Newburyport is facing a housing crisis. As condos take over, apartments and affordable rentals are fading into obscurity. The city’s housing stock is becoming increasingly unaffordable for many residents, and the trend shows no signs of slowing down.
According to a recent report by the Newburyport Affordable Housing Trust, the city has lost hundreds of affordable rental units in recent years, as landlords have converted their properties into high-priced condos. The report found that the number of affordable rental units in the city has decreased by 20% since 2010, while the number of condos has increased by 30%.
The loss of affordable rental units has had a devastating impact on many residents, particularly low-income families and seniors. Many have been forced to leave the city in search of more affordable housing, while others have been forced to double up with family or friends.
The city has taken some steps to address the housing crisis, such as creating an Affordable Housing Trust and passing an inclusionary zoning ordinance that requires developers to include affordable units in new housing projects. But these efforts have been largely ineffective in stemming the tide of condo conversions and rising housing costs.
Many residents and housing advocates are calling on the city to do more to protect affordable rental units and create new affordable housing options. They argue that the city needs to invest more resources in affordable housing and implement stronger tenant protections to prevent landlords from evicting tenants in order to convert their properties into condos.
The housing crisis is a complex and multifaceted issue, and there are no easy solutions. But one thing is clear: if the city does not take action soon, Newburyport will become a city of the rich, by the rich, and for the rich, and the working-class families and seniors who have called the city home for generations will be forced out.