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Westborough Housing Trust sets conditions on Connector Road subsidy, extends Baylor Ave deadline and agrees to inspect Parkland property
Summary
Trustees told developers they will not accept a time‑limited 60% AMI restriction on Connector Road units; if 60% in perpetuity cannot be achieved, the trust will accept 25% SHI units at 80% AMI with a smaller subsidy. Trustees also voted to extend the LDA for 3 Baylor Ave to Nov. 16, 2024, and authorized further inspection of a Parkland Street property for potential acquisition.
At its meeting trustees debated subsidy options for the Connector Road development and settled on a policy position: the trust will not accept a temporary (e.g., 15‑year) restriction that would convert affordable units to market rate after the term. Instead, staff said, developers should either deliver 60% AMI units in perpetuity with a larger subsidy or accept a lower subsidy to secure 25% of units at 80% AMI.
A staff presentation described two offers to the developer: a smaller subsidy to raise the affordable component from 20% to 25% at 80% AMI, or a larger subsidy to make the incremental 5% at 60% AMI with a proposed 15‑year term. Trustees expressed concern that a time‑limited restriction could pressure tenants to leave and simply shift the affordability problem into the future. One trustee summarized the consensus: “we're not comfortable with a time limited adjustment for those incremental 5 units and that if they're not able to do 60% in perpetuity with the $750,000 subsidy, then we will simply proceed with the lower subsidy to get all 25% of the SHI units at the 80% AMI level.” The trustees voted in favor of that direction by roll call.
Separately, trustees voted to extend the Land Development Agreement deadline for 3 Baylor Ave by 60 days, to Nov. 16, 2024, after staff reported asbestos removal and active site work; the motion carried by roll call. Trustees also discussed a possible acquisition at 15 Parkland Street (three units) as a candidate for renovation and resale as ownership units for seniors; renovation estimates were discussed in the range of roughly $250,000–$300,000 and trustees asked Ken to inspect the property.
The trust also received updates that the MetroWest contract for emergency rental assistance has been executed and that staff are preparing grant/loan templates for buyer assistance programs.
