Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Affordable Housing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Affordable Housing Trust outlines projects, committee backs $201,194 transfer
Summary
The Westborough Affordable Housing Trust presented plans for a 10-unit "HB Cottages" project, subsidy deals that add roughly 241 units to the town's SHI and pilot assistance programs; the Advisory Finance Committee recommended Article 21, transferring $201,194.34 to the Trust.
The Westborough Affordable Housing Trust presented an update to the Advisory Finance Committee on Feb. 3, outlining project commitments, pilot programs and a warrant article that would move $201,194.34 into the Trust to support affordable-housing development.
The Trust's chair, Ed Dane, and trustee Allen Edinburg described the Trust's assets ("about 3,586,000" in cash and properties) and oversight thresholds that require Select Board approval for significant commitments. Edinburg said the Trust has encumbered roughly $1.63 million and currently has available assets of about $1,957,000.
Why it matters: the Trust is advancing several projects and pilot programs that affect the town's Subsidized Housing Inventory (SHI) and immediate housing stability needs. Edinburg said two subsidy projects — a 132‑unit development at 1830 Lyman Street and a conversion at 25 Connector Road — will increase the certified affordable share and together add roughly 241 units to the way SHI is counted by the state.
Edinburg described HB Cottages, a combined project using 6 Beach Street and an extension of 45 High Street, as a potential roughly 10‑unit collection of cottage‑style homes. He said the Trust's current commitment to site prep will allow an RFP to go out this spring to determine development costs and subsidy needs. He also flagged the town sewer moratorium as a key timing risk and said construction likely would not begin until 2026 unless waivers are obtained.
The Trust also reviewed two pilot programs. The Westboro Rental Assistance Program (RAP), launched in January with a minimum allocation of $120,000 for direct assistance, had processed 10 grants in its first two weeks totaling just over $39,000 and serving 24 households (63 people), the majority of whom are children. Edinburg said the Trust "prevented" landlords from filing eviction notices for 8 of those families. The Trust's down‑payment assistance pilot (the "Home Bureau") would offer grants up to $30,000 for households at or below 80% AMI and deferred 0% loans for higher tiers; Metro West Collaborative Development will administer the program to preserve applicant confidentiality.
On state and local policy, Edinburg cited "mass general law chapter 59 section 5" as a possible mechanism for locally targeted property‑tax incentives tied to SHI‑compliant rental units, and he noted a $500,000 earmark in the housing bond bill for future land acquisition that the Trust plans to pursue.
Committee action: Member McMahon moved and Bradley seconded a recommendation that Town Meeting approve Article 21 to transfer $201,194.34 from the mitigation/stabilization fund to the Westborough Affordable Housing Trust. The hybrid roll‑call vote was recorded as eight "yes" votes; the committee recommended the transfer.
What happens next: The recommendation will be conveyed to Town Meeting where members will vote on Article 21. Trust members said they will continue RFP preparation, pursue grants and seek conditional sewer waivers to reduce developer risk.
