DEVELOPERS.
UM, AND IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO TRY TO BE CHANGING REGULATIONS OR MAKING EXCEPTIONS TO CHASE, UH, REALLY RAPIDLY CHANGING MARKET CONDITIONS, INTEREST RATES AND TERRORISTS AND CONSTRUCTION COSTS. UM, FOLKS HAVE ALREADY SAID
THERE'S MUCH BIGGER ISSUES THAN THAT WHEN DEVELOPERS HAVE A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY LIKE FOLKS MENTIONED VALUE ENGINEERING OR CHANGING THEIR FINANCE STRUCTURES. UM, SO INSTEAD WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS REALLY CREATE AND STICK
TO A LARGER PLAN THAT HAS CLEAR GOALS AND PLANS FOR AFFORDABILITY. THIS IS HOW MANY AFFORDABLE UNITS WE NEED. THESE ARE ALL THE SOLUTIONS WE'RE GOING TO USE TO TO GET TO THEM. UM THAT'S WHAT WE NEED NOT JUST TO LIKE LOOK AT THIS
DEVELOPMENT OR THAT DEVELOPMENT OR CHANGING IDP DOWN, UM, TO BAIL OUT DEVELOPERS IN WAYS THAT ARE ONE SIDED BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES WHAT HAPPENS IS WE CUT A DEAL THAT LETS THE DEVELOPER GET AWAY WITH LESS
AFFORDABILITY OR WE HAVEN'T PUT ANYTHING IN PLACE FROM THE ON THE OTHER END TO BOOST AFFORDABILITY. SO WE NEED A LARGER PLAN WITH THE SOLUTIONS THAT PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN ABOUT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU GEORGE APPRECIATE YOUR PUBLIC TESTIMONY.
OKAY. >> UM WITH THAT WE'VE HEARD PUBLIC TESTIMONY. WE'VE HEARD COUNCIL COUNCILOR UM QUESTIONS AND WE ALSO HEARD FROM THE PANELS. I WANTED TO THANK EVERYONE FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WORK
THAT YOU ALL DO. UM, THIS HEARING ON DOCKET NUMBER 0286 IS OFFICIALLY
ADJOURNED.