A neighborhood makeover

By Bennett Gavrish

Almost 90 percent of Newton residents are white, according to the latest census data, and some local realtors are in trouble for forgetting about that other 10 percent.

After two recent studies by local non-profit groups found that many Newton real estate agents discriminated against potential clients, city officials are pressuring realtors to sell and rent property to all qualified buyers.

“Virtually every community has housing discrimination, and Newton is an obvious example,” said Philip Herr, a member of the Newton Fair Housing Task Force. “We conducted the audits and found that there is a very high, but not unusual, amount of unequal treatment.”

In its 2006 audit report, the Fair Housing Center of Greater Boston found discrimination in 45.8 percent of rental tests in Newton. The group designed the tests to determine if realtors discriminated against potential tenants based on their race or ethnicity.

In the tests, a minority couple and a white couple would be sent into a real estate office separately to inquire about the same property, and then they would report back on how they were treated.

The Disability Law Center reported similar results in its 2007 audit of Newton, finding discrimination toward people with disabilities in 48 percent of tests.

Local officials said the tests were an important first step in reducing housing discrimination.

“Newton has been at the forefront of uncovering housing discrimination and taking steps to root it out,” said Jeremy Solomon, the mayor’s spokesman. “While other communities may choose to sweep these issues under the rug, we in Newton decided to take a proactive approach.”

Since the reports were released, the city has educated realtors about the problem with workshops, training sessions and publications. Herr said the city anticipates additional audits in a few years.

Charlie McMillan, a realtor at Coldwell Banker Real Estate in Newton, said his office tries to prevent discrimination by educating its employees, but the same is not true for all local agents.

“The longer a realtor has been in the business, the less likely that sort of behavior will take place,” he said. “But because the entry standards to the industry are so low, some people who harbor inappropriate prejudices will sneak through and become realtors.”

Some housing advocates cite the lack of diversity in Newton as another cause of housing discrimination.

“It is certainly possible that the lack of significant numbers of minorities in the city has contributed to the problem,” said Josephine McNeil, the director of Citizens for Affordable Housing in Newton.

The mayor hopes the efforts to prevent discrimination will create more affordable housing and increase diversity.

“People of differing backgrounds coming together in our city is part of what makes Newton great,” Solomon said. “If we shut our doors on these people, we miss out on attracting a different mix of citizens.”