Town of Arlington, Fair Housing Action Plan (July 2021)

Citation: Town of Arlington, Fair Housing Action Plan (July 2021)
Jurisdiction: Arlington (municipal)
Source: Official source
Original Source: https://www.arlingtonma.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/57214/637641171662530000 ↗

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Not all pro-development zoning advances fair housing goals. However, the anti-development history embedded
in Arlington’s Zoning Bylaw helped to maintain a system of racial exclusion that was created and perpetuated in
the early- and mid-20th century by restricting housing supply. Though Arlington’s population of non-White
residents grew between 1970 and 2017 (from 1% to 22%), the proportion of non-White residents remains
below the regional average (31%).23
Assessment: The legacy of Arlington’s past exclusionary practices is embedded in the town’s urban form and in
laws that remain on the books. Addressing that legacy will require ongoing community conversation and
openness to disagreement, and reforming laws on the basis of inclusion. Beyond this legal legacy, there is also
the reputational legacy Arlington carries due to its history in the region. Arlington will need to demonstrate its
proactive commitment to fair housing and a culture of inclusion, in order to overcome perceptions of the
community as exclusive or exclusionary.

23 US Decennial Census, 1970; American Community Survey, 2013-2019 5-year estimates

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Arlington Fair Housing Action Plan