Aaron Gornstein, undersecretary of the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development, started his job a year ago, charged with expanding affordable housing and reducing homelessness. Globe reporter Jenifer B. McKim spoke with him about his first year on the job and his forecast for 2013.
On the Hot Seat
Comments
Several reasons for a lack of affordable housing in MA: Putting lots of undeveloped land under conservation easements, thereby reducing the supply of build able lots. Restrictive zoning regs that up the price of new homes. Platinum grade building codes thar raise construction costs.
Remember all the billions taxpayers spent on our massive state highway system under the Eisenhower administration?
I just wonder why the government doesn't care more for inexpensive housing than highways. There is a reason for this. It is the lobbying powers of the Real Estate industry that does not favor the competition of affordable housing for Americans. Meanwhile, let's build another aircraft carrier or another war.
Unfortunately, the housing situation in Massachusetts is to a great extent due to the lack of a functional and effective State program. The program cited as the prime provider MGL 40B has been around for 44 years and we are ranked as number 47 of the 50 States in housing affordability. Isn't it time we started looking at what other States are doing? In 2010 there was an Initiative Petition placed on the ballot seeking repeal of this failed law, as the organization seeking reform and improvements felt that a fresh approach was needed. They reached this decision after trying through three sessions of the Legislature and hundreds of filed Bills, seeking meaningful improvement, that never emerged from the Housing Committee. This Committee is heavily lobbied by the developer industry that benefits by keeping the existing law. What is wrong with having an affordable unit requirement for all developments? What is wrong with having the developed units deed restricted in perpetuity? What is wrong with requiring a greater percentage of affordable units in the 40B sanctioned projects? What is wrong with having all such projects audited for excessive profits? All of these things exist in many towns but have never gone before the Legislature for debate and a recorded vote. By the way, the current Under Secretary was the director of the non profit agency that has historically opposed all the above stated options, and was the leader of the opposition to the repeal Bill. Do you seriously think our programs are going to get better? Ozark sounds like one of the 40B proponents.