Chelsea Council Mandates 70% Local Preference for New Housing Lottery

The Chelsea City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to prioritize local residents in the city's upcoming affordable housing lottery. The new rule requires that 70 percent of units in the centralized waitlist be reserved for eligible Chelsea residents, subject to state and federal fair housing laws.

Councilor-at-Large Kelly Garcia introduced the motion. She stated that the measure is a key part of her effort to maintain affordability so that families can continue to live in the city. Garcia said her primary goal as a councilor is to balance economic development with housing options for working-class families. "Many of us in the community have shared how important it is to keep the fabric of the city, and by doing so, it is prioritizing our Chelsea families to stay in the city of Chelsea," she said.

City Manager Fidel Maltez explained that the local preference ties into a recently proposed centralized lottery system for all inclusionary zoning units. He noted that the 70 percent figure provides the maximum benefit to residents while minimizing legal risk. Maltez added that developments fully funded by the city, such as the recent project at 55 Heard St., are exempt from state requirements and can offer 100 percent preference to Chelsea residents.

Maltez referenced a recent report on the new waitlist concept, which is managed by the Chelsea Housing Authority. He reported that feedback from developers and residents has been positive. "The feedback has been tremendous, it has been positive, both by the development community and our residents," Maltez said. He described the new preference as a major improvement after consulting with city lawyers and state officials.

Councilors Leo Robinson and Calvin T. Brown both voted in favor of the motion. However, they expressed a desire to establish clear safeguards for the process. Both councilors want to ensure that applicants claiming Chelsea residency meet specific minimum residency requirements before gaining priority on the list.

The council's action directs the city manager to work with the Chelsea Housing Authority to implement the preference. The order allows for the maximum percentage permitted by applicable state and federal law, provided that appropriate fair housing safeguards and required approvals are in place.