Chelmsford Achieves 'Housing Choice Community' Status

CHELMSFORD, MA – The Baker-Polito Administration on Tuesday announced two milestones for communities in Massachusetts under the Administration’s Housing Choice Initiative, a comprehensive new effort to create 135,000 new housing units by 2025. The initiative, announced in December 2017, includes a new set of incentives and rewards for municipalities committed to sustainable housing growth in their communities.

Sixty-seven communities, including Chelmsford, were designated as Housing Choice Communities. Technical assistance grants were also awarded to 15 municipalities.

Both announcements support communities in their efforts to substantially increase housing production across the Commonwealth.

“Our Administration’s Housing Choice Initiative aims to maximize collaboration between state agencies, support innovation and data-driven policies, and provide cities and towns across the Commonwealth with tools to drive housing production in their communities,” said Governor Charlie Baker in a statement. “We are pleased to celebrate the first municipalities participating in the program and look forward to working with the Legislature to pass the Housing Choice Initiative to create more housing opportunities across Massachusetts.”

The Housing Choice Initiative is a multi-pronged effort, which includes today’s Housing Choice Designation, new technical assistance through MassHousing, and proposes legislative changes, through An Act to Promote Housing Choices, to deliver smart, effective zoning at the local level, said the announcement from the state.

Communities who received the Housing Choice Designation have produced a total of nearly 60,000 new housing units over the last five years. These 67 communities each have proven track records of pursuing substantial housing production, and are committed to continuing that trend.

In addition to announcing the first Housing Choice Communities, MassHousing announced Planning for Housing Production awards for 15 communities to help municipalities achieve their affordable housing goals and deliver new mixed-income housing in a manner that is consistent with local priorities. These awards are part of MassHousing’s commitment to the Housing Choice Initiative, by making available $2 million in new technical assistance funding.

Photo via Shutterstock

Story by Charlene Arsenault (Patch Staff)