Somerville, Massachusetts is trying to avoid unfair displacement of long-time residents, revitalizing in an inclusive, equitable manner.
One of the less controversial policies would tweak the city’s inclusionary zoning policy, requiring developers to include more affordable units in any development larger than eight units.
Currently, the policy demands 12.5 percent of units in a new development be kept available for low- or moderate-income residents and at that level, its impact has been relatively negligible, creating only 165 units of affordable housing over the last 24 years with another 252 on the way at Assembly Row, part of transit-oriented-development project now under construction in Assembly Square.