Housing Advocacy Group: Amazon HQ Not Good Fit For MA

While considered a favorite by many, a housing advocacy group is arguing that Massachusetts has a long way to go before having Amazon's headquarters in the state would be a perfect fit.

Amazon on Thursday selected Boston as one of 20 finalists for its new headquarters after officials in the city lobbied heavy to lure the retail giant to consider them. Somerville, too, is still being considered.

But does the housing market in Massachusetts effect its position for bringing big business into its cities?

Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA), which is considered the leading statewide housing policy organization in the Bay State, issued a statement shortly after the Amazon announcement.

“Amazon’s choice of Massachusetts as a headquarters finalist is a testament to our best-in-the-nation workforce, but right now, we don’t have enough homes for the tens of thousands of workers Amazon would bring," said Rachel Heller, CEO of the Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association, in a statement. "Our housing shortage is already pricing some of our current workers out of the housing market. We are just not building enough new housing to welcome Amazon, or to support the hundreds of other companies that are moving to Massachusetts or expanding in our state.”

Amazon whittled down 238 applicants for its HQ2 to 20 finalists, a list that includes Boston and other heavy hitters like New York and Los Angeles, as well as dark horses such as Montgomery County, MD. Boston was the only location in New England that has made it this far.

“If we want to win the Amazon headquarters and support continued economic growth, Massachusetts needs aggressive action to build more homes at every income level,” continued Heller. “Right now, housing is at the top of the legislative agenda, and the Amazon news makes it even more important that the Legislature pass both the housing bond bill and strong housing production and zoning legislation that will encourage new housing in communities across the state.”

Mike Carraggi contributed to this report.

Photo via Shutterstock