Around Town

Watertown Group Hosting Discussion on What’s Happening With Housing in Watertown

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The following announcement was provided by Watertown Citizens for Peace Justice & the Environment:

Finding affordable housing has long been an issue for everyone in Watertown. We invite you to join us on Wednesday, March 15 online from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. for a presentation of current efforts to address it. Louise Enoch will speak about the goals of the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization (GBIO) including support of Boston Public Housing. Mary Skinner will sketch the discussions of the Refugee Support Group subcommittee on Affordable Housing. 

Tony Palomba will update us on affordable housing legislation before the Watertown CityCouncil. 

Josh Rosmarin will present a new organization that he, Dan Pritchard and Amy Plovnick arehoping to establish in Watertown. This would undertake affordable housing advocacy as isbeing done in nearby communities. 

There will also be breaks for questions and answers.

Government

See How Much the City Proposes Charging New Developments to Fund Affordable Housing

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Watertown City Hall

The City of Watertown recently received approval from the state to charge linkage fees on new developments to raise money to create affordable housing. A zoning amendment has been proposed that would set the fee to be paid by new developments. The special legislation approved by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Charlie Baker in December allows Watertown to charge up to $18 per square foot on projects over 30,000 sq. ft. The exact amount must be set by amending the Watertown Zoning Ordinance.

Government

State Legislature Allowing Watertown to Charge Developer Fees to Fund Affordable Housing

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Wikimedia Commons / ChensiyuanMassachusetts State House. City officials will be able to charge new developments a fee that would go toward creating affordable housing in Watertown after receiving approval from the state level. The City Council requested special legislation to be passed that allows them to charge linkage fees of up to $18 per square foot for commercial projects over 30,000 sq. ft. that require zoning relief.

Affordable Housing

Watertown Forms Affordable Housing Trust, Six Residents Serving on Committee

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The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

The City of Watertown took the final step on Sept. 21 in forming an affordable housing trust consisting of the new City Manager and six residents with expertise in creating and preserving housing for income-qualified households. The trust, authorized under state law to fund and engage in real estate activities to develop affordable units, held its first meeting on September 22, 2022. “It is important that we start identifying sites where deed-restricted affordable developments can be built,” said City Manager George Proakis. “We plan to do outreach to the affordable housing developers in the area who may be willing to work with the City to provide the kind of housing we need.”

The Watertown Housing Partnership, which recommended forming the trust, will automatically dissolve in 10 days, with its powers and responsibilities automatically transferred.

Affordable Housing

DATE CHANGE: Learn About Applying for Community Preservation Funds at Upcoming Workshops

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The date of one of the Community Preservation Act Application Workshops has been moved from Aug. 9 to Aug. 10. See the information below:

The first two projects to receive Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding were approved in 2022, and those seeking to submit their projects in the next round of funding can get information about the process at an upcoming CPA Application Workshop. CPA funds can be used in four areas: affordable housing, historic preservation, open space, and outdoor recreation.

Affordable Housing

Community Preservation Project Application Process Open for 2023

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The following information came from the the City of Watertown:

The Community Preservation Committee (CPC) is accepting project applications for the FY 2023 funding round and will host application workshops on Aug. 3 and Aug. 9, 2022. Visit the CPC webpage for more information including: key dates, links to application instructions and application documents, or read How to Apply. Apply for CPA Funding – FY 2023

Key Dates

Application Workshops (morning and evening options): Aug.

Affordable Housing

Council Seeks Payments from Developments to go to Affordable Housing

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Watertown officials will request special legislation to be approved that would allow the City to charge a fee to new commercial developments with the money going to a fund to create affordable housing. The City seeks what is known as a linkage fee, which is based on the impact of commercial development on the demand for affordable housing, acting Deputy City Manager Steve Magoon told the City Council on Tuesday. The special legislation will have to be approved by the State Legislature. “Non-residential projects are creating demand for affordable housing for people who work in Watertown,” Magoon said. “We have done a study to look at that impact and adjusted it by the nexus between that demand being created by projects and the cost that it represents to us as a municipality, and a fee that would be charged.”

Around Town

Affordable Housing Consortium Hosting Public Hearing on Action Plan

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The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

The WestMetro HOME Consortium, consisting of Watertown and 12 other communities, is holding a public hearing on its action plan for the fiscal year July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023. The HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) uses federal funding to assist low-& moderate-income residents, particularly through the creation and preservation of affordable housing. The WestMetro Consortium is led by the City of Newton and the public hearing will be remote and hosted by Newton’s Planning and Development Board. Comments on the proposed plan will be accepted at the public hearing and in writing to Amanda Berman, via email at aberman@newtonma.gov. The deadline for submitting comments is June 1, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. 

More info on the draft plan and on participation: https://www.newtonma.gov/government/planning/housing-community-development