City Council Tables Linkage Proposals, Allows Controversial Debate to Continue

Legislation which would require developers to build low-and moderate-income housing and which would have a major impact on. Harvard's future real estate plans was deadlocked at last night's City Council meeting.

During a marathon, six-hour meeting, councilors voted six to three to table the controversial linkage proposals, when supporters realized I they would not be able to pass the measure last night.

"The votes are not here to pass the proposal," said Councilor David Sullivan, the original sponsor of one of the bills being considered

But Sullivan called the successful motion to table a positive sign because it averted the complete death of linkage.

We're of dead, but we're not alive."

The linkage proposals drew opposition from more than 20 percent of the owners of the land which would fall under the proposal's jurisdiction.

According to state law, such broad opposition--including vocal criticism from Harvard and MIT. Cambridge's two biggest landowners, respectively--means the proposal requires seven votes to pass the nine-member council, not the usual six.

The measure's defeat last night would have prohibited the Council from considering similar proposals for the next two years without approval from the Planning Board

"I don't think anyone would want to be in a position of relying completely on the Planning Board," said Francis Duchay '55, who supports linkage.

Housing Crunch

Sullivan William S. Noble of the Cambridge Rent Control Coalition, and the Community Development Department introduced separate linkage bills as one way of increasing the city's low stock of affordable rental housing.

Sullivan said last summer that linkage would be a mechanism for slowing downs Cambridge's gentrification--the displacement of the city's traditionally socio-economically and racially diverse population.

Councilors Walter Sullivan. Clinton, and Danchay and Alfred E. Vellucci voted against tabling the issue earlier in the meeting They favored instead calling linkage to a final vote and defeating of then.

Even after, the first successful tabling, Walter Sullivan motioned to take the issue off the table. But again supporters were successful in delaying a final vote.

If the linkage proposals are not discussed at next Monday's meeting, they will die. But others will be free to introduce other linkage measures.