South Shore: Findings + Recommendations
Key Findings
- High Vacancy Masked by Building Density
- Financially Vulnerable Renters
- Opportunity to Grow Homeownership
- Vulnerable Condo Buildings and Owners
- Opportunity to Leverage Public Investment and Planning
The Compact’s Policy Recommendations
The South Shore Community Compact developed the following set of policy recommendations, designed to nurture investment and inclusive community growth in a way that is genuinely balanced, prevents displacement, and provides a structure in which residents’ voices can continue to shape and oversee the future of the South Shore community.
STRUCTURE FOR COMMUNITY VOICE AND OVERSIGHT
To establish a structure for community voice and oversight with partners outside of the neighborhood:
- Implement Structure for a South Shore Coordinating Council
INCLUSIVE GROWTH THAT PREVENTS DISPLACEMENT
To achieve inclusive growth by prioritizing longtime residents and businesses, ensuring they aren’t priced out of the community:
- Provide Resources to Preserve Homeownership
- Preserve and Grow Shared Ownership Opportunities
- Institute a Right to Counsel Outreach Pilot
- Activate First Right of Refusal Programming for Tenants
- Preserve Rental Housing Affordability
- Dramatically Increase Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Wraparound Services
NURTURE INVESTMENT AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY GROWTH
To harness existing momentum, spur community growth through homeownership, and address longstanding residential and commercial vacancies:
- Initiate a Community Marketing Campaign
- Expand Homeownership Initiatives
- Partner with Community Land Trusts
- Stop Tax Breaks for Bad Actors
- Strategically Repurpose Vacant Land in Coordination with Residents