Mayor Thomas M. Menino

Recognizing the importance of affordable housing for all of Boston's residents, Mayor Menino made the creation of affordable housing a top priority in 1999 and boosted housing starts by 135%. The following year, Mayor Menino implemented Leading the Way, a comprehensive housing strategy that directed city departments to sell vacant land for housing development, increased housing funding by selling surplus city buildings, and worked to keep affordable housing from going market rate.

The highly successful three-year plan led to the city's permitting more than 7,900 new units of housing, 2,200 of which are affordable; rehabilitating more than 1,000 vacant public housing units; and preserving more than 3,100 affordable rental units from going to market-rate rents.

In 2004, Mayor Menino launched a new, four-year housing plan, Leading the Way II, which set out new, ambitious housing targets. Leading the Way II will conclude in June 2007.