I’m writing to encourage Town Meeting to approve Article 33. We know there is a 200,000-housing unit shortage in Massachusetts, driving the next generation to move away from the state. Teachers, police, and many other workers can’t afford to live here. Many of our kids can’t afford to live here.
Parcel 68-44 (Lowell & North Streets) is the best opportunity we have for immediate (4 – 6 years to develop) addition of some 35 – 45 units. This 3.12-acre land was given to Lexington by the State 46 years ago.
None of the other 298 properties that the Affordable Housing Trust considered are presently available and feasible to develop. Three recently investigated are currently used for Town swing space (171-173 Bedford Street for 10 years or more), or parking for the Center (Depot Lot and the lot behind 1701-1703 Mass. Ave.)
State and federal funding is a great opportunity to fund this all-affordable project. I serve on the board of a foundation that contributes to non-profits that build affordable housing. I have seen towns contribute between 1% to 15% of the project’s cost. This is the way to leverage the Town’s funds without funding 100% of the cost.
I have heard concerns from neighbors about the distance from the center, the lack of transportation, traffic, parking, and the lack of sidewalks on one side of Lowell Street. Affordable Housing developers who respond to the RFP take all those factors into account to ensure that they fill the apartments quickly to make their financing work. They understand that 92 applicants for 4 units at Fairview and 176 applicants for 6 units at Farmview (on Lowell Street), demonstrate a pressing need for housing. And many of those issues (sidewalks, traffic, transit) may be addressed over the 4 – 6 years it takes to develop this property. There is adequate space for cars, even leaving 25% of the parcel for the wetland buffer.
I have heard concerns about the size and appearance of the development. But height will be limited to 40’ and splitting the project into 2 or more buildings will help with the design. (All of the buildings my foundation funded are appropriate for their neighborhood).
All of the projects the Affordable Housing Trust cited in their report did not require a second Town Meeting approval. That is important because many Affordable Housing developers won’t respond to an RFP before the property is designated for affordable housing. Having Town Meeting approve Article 33 will ensure the best and most responses. Let’s see who responds to the RFP and what they recommend for the buildings. The Select Board needn’t accept a bad response to the RFP.
The Conservation Committee supports housing here, as do the Tree Committee, Sustainable Lexington, the Planning Board, the Recreation Committee, the Lexington Commission on Disabilities, the Capital Expenditures Committee, Lexington Housing Authority, Lexington Housing Partnership Board, and LexHAB. So do Representatives Michelle Ciccolo and Ken Gordon. Please join us in supporting Article 33.