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Commission hears project updates: Welcome Home Ohio phase, cottage-home pilot and shared housing ideas
Summary
Staff updated the commission that the Welcome Home Ohio project at 93 Hudson will start with eight units and that a grant-funded SAOP/Habitat cottage-home pilot (Gloucester) is paused for funding; members also discussed shared intergenerational housing and a university partnership for research.
City and commission members updated the panel on multiple housing initiatives: the Welcome Home Ohio development at 93 Hudson, a cottage-home pilot for SAOP clients in Gloucester, and exploration of shared intergenerational housing.
City council representative Megan Almeida said departments are auditing the 93 Hudson building and that the storage building on Kenny Drive is ready to receive materials. "Our first like phase of the project will build eight units," Megan said, and she added that potential buyers should contact staff to be connected with the developer for qualification details.
Separately, commission members described a grant-funded cottage-home project in Gloucester that is currently paused for funding. The presenter said two concepts were shown: a two-unit scheme with roughly 900-square-foot houses on one lot with shared common space, and a stacked duplex model and that some units were planned to be all-electric and net-zero-ready. The proposal described one ground-floor unit per duplex that could be made fully accessible and noted parking and sloped topography as design challenges.
Commission member Solveig also advocated exploring shared and intergenerational housing models — pairing older residents with graduate students or other housemates — and said a small working group will meet April 29. She said Dr. Kathleen Sullivan’s university class may study intergenerational/shared-housing options in the fall and report back to the commission.
No formal approvals or funding commitments were made at the meeting; members said they will continue outreach and follow up on funding and zoning implications for each project.
