City Council Committee of the Whole 08-04-26

The City Council Committee of the Whole for Medford, Massachusetts, met on August 4, 2026, to review a detailed presentation on the Affordable Housing Linkage Nexus Study. The study, conducted by Carl Seidman Consulting Services and the city's housing planner, Catherine Buckingham, analyzed the economic impact of nonresidential development on affordable housing demand and recommended a linkage fee to fund affordable housing. The report proposed a fee range of $5 to $8 per square foot of new development, significantly higher than the current $1.70 per square foot fee, to better support the city's affordable housing trust. The council discussed the potential economic impacts of the fee on developers and investors, emphasizing the need to balance revenue generation with maintaining development feasibility. The study also recommended annual fee adjustments based on construction cost indices and a review every five years. The council expressed interest in adopting the recommendations to enhance affordable housing funding while considering market competitiveness.