The massive housing bill passed Tuesday includes policies that explicitly give the Vineyard new ways to develop housing, allow accessory dwelling units by right in certain areas and make special allowances for towns with fluctuating populations. 

As you may know, the transfer fee did not get included in the Affordable Homes Act. We are disappointed, maybe as disappointed as our state senator Julian Cyr, who has tirelessly worked for its passage. 

A proposal to allow cities and towns across Massachusetts to assess a fee on high-end home sales has been left out of a revamped housing bill unveiled by state lawmakers last week. But housing advocates say the idea, which has long been a priority for the Vineyard, is far from dead. 

Gov. Maura Healey’s historic Affordable Homes Act includes a local option transfer fee, a critical step toward achieving the goal of establishing a Vineyard Housing Bank.

Gov. Maura Healey unveiled a $4 billion housing plan Wednesday that includes a local option transfer fee, a provision that Islanders have sought for years to help fight the Vineyard’s housing crisis.

Island housing advocates will return to Boston Tuesday to lobby their support for the local option transfer fee and housing bank bills being reviewed at the State House.

Vineyarders mobilized by the Coalition to Create the Martha’s Vineyard Housing Bank had one mission on Thursday in Boston: to encourage legislators to pass the Island housing bank bill.

More than 200 Islanders are expected to take part in Martha Goes to Beacon Hill on March 23, an event organized by the Coalition to Create the Martha’s Vineyard Housing Bank.

Dozens of bills aimed at increasing affordable housing statewide have been filed since the Massachusetts Legislature entered its 193rd this month, including two that would create the Martha’s Vineyard Housing Bank.