Fall is the season for real estate developers in Boston, Massachusetts to apply for significant tax breaks. The aim is to convert office buildings into residential housing. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has proposed this new tax incentive to tackle the issue of empty offices in Boston post-pandemic and to increase foot traffic, which is essential for small businesses in cities to thrive. High rent prices in Boston and other places like New York City have made affordable housing even more crucial.
“One building could potentially create hundreds of new housing units that could include a lot of affordable units,” Mayor Wu told Boston Public Rado hosts during a recent "Ask the Mayor” segment. “Every little bit helps in our housing crisis,” Wu said.
