Walsh Proposes 42% Increase Linkage Fees to Fund Affordable Housing

Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced a 42% increase in the linkage fees collected by large scale commercial developments over 100,000 SF in Boston to support the creation of affordable housing and workforce development programs. The increased rate of $15.39 per SF, of which $13.00 will be dedicated to affordable housing and $2.39 will be dedicated to workforce training, will be brought before the BPDA for approval on Thursday, February 11.

"It is critical that we are leveraging Boston's development market to maximize funding for affordable housing and workforce training while balancing the economic reality of COVID-19," said Mayor Walsh. "By increasing Linkage requirements we will substantially increase revenue streams to fund the affordable housing and workforce training programs that will help our residents recover and thrive in a post-COVID economy."  

Boston's linkage fee program was created in 1986 to specifically fund major affordable housing projects. Following a recommendation for approval by the BPDA Board, the increase must be approved by the Boston Zoning Commission and signed by the Mayor prior to becoming effective.