Recent state legislation removed state preemption of the fees local governments can charge developers, called linkage fees. Boston is poised to act on this new power.

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh has proposed a 42 percent increase in the linkage fees paid by developers of office, lab, and other large commercial buildings in the city.
"The additional money could add tens of millions of dollars a year to city coffers, capitalizing on a life-science building boom to help fund badly needed affordable housing," writes Tim Logan to report the news. "But there also are worries that it could dampen a post-pandemic recovery for construction in Boston, and set a precedent for even higher assessments."
Mayor Walsh was scheduled last week to ask the Boston Planning & Development Agency to increase the linkage fees from $10.81 per square foot to $15.39. The city's linkage fee program was created in 1986 and hiked by 8 percent by Mayor Walsh in 2018, according to a press release from the mayor's office.
Why the sudden increase? The Commonwealth of Massachusetts recently granted the city the power to raise linkage fees more frequently. The same press release includes more: "The proposed increase follows the passage of legislation last month, originally introduced by Mayor Walsh as a Home Rule Petition, to give Boston more flexibility in adjusting Linkage fees. Previously, the BPDA was only allowed to adjust Linkage every three years based on inflation. The new law allows Boston to adjust the required payment and program guidelines, allowing Linkage to be more closely aligned with the market and fund affordable housing and workforce development programs."
As noted by Logan, the linkage fee increase would be one of the final acts of Mayor Walsh before departing to Washington to become the secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor in the Biden administration.
FULL STORY: Boston to big developers: Pay up

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”
The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).

The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns
In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.

Demise of Entertainment Industry Mirrors Demise of Housing in LA
Making movies has a lot in common with developing real estate: producers = developers; screenwriters = architects; directors = general contractors. The similarities are more than trivial. Both industries are now hurting in L.A.

How Public Spaces Exclude Teen Girls
Adolescent girls face unique challenges and concerns when navigating public spaces. We can design cities with their needs in mind.

Proposed Ohio Budget Preserves Housing Trust Fund
The Senate-approved budget also creates two new programs aimed at encouraging housing construction.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)