Natick Affordable Housing Trust approves roughly $141,700 for pre-development work on 5 Auburn Street

The Natick Affordable Housing Trust voted on Feb. 10, 2026, to fund a pre-development requisition for Metro West Collaborative Development’s 5 Auburn Street project, authorizing payment of approximately $141,700.

Chelsea Gaylord, senior real estate project manager for Metro West Collaborative Development, told the Trust she met with Randy Johnson in January and is coordinating with the project architect to integrate the Trust’s priorities for a community room, bike room and property-management office. Gaylord said MWCD is preparing a One Stop Application for state funding that is due March 19, 2026, and will appear before the Conservation Commission at a public hearing on Feb. 19, 2026.

The motion to fund the requisition (listed on the meeting agenda as an invoice/requisition for pre-development work) passed at the meeting. Randy Johnson moved the funding motion and Sue Crossley seconded. All members present voted in favor; four members were listed as absent.

Meeting materials and the meeting transcript contain two slightly different amounts for Pre-development Requisition #5 ($141,683.83 in the motion text and $141,633.83 in an agenda line). The Trust approved the requisition as presented during the meeting; the record shows the motion amount as $141,683.83 and the minutes note the requisition number. The Trust did not provide a revised, single-line corrected amount in the meeting record.

Next steps outlined by MWCD include submission of the One Stop Application by March 19 and participation in the Conservation Commission hearing on Feb. 19. The Trust’s approval clears the requisition to be paid from Trust funds for pre-development activities.

The Trust adjourned at 8:47 p.m.