Gov. Maura Healey added a drop into the state’s practically empty inexpensive residence bucket Thursday throughout a visit to Lowell the place she introduced about $250 million in direct subsidies, state and federal housing tax credit geared toward addressing the statewide scarcity of properties.
Healey’s announcement of 27 challenge awards unfold throughout 20 separate Massachusetts cities and cities comes because the state stares down a veritable housing disaster, with some estimates saying the commonwealth wants greater than 100,000 new models constructed simply to satisfy present demand.
The awards, which Healey’s employees say will create 1,600 new models, exhibit her administration’s dedication to tackling the housing difficulty head on, based on the governor.
“These are the types of projects that our Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities will be driving in close collaboration with local, federal and private sector partners to address our housing crisis,” the governor mentioned.
Newly appointed Secretary of Housing Ed Augustus, previously the Worcester City Manager, on June 1 will tackle the job aimed particularly at fixing the inexpensive housing drawback. The Housing Secretary place was created by Healey as a brand new govt place after she made housing apriority on the marketing campaign path.
Augustus, whereas main Worcester, is credited with enormously increasing the variety of obtainable housing models in that metropolis, a job he should now try throughout the broader Commonwealth.
“Hopefully it’s not all downhill from here,” Augustus joked Thursday.
“Lots of folks have asked me here and over the last few days, ‘what’s driving your work?’ And the answer is ‘more, faster.’ That’s what it’s about. We need to do everything we humanly can to get more of these projects underway,” he mentioned.
Housing awards have been made to tasks in Boston at 84 Warren Street, 2085 Washington Street, Columbia Crossing, Columbia Uphams, Old Colony, Parcel R-1, and Talbot Commons.
Projects at Watson Place, Braintree; Clifton Place, Cambridge; Singing Bridge Residences, Chicopee; Greenmont Senior Residences, Dracut; Meshacket Commons, Edgartown; 470 Main Street, Fitchburg; Brushwood Farm, Lenox; 733 Broadway, Lowell; Greenstead Grove, Ludlow; West Newton Armory, Newton; 23 Laurel Street, Northampton; and 107 Main Street, Orleans, have been additionally awarded funding.
“I don’t think anybody can express how much we need when it comes to affordable housing,” Lowell City Manager Thomas Golden mentioned whereas standing subsequent to the deliberate challenge on Broadway Street the place greater than 50 new inexpensive housing models shall be constructed.
“The city of Lowell, the Mayor, and the entire city council stands committed with this administration to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to have a roof over their heads,” he mentioned. “We know how important that is.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com”