State Rep. Jim Arciero speaks about the Affordable Homes Act in the Massachusetts House of Representatives on June 5, 2024. (COURTESY OF REP. JIM ARCIERO)

Currently, the residents and citizens of Massachusetts are facing an unprecedented housing crisis.

The word “housing” seems to appear in every other headline in New England publications – and rightly so.

Massachusetts is known to have one of the highest affordability-to-homeownership gaps in the country. The average sales price for a single-family home in Massachusetts is about $570,000.

New housing is essential for families looking to buy a home and put down roots. Our vulnerable loved ones want to grow old in their familiar surroundings and live healthy, safe and dignified lives. Workers struggle to afford rent. Not surprisingly, national polls and data show that the housing crisis is at the top of voters' minds.

Cities and towns across the Commonwealth – from the Cape and Islands to the Berkshires – are in great need of rezoning and revitalization. Economic reports show we need to create 200,000 new housing units to keep up with demand and ensure people can stay and work in our state.

As Chair of the Joint Committee on Housing, I am proud to announce that in June the Massachusetts House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the most comprehensive housing bill in our state's history: a $6.5 billion (that's a “B”) investment that could reshape our housing landscape for generations to come, the Affordable Homes Act.

Highlights of the House bill include billions for our 43,000 public housing units and millions in capital appropriations for housing revitalization and construction. The Senate recently introduced its version of the bill with changes to the capital appropriations and policy.

It may be easy to overlook that there is a measure in a monumental bill that could help increase much-needed residential density in our suburbs. It could help us rethink how our housing connects to walkable downtowns, jobs, entertainment (like movie theaters, bowling alleys, restaurants, schools, etc.), and public transportation.

This key measure in the Affordable Homes Act is a 10% tax credit for developers who partner with municipalities to convert office parks into multi-use housing. This measure could be a game changer and create an abundance of housing options across the state and especially in the Merrimack Valley.

The office workforce changed during the pandemic: people stopped going to the office as often and left their cubicles to work from the comfort of their own homes. This led to the abandonment of large office parks and housing shortages across the country, causing people to relocate to more open areas.

The way we work has clearly changed and in response, the way we develop and reuse land must also change.

An example of office park conversion policies being implemented in real time can be found in my district in the city of Littleton. A former IBM campus at 550 King Street was once one of the largest software labs in North America before the company moved its headquarters to Cambridge—and the campus sat vacant amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Chelmsford real estate developer Sal Lupoli, in partnership with the City of Littleton and its citizens, is currently leading a large-scale and multifaceted redevelopment project designed to transform Littleton's housing, employment and cultural landscape.

The project, called King Street Common, is a joint project between the city and the developer with state funding – a prime example of how a public-private partnership can help create critical housing in our region and potentially across the state.

This project has helped spark conversations about policy in Beacon Hill – and will help communities work with developers looking to create more housing for their residents.

Cities like Boston and Worcester, as well as metropolitan areas across New England, are currently discussing converting office space to housing and finding ways to encourage developers to build dense, affordable housing.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu recently spearheaded a downtown office-to-housing pilot program that will convert office space into housing for residents. Governor Healey recently announced $15 million in state funding to support the conversion of 37,000 square feet of office space into 412 housing units.

Neighboring states are also implementing similar measures. The Connecticut State Senate passed a bill this year to allow the conversion of commercial buildings into residential space. Maine is trying to work with developers to repurpose unused land in Portland.

We know it is possible.

With rental vacancy rates at a staggering 1.6%, rising rents, and a lack of alternatives for working professionals, this measure is one of many in the Affordable Homes Act that could help us address this precarious situation while encouraging developers to build more and encouraging communities to upgrade their zones.

To address the housing crisis, we must be willing to think creatively outside the box.

Next comes a laborious process of serious discussions about rezoning, redesigning the appearance of the communities, transportation, financing, appropriate building materials, and democratic and thoughtful leadership and community participation.

There is no other way: we must either build or jeopardize the future of our state's overall well-being and the ability of our residents to stay and live in Massachusetts.

It has been an honor and a great highlight of my political career to help guide the largest housing investment in Massachusetts history through the Massachusetts House of Representatives and, together with leadership and colleagues here on Beacon Hill, hopefully help bring about the necessary changes in our housing landscape to help our citizens find homes and live with dignity.

With courage, perseverance and political will, we can begin to make our cities and towns more affordable for everyone who lives in our great state. It is our duty as legislators to act on behalf of our citizens. This is our opportunity. And we must act.

The goal of creating 200,000 new housing units by 2030 will not be achieved overnight, and the Affordable Homes Act is a great first step in that direction.

James Arciero is a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives in Middlesex's 2nd congressional district, which includes Littleton, Westford, and Chelmsford's 3B, 4, and 5A districts. State Representative James Arciero is the chairman of the Joint Committee on Housing.