Affordable and Abundant Housing for Somerville
Our Current Crisis
Prices have soared and renters, longtime homeowners, and families are struggling to afford to live in our city. Somerville is a wonderful place with many of the benefits that bring people to cities: public transportation, access to good jobs, vibrant arts, culture, and businesses. If we want people to be able to stay here and remain a part of this community, we need to put our commitment to inclusivity and equity into practice. Many of our zoning and housing regulations make building the kind of housing that is affordable difficult and rare. The solution is not technologically or legally difficult—but it requires political will.
So, what do we need to do to make our city affordable and inclusive?
What do we need to do?
Fix the Housing Gap
We need to build more housing throughout the city to drive down rental costs and home prices
Modernize our city zoning to allow for mid-rise buildings in corridors and city squares—in particular low-cost housing around our new transit stations
Push nearby universities to build enough housing for their students, and avoid more college students competing in Somerville’s housing market
Allow more housing modifications, including Accessory Dwelling Units and subdivisions by right, rather than requiring expensive and time-consuming variances and appeals
Recognizing this is a regional issue, we need to be at the forefront of statewide advocacy to require other municipalities of building as well helping us get 400,000 new housing units by 2040 to solve our crisis and anticipate new growth
Stop Displacement
End no-fault evictions, and seal eviction records of those previously effected
Establish emergency price stabilization rules to prevent sudden unwarranted rent increases
Increase the availability of counsel in legal proceedings to aid those entitled to their housing and fair treatment to remain in their housing and avoid discrimination
Mixed-Use Housing
Allow businesses to build housing above their store fronts, unlocking more housing units and additional support for local businesses
Increase the city’s commercial revenue to allow us to lower residential taxes.
Get us closer to our goal of being a 15-minute city by creating more affordable storefront locations for businesses that provide essential services and welcome amenities to residents
Making Somerville affordable is personal for me.
As a renter, a hopeful future homeowner, and a friend of many people I hope to be able to continue to call my neighbors, making our city a place where being able to afford a roof doesn’t mean making tough sacrifices. I will be commited as a Councilor to addressing the systemic and root causues of our unaffordability.
