Boston City Council Approves $110 Million Housing Accelerator Fund in 10-0 Vote

BOSTON — January 15, 2025 — Boston City Council approves $110 million Housing Accelerator Fund despite process objections from a co-sponsor. The council voted 10-0 Wednesday to appropriate the one-time, non-recurring fund, which will allow the city to take equity stakes in housing projects requiring at least 20 percent income-restricted units, with construction expected to begin within a year and initial units available by 2027 or 2028. Councilor Brian Worrell, chair of Ways and Means, framed the fund as a product of the city's "conservative budgeting and fiscal strength." Co-sponsor Councilor Julia M. Mejia moved to postpone the vote to January 29, arguing that accountability language used "should" rather than "must" and that community input was being bypassed; the motion failed 7-2. The council also held in committee a $6,637,486 Transdev bus driver contract appropriation pending finalization of "work as directed" language, and passed a $421,318 SEIU Local 888 housing office contract and an $860,169.70 MassHire workforce development grant.