Similar to legislation filed in the summer 2000, this new petition seeks to help further ease the City’s housing crisis by raising linkage fees from $5.49 for housing and $1.09 for jobs to $7.18 and $1.44 respectively. It also shortens from 12 to 7 years the time that neighborhood projects have to pay linkage fees. The timeframe begins with the receipt of an occupancy permit or two years following building permit. Over the past few months, Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) and city officials have been meeting with key legislators on Beacon Hill, including members of the Boston Senate delegation, along with Senator Steven Panagiotakos, Senate Chair of the Committee on Housing and Urban Development and Senator Frederick Berry, to provide greater definition to linkage and mitigation. Senator Marian Walsh, along with Senator Dianne Wilkerson, spearheaded the effort in partnership with City officials to more clearly define the impacts of large-scale development on the surrounding areas and set forth a public process of review and approval.

“Linkage is one of the best tools we have for creating affordable housing in the City,” said Mayor Menino. “I want to thank all the senators for helping to make linkage better and to urge the City Council, which has been our partner in this effort, to pass the Home Rule Petition immediately,” he added.

Chairman Panagiotakos said, "The Boston delegation, Mayor Menino and the BRA are to be congratulated for developing the tools necessary to allow the City to continue to lead the Commonwealth in the production of affordable housing."

"This is one of the most important legislative reforms in the past two decades, facilitating more affordable housing and protecting the taxpayers as well," said Senator Walsh. "The City of Boston and key legislators have reached an agreement regarding the home rule petition to reform the large-scale development process and increase linkage fees. The process is now clearer, certain, and more public."

Senator Robert Travaglini added, "I am pleased that our ongoing discussions have yielded an agreement that both state and city officials can be happy with. With this new product, we have been able to strengthen the definition and process of the city's linkage and mitigation programs, while focusing upon increased public involvement and community benefits. I commend Mayor Menino, Senate President Thomas Birmingham, BRA Director Mark Maloney, Senator Panagiotakos and the Boston State Delegation members for their hard work in putting together an agreement that will benefit the people of Boston and the Commonwealth."

Mark Maloney, Director of the BRA said, “I want to applaud the Mayor’s Linkage Commission; they helped make the program stronger so that more affordable housing will be created in each and every neighborhood of our city. Their dedication is greatly appreciated by both the Mayor and the BRA.”

In October 2000, the Mayor appointed a twenty-seven (27) member commission that represented a mix of residents, housing activists, private developers and city and state officials to review the City’s linkage policy. The Mayor’s Linkage Commission worked with the Boston Redevelopment Authority to consider key issues surrounding linkage, including exaction fees for housing and jobs and payment timelines. It was modeled on the 1983 “Advisory Group on Linkage between Downtown Development and Neighborhood Housing,” which outlined the guidelines that led to the city’s current linkage program.

Out of the 1983 Commission, the Massachusetts Legislature enacted Chapter 371 of the Acts of 1987 authorizing the City of Boston to assess large-scale commercial real estate requiring zoning relief with fees to mitigate rising housing prices caused by economic growth and to provide job training monies.

If approved by the Boston City Council, the revised Home Rule Petition will go to the Massachusetts State Legislature for its approval.