The high cost of housing in Brookline creates immense challenges for young professionals  and for families of all ages, who cannot find or afford suitable housing. For seniors living on a fixed income and others, persistent upward pressure on real estate taxes creates serious financial strain.

Likewise, Brookline’s budget is also strained by insufficient property taxes coming from new development in Brookline, whether commercial or residential. According to the Economic Development Advisory Board as well as the Economic Development and Long Term Planning division of the Planning Department, mixed-use development near transit is the best path to increasing the Town's revenue.

If we are to continue to thrive as a community, we need to allow -- and encourage -- the creation of more homes of all types. Over 70 percent of Brookline’s revenue comes from property taxes. Making more housing available for residents of Brookline will spread the tax base across more properties and relieve financial pressure on current residents.

What I’ve Accomplished

In 2023, I was a leader in building consensus for the MBTA Communities Act, which:

• Modernized our zoning code along Harvard Street to allow mixed use development
• Complied with the state mandate to allow necessary housing near transit
• Streamlined the creation and upgrade of affordable housing for over 200 new residences along Walnut and High streets
• Incentivized housing development along Brookline Avenue.

Ultimately, after months of careful negotiations, eighty-four percent of Town Meeting members voted in favor of the MBTA-CA Consensus Warrant article. Neither of the other two candidates running for Select Board supported its passage.

Brookline has been rightly lauded for enacting meaningful zoning changes to comply with the MBTA-CA, and I am proud of the role that I played in their enactment.

What I Envision for Brookline Housing

Finding the right balance of mixed use development, open space and complete streets for the areas identified in the Housing Production Plan as well as larger parcels along our main transit corridors (such as Route 9, Beacon Street, and Commonwealth Avenue) would:

• Maintain and enhance all Brookline’s neighborhoods
• Spread the tax base and relieve financial pressure on current residents
• Add deed-restricted affordable homes through our Inclusionary Zoning laws, making housing more accessible
• Achieve this work while responding to our changing climate and striving to become a more equitable community

I will work to uncover and take advantage of opportunities to make living in Brookline more affordable and accessible.