News Briefs

Housing legislation hearing

The Boston City Council will hold a hearing at City Hall on housing legislation, a real estate transfer fee, filed by Councilors Lydia Edwards and Kim Janey at 2 p.m. on March 19. The proposal would assess a fee of up to six percent on investor-owned properties sold for more than two million dollars, and would dedicate all proceeds – which could be several hundreds of millions of dollars under the current proposal – to affordable housing. Residents who sell their own home, i.e. owner occupants, would be exempt from the fee and the city would be able to create additional exemptions, such as for homebuyers. The councilors are also proposing a higher fee on properties that are flipped or sold and resold in a short duration.

Suffolk Downs Meeting

Councilor Lydia Edwards will hold upcoming meeting dates on issues related to Suffolk Downs. These sessions are intended to collect input on the current proposal, help comment on the development and help the city identify areas that are not clear in the current plan.

Housing & Affordability – Wednesday, March 13 (EBHS, Room 142) – 6:30  – 8 p.m.

Transportation – Tuesday March 26,, EB Social Center, thirdFloor, 6:30 – 8 p.m.

Economic Development + Good Jobs – Thursday, March 28 – 6:30 – 8 p.m., Umana Academy Auditorium.

Sessions on Homelessness/Recovery Issues and Open Space and Climate Resiliency will be held in April.

For more information, contact Joel Wool, [email protected], 617-635-3200, Office of Lydia Edwards.

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