The City of Watertown’s Draft 2026-2030 housing plan puts grim numbers on what we all see everyday. Over the last 5 years, the number of Watertown households that qualify for income-restricted Affordable housing has increased by 23 percent. Roughly 2 out every 5 Watertown households have an income low enough to qualify for Affordable Housing in Watertown, yet there isn’t nearly enough affordable housing for those who need it.
To be sure, many factors influence the cost of construction and the potential for affordable housing. Interest rates and federal trade policy play major roles, here and across the country. But we also have tools at our disposal here in Watertown. It’s time to take a hard look at the policies we do control — particularly our current zoning.
The reality is that in most places across the city, our zoning — the rules that dictate what can be built, where, and by what process — makes it impossibly difficult and expensive for new affordable housing projects to be built. In the few places where our zoning is more permissive, like in Watertown Square, along Arsenal Street, and along Pleasant Street, our policies force non-profit affordable housing developers to compete with well-funded national developers for scarce land. It is a rigged game they cannot hope to win. Because of that, Watertown residents lose.
To build more affordable housing, we need to change the rules of the game. We have the power to give affordable housing developers a leg up. The City has commissioned a study to develop incentives to make it easier to build affordable housing in town. That is only a first step.
The City Council has to turn the results of that study into an Affordable Housing Overlay ordinance and pass it into law.
An Affordable Housing Overlay (AHO) adjusts the underlying regulations in a given neighborhood to make it easier, faster, and cheaper to build income-restricted affordable housing. These adjustments typically focus on height, density, parking, and process — areas where more restrictive zoning laws make building affordable housing impossible.
We’re calling on the City Council to adopt an ambitious, effective Affordable Housing Overlay for Watertown, so that new development in the city serves the needs of ALL residents.
To make sure this is the top priority of our local government, our councilors need to know that affordable housing is important to a broad coalition of residents. You have three ways to make your voice heard:
- Visit our website or stop by our Faire on the Square booth this Saturday to sign the HAW petition that tells the City Council to take action on affordable housing;
- As election season gets underway, make sure candidates know this is a top priority by asking, “Will you join me in supporting an Affordable Housing Overlay ordinance this upcoming term?”
- Advocate to the City Council directly by attending public meetings, writing emails, and making phone calls.
Let’s make sure that our working families, neighbors, and friends can afford to remain in the city we love. Join us in advocating for an Affordable Housing Overlay.
— The Housing for All Watertown Steering Committee
Rita Colafella, Sam Ghilardi, Dan Pritchard, Josh Rosmarin, and Jacky van Leeuwen