Housing groups lay out multi-tier strategy tied to MCI Concord, urging DEI input on zoning and targets

Representatives of the Concord Housing Foundation and the Municipal Affordable Housing Trust presented a proposed housing strategy at the DEI Commission meeting on May 28 that ties targets for affordable and attainable housing to the MCI Concord master planning process.

Matt Johnson and Frank (housing foundation president) described a three-pronged case: sharply rising local home prices (presenter cited a median single-family assessed value around $1.4 million), a shortage of smaller and moderately-priced units, and opportunities presented by two large 40B projects and the MCI Concord site. They said the town could both meet and exceed state affordability thresholds through a combination of the 40B projects and new zoning.

The foundation outlined tiered objectives: continue producing low-income units (the 40B projects will yield more than 100 affordable units), seek a small very-low income project (targeted example: ~30 units), add moderately affordable or attainable units (target ~50) and aim for larger numbers of attainable market-rate units on MCI and other municipal surplus sites. The foundation cited an initial target of roughly 200 restricted affordable units within five years and a larger multi-year expansion over 10 years.

Presenters emphasized funding and zoning levers: the Housing Trust (a town body) manages funds from Community Preservation and other sources, the Foundation (501(c)(3)) can provide catalytic capital, and state low-income housing tax credits or philanthropic commitments (New England Deaconess cited as an example) can bridge costs. Because MCI Concord is state-owned, presenters noted the town controls zoning and must bring bylaw changes to town meeting to allow housing on sites currently zoned for industrial use.

Commissioners asked about the relationship between the Foundation, Housing Trust and the MCI master plan. Presenters said the Foundation advocates and funds, the Housing Trust holds and disburses funding, and the MCI master planning process determines zoning that will enable housing on the site. Commissioners also raised process questions including zoning timelines, town-meeting approvals, projected fiscal impacts to school enrollment and property taxes, and whether construction and permitting processes could be streamlined.

Presenters asked for the DEI commission’s input on the draft strategy and said they would incorporate feedback from the commission, housing agencies and the Select Board before finalizing a policy recommended to town bodies. Commissioners agreed to review and provide comment.