Pursuant to the authority vested in the City of Somerville by Chapter 527 of 1983, as amended by Chapter 709 of 1989, and Chapter 218 of the Acts and Resolves of 1985, the City of Somerville finds and declares that a serious public emergency exists with respect to the housing of a substantial number of the residents of the City of Somerville. This rental housing emergency has been created by the lack of sufficient new rental housing production, by prolonged increases in housing costs at a rate substantially exceeding increases in personal income, and by increased costs of new housing construction and finance. In addition, the critical undersupply of housing in general within the surrounding region further exacerbates the emergency conditions that exist within Somerville. It has also been created by the effect of conversion of rental housing into condominiums or cooperatives. While these forms of home ownership may constitute an important and positive dimension in addressing the housing needs of the City of Somerville, absent sufficient new rental housing production, such conversion necessarily reduces the stock of rental housing otherwise available. A substantial and increasing shortage of rental housing, especially for the elderly, the disabled, and persons and families of low and moderate income, has been and will continue to be the result of this emergency. Unless the available stock of rental housing, and the tenants who reside therein, receive further protection from the consequences of conversion of said accommodations to condominiums and cooperatives than the law now affords, this rental housing shortage will generate serious threats to the public health, safety, and general welfare of the residents of the city, particularly the elderly, the disabled, and persons and families of low and moderate income. It is therefore necessary that such emergency be dealt with immediately. ( Ord. No. 2019-06 , 3-28-2019 ) Effective on: 3/28/2019 Loading... Sec. 7-62. Title. Sec. 7-62. Title.