First Citizens Pledges $6.5B to MA, CA Community Investments
Silicon Valley Bank’s buyer announced the grants and lending set-asides after community groups and housing advocates raised fears investments SVB promised before its failure would be lost.
Kriesberg to Leave MACDC for MassINC
Joe Kriesberg, the long-time leader of the Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations, plans to leave his role at the end of the year to become CEO of MassINC, a Boston-based think tank that plays a prominent role in state political life.
The Other Barrier to Development
Some residents’ opposition to multifamily housing frequently dominates headlines, but developers say understaffed and fragmented town hall bureaucracies are just as big a problem in Boston suburbs.
Housing Investments, Everett Stadium in Limbo as Session Ends
Hundreds of millions of dollars in housing investments are in limbo after state legislators held off on finalizing a popular economic development bill Sunday night.
Financing Boost Sought For Entrepreneurs Of Color
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Massachusetts has provided “unprecedented support” and “unprecedented access to capital” to entrepreneurs of color, MassINC research director Benjamin Forman told lawmakers Tuesday.
ARPA Money Can Help Fund Housing
I applaud Gov. Charlie Baker for proposing $1 billion in new funding for new rental and homeownership opportunities. At the same time, we also must seize this opportunity to invest in our existing housing stock to make it more affordable.
Community Groups Watch for Effects of Mergers
The mergers and acquisitions transforming the Massachusetts banking industry this year will also have a significant effect on another group: the community development organizations that partner with banks on affordable housing and lending programs.
Walsh Raised Bar on Housing Production
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh’s pro-housing agenda delivered benefits to the city but critics say Walsh missed opportunities to make development more equitable and address the transportation and climate change crises.
Industry Group Urges Caution on Boston Development Fees
Commercial real estate trade group NAIOP-MA is urging Boston officials to be cautious as they weigh a proposal to nearly double development fees.
COVID-19 Aid Deal Includes $25B for Renters, Eviction Moratorium Extension
Massachusetts renters and their landlords will get some measure of relief from a $900 billion federal COVID-19 aid package agreed to by congressional negotiators Sunday night.
Housing Developers Warn of Risks to Projects
Housing developers warn that the effects of the coronavirus pandemic could trigger penalty clauses that threaten the completion of projects and require state and federal intervention.
Help for Gateway Cities’ Retail Environments
In Gateway Cities, retail vacancy presents a major challenge. Older buildings lack modern infrastructure and rarely conform to current codes. Convincing building owners to make costly upgrades is difficult. Fortunately, Massachusetts has little-known tools that are just right for this job.
Transfer Tax Boost for Climate Change Gets Hearing on Beacon Hill
The members of the real estate industry found themselves on opposite sides of a conversation on Beacon Hill Tuesday about how to come up with enough money to help Massachusetts communities prepare for climate change.
Cambridge Thinks Big About Housing Production
Cambridge is considering a bold step designed to boost its affordable housing inventory: allow developers to build taller buildings anywhere in the city if they agree to build only 100 percent income-restricted units.
Guest Post: Maximize Your Year-End Charitable Donations With the CITC
Today’s guest column comes from the Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations with a call for year-end donations to benefit local CDCs
Sunsetting Tax Credit Could Be Extended Through Housing Bill
The state’s community investment tax credit helped generate $11 million in donations in 2016, and with a year-end deadline approaching, backers expect a similar total for 2017.
