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Advocacy

Strengthening the industry through advocacy.

NAIOP represents the interests of the commercial real estate industry at the federal, state, and local levels. Through regulatory, legislative, and judicial advocacy, NAIOP works to advance economic development, strengthen communities, and ensure that issues facing the industry are understood by leading policymakers.

Interested in shaping NAIOP’s advocacy work? NAIOP members are encouraged to join the Government Affairs Committee. For more information, contact Anastasia Daou, NAIOP’s VP of Policy & Public Affairs.

Click here to download our 2023 Government Affairs accomplishments.

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Advocacy News

Mayor Wu Announces Proposed Changes to Linkage and Inclusionary Development

By Anastasia Nicolaou | December 15, 2022

On December 15, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu announced a set of proposals to make substantial changes to the City’s Inclusionary Development Policy (IDP) and the commercial Linkage Policy. The announcement also previewed the City’s intent to review proposed changes to the Article 80 permitting process with the goal of implementing clear timelines and predictability for projects.  

EPA Announces Implementation of Residual Designation Authority for Stormwater Discharges in Massachusetts Watersheds

By Anastasia Nicolaou | September 14, 2022

On September 14, the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced new efforts designed to oversee currently unregulated stormwater runoff in the watersheds of the Charles, Neponset, and Mystic Rivers.

Rent Control Is Not the Answer to Our Housing Crisis

By Tamara Small | September 12, 2022

Rent Control Is Not the Answer to Our Housing Crisis Decades of Research Shows Its Harm By Tamara Small | This column originally appeared in Banker & Tradesman on September 11, 2022 In July, yet another report was issued highlighting the housing crisis in Massachusetts. The Housing Underproduction Report examined markets throughout the country and…

NAIOP ADVOCACY ALERT: Climate Bill Enacted; BPDA Implements DEI Policy; New Zoning Rules for MBTA Communities Released

By Anastasia Nicolaou | August 11, 2022

NAIOP ADVOCACY ALERT: Climate Bill Enacted; BPDA Implements DEI Policy; New Zoning Rules for MBTA Communities Released Support for our Advocacy Alerts is Generously Provided By: Serlin Haley, LLP and Pierce Atwood, LLC  GOVERNOR BAKER SIGNS CLIMATE BILL This afternoon, Governor Baker signed An Act Driving Clean Energy and Offshore Wind. Throughout the legislative process,…

Fossil Fuel Bans Are Not the Solution to Our Climate Crisis

By Tamara Small | June 22, 2022

The news is dire. On an almost daily basis, new reports are issued which illustrate the need for immediate action to address a monumental threat to public health and safety, the environment and economic development: climate change. Sea level rise, increased storms and precipitation and rising temperatures will affect all residents and business owners in Massachusetts. The time to act is now.  

Transfer Taxes Tempt, But Would Only Worsen Housing Crisis: City Budget Threatened if New Investment Discouraged

By Tamara Small | April 5, 2022

By Tamara Small | This post originally appeared in Banker & Tradesman on April 3, 2022 The shortage of affordable and workforce housing is currently one of the greatest threats to the Massachusetts economy. With rents and home prices continuing to increase, we see more and more of the workforce priced out of the market…

Investing in Water Infrastructure Has to Be at the Top of the List

By Tamara Small | December 23, 2021

When communities invest in water infrastructure, they protect their residents, set up their local businesses for success and create future opportunities for economic investment – as demonstrated by MassBio’s BioReady evaluation. Such investments in Burlington led to 300 new apartment units in one mixed-use development; similar upgrades in Revere resulted in over 200 new units of housing.  

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COVID-19 UPDATE: MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES NEW VACCINE REQUIREMENT FOR CERTAIN INDOOR SPACES IN CITY OF BOSTON

By Anastasia Nicolaou | December 20, 2021

On December 20, 2021, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu announced that starting on January 15, 2022, all individuals 12+ will be required to show proof of one dose of vaccination against COVID-19 in order to enter certain indoor spaces in the City of Boston. Beginning February 15, individuals 12+ will be required to show proof of full vaccination. Workers employed in these locations will also be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Children 5-11 must show proof of one dose of COVID-19 vaccination beginning March 1, and full vaccination beginning May 1.

Lab, Life Science Space Will Only Drive Our Recovery If Nurtured

By Tamara Small | September 28, 2021

The demand for lab and life science space is driving construction all over the commonwealth, and there’s no slowdown on the horizon. Existing vacancies in Boston are at 1.1 percent and the larger market is hovering at 2.5 percent. This lack of supply has caused pricing to skyrocket where other sectors of commercial real estate have stalled. As one example, rents in Watertown hit levels comparable to Kendall Square’s pre-pandemic rents earlier this year. While new construction and lab conversions are up, prices remain high, as demand continues to exceed supply. The majority of new space coming online in 2022 is already committed.

Opinion: The Future of Work Report Misses the Mark

By Tamara Small | July 14, 2021

But there is a big miss in McKinsey’s report. It’s no secret that office space was hard hit by the pandemic — walking in downtown Boston for the past year has been more akin to walking in a ghost town. But McKinsey’s topline conclusion that the demand for office real estate may fall as workers spend more time in residential areas due to hybrid work, uses employer and employee data from before vaccines were available to everyone, and conflates a hybrid work-schedule with the need for less physical space.

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