"Nursing home residents should find it dramatically easier to return to their communities after Massachusetts committed to spending $1 billion over the next eight years for new housing and community support for people seeking to leave long-term care facilities.The commitment was part of a settlement in a lawsuit filed in US District Court by the Massachusetts Senior Action Council and seven nursing home residents who wanted to return to their communities but could not find housing to accommodate them. The plaintiffs had physical or mental disabilities but could live outside a nursing home setting with some supports, said Steven Schwartz, a lawyer from the Center for Public Representation and one of the attorneys for the plaintiffs. He estimated that a majority of the state’s 21,000 Medicaid recipients receiving long-term care at nursing facilities would be eligible to leave for community settings.“Our very value as individual citizens [comes] from a set of community activities, working, voting, going to school, going to a baseball game,” Schwartz said in an interview. “None of these things we think of as valued experiences in our life are available living in nursing homes.”The settlement would apply to all nursing home residents on Medicaid, who make up the vast majority of those in long-term residential care, Schwartz said."
Providing accurate and timely information about what matters in Franklin, MA since 2007. * Working in collaboration with Franklin TV and Radio (wfpr.fm) since October 2019 *
Monday, April 22, 2024
Boston Globe: "Massachusetts commits $1 billion to move thousands out of nursing homes in wake of lawsuit settlement"
Saturday, April 20, 2024
Building Equitable Neighborhoods for Franklin (BEN 4 Franklin) schedules launch events - May 10 & 11
Jane Jacobs Walk - May 11 |
On Saturday, May 11, 2024, there will be a second BEN 4 Franklin launch event: Cobi Frongillo and Franklin Matters’ Steve Sherlock will be leading a 90-minute Jane Jacobs Walk (rain or shine!) at 10:30 AM starting from the Franklin TV Studio, to explore the history, physical structure and architecture of Franklin’s built downtown environment. The community walk-and-talk will be one of thousands of Jane Jacobs Walks that take place every May in honor of the late social activist and placemaker. The walk will be accessible to wheels and paws, and participants are invited to gather afterwards at La Cantina Winery to share thoughts and observations.
Saturday, April 13, 2024
Franklin Ridge Booster Pump Station - Invitation for Bid
IFB - Franklin Ridge Booster Pump Station
In accordance with MGL c. 30 section 39m, it is the intention of the Town of Franklin to retain the services of a company for the Franklin Ridge Booster Pump Station Project in the Town of Franklin.
Additional Information: Franklin Ridge Booster Pump Station Project
Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/purchasing/bids/ifb-franklin-ridge-booster-pump-station
Franklin Ridge Booster Pump Station - Invitation for Bid |
Tuesday, April 9, 2024
Will the Town Council whiff again? or vote to encourage 40b development?
Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Auchincloss Secures District Wins in Passage of Federal Minibus - Franklin Ridge gains $850K
Auchincloss Secures District Wins in Passage of Federal Minibus
"Minibus" Funding Bill Includes Auchincloss Community Project Funding Requests
Last weekend, Congress passed a partial government funding bill that was signed by President Biden and includes key wins for the Fourth District. The bill provides funding for 15 Community Project Funding (CPF) requests sponsored by Congressman Auchincloss.
"Clean drinking water & better bridges have been my priority for three funding cycles," said Auchincloss. "These projects take time – they're not quick & flashy – but the benefits will extend for a generation."
Auchincloss Projects Included in Passage:
- Pleasant Street Neighborhood Stabilization Plan Streetscapes Improvement Project, Fall River Amount Received: $1,666,279
- Danforth St. Bridge Reconstruction Project, Taunton Amount Received: $1,000,000
- Weir Bridge Reconstruction Project, Taunton Amount Received: $1,000,000
- Cleaning and Lining Large Water Main near Wading River Water Treatment Plan, Attleboro Amount Received: $959,752
- Ferry Street Sewer Pump Station Rehabilitation Project, Fall River Amount Received: $959,752
- PFAS Treatment Project, Bellingham Amount Received: $959,752
- Walnut Street Sewer Project, Foxborough Amount Received: $959,752
- Town Center Package Sewer Plant, Norfolk Amount Received: $959,752
- McKeon PFAS Treatment Facility, North Attleborough Amount Received: $959,752
- Construction of Route 6 Corridor Sewer Collection System, Swansea Amount Received: $959,752
- Water Quality Improvements, Wrentham Amount Received: $959,752
- Blackstone Valley Boys and Girls Club Stone House Renovation Project, Blackstone Amount Received: $850,000
- Franklin Ridge Senior Affordable Housing Project, Franklin Amount Received: $850,000
- South Main Street Bridge, Freetown Amount Received: $500,000
- Pleasant Street Infrastructure Improvements, Medfield Amount Received: $500,000
To learn more about Congressman Jake Auchincloss, visit https://auchincloss.house.gov or connect with him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube.
Auchincloss Secures District Wins in Passage of Federal Minibus |
Thursday, February 22, 2024
Voices of Franklin: Objection to the Senior Development Proposed on Summer Street for Franklin, MA
- The Autumn Hill plans as submitted can be found https://www.franklinma.gov/planning-board/pages/autumn-hill-senior-village-488-and-496-summer-street-02022024
- The 5 post series on the original proposal for the Residential 7 zoning change referred to can be found http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/01/part-5-full-residential-vii-timeline.html
Voices of Franklin: Objection to the Senior Development Proposed on Summer Street for Franklin, MA |
Friday, February 16, 2024
Autumn Hill development proposed for Summer St
With the scheduled public hearing before the Planning Board for the proposed 44 unit senior and inclusionary housing condominium on Summer St, it is good to go deep in the archives to be aware of the prior development for the same property.
A special report collected the history of the Residential VII zoning proposed for rezoning the property at the time which failed to gain approval.
The new proposal comes forward without a zoning change required only a couple of special permits (per public hearing notice https://www.franklinma.gov/legal-notices/agenda/488-496-summer-street-autumn-hill-senior-village-planning-board)
Autumn Hill development proposed for Summer St |
Monday, February 12, 2024
Master Plan Cmte & Subcmte Meetings this week: Feb 12 to 15
OSRP & NCHR Subcommittee
Tuesday, January 23, 2024
Franklin Ridge gets additional $8.5M funding from MA subsidies
"The Town was awarded $8.5 million in grant funding this morning for the Franklin Ridge Senior Housing project, which will be funded by $2.5 million from the Low Income Federal Tax Credit (LIFTC) and $6 million from other state Executive Office of Housing and Livable communities subsidies.Today, the Governor announced that 26 projects in 19 communities will receive federal-state grant funding for affordable housing construction. I attended today’s ceremony at Hyde Square Task Force in Boston. Only 19 cities and towns were given money, which speaks to the Town's consistent and collective advocacy, as well as the shovel ready nature of the project.We cannot underestimate the consistent advocacy of all Town Councils, past and present, and also our entire delegation including Congressman Auchincloss, Jeff Roy and Becca Rausch, and even our former Senator Karen Spilka. This is exactly how federal-state-local partnerships are supposed to work. It is a true team effort!We will have more details as they become available. I suspect when we have a Franklin Ridge presentation update later this spring we will get a better understanding of how this all works and the timeline.BTW, this now brings the total allocated local, state and federal money to approximately $13 million (not including the municipal land, staff or permitting efforts). "
- Residences at the Park – Athol
- 135 Dudley Street – Boston
- 775 Huntington – Boston
- Blessed Sacrament – Boston
- Mildred Hailey 3 – Boston
- NUBA Apartments – Boston
- Thatcher Apartments – Brockton
- Clifton Place – Cambridge
- Jackson Place – Cambridge
- Sacred Heart – Cambridge
- 4th at Broadway – Chelsea
- 25 Garvey Street – Everett
- Franklin Ridge Senior Housing – Franklin
- Library Commons 2 – Holyoke
- Prospect Place – Northampton
- Southern Tier – Oak Bluffs
- Schoolhouse Apartments – Rockland
- The Exchange 4%/9% - Salem
- 24 Webster Avenue – Somerville
- Plaza Apartments – South Hadley
- Residences at the Vault – Springfield
- Baldwinville School – Templeton
- Residences at Lawrence Hill – Wellfleet
- WCG Homes – Worcester
Franklin Ridge senior housing expansion proposal |
Saturday, January 13, 2024
Auchincloss Calls for Including Affordable Housing Policy in Forthcoming Tax Package
"The lack of affordable housing is the single biggest challenge facing my home state of Massachusetts."
Ahead of the reported bicameral, bipartisan tax deal being reached, Congressman Jake Auchincloss (D, MA-04) sent a letter to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D, OR) and House Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith (R, MO-08), urging them to include the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act in the final package.
In the letter Auchincloss stated, "The lack of affordable housing is the single biggest challenge facing my home state of Massachusetts. The Commonwealth faces a shortfall of hundreds of thousands of units of housing of all types, including rental units designated for extremely low-income households. The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act would expand the LIHTC program in a measured and thoughtful manner, allowing projects to carry less debt and making more projects eligible to receive funding. This would help Massachusetts build more affordable housing."
A full copy of the letter can be found attached and below.
January 11, 2024
The Honorable Ron Wyden
Chairman
Senate Committee on Finance
221 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
The Honorable Jason Smith
Chairman
House Committee on Ways and Means
1101 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Chairman Wyden and Chairman Smith:
I write to you today to request that you include the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2023 in the forthcoming tax package. This bipartisan legislation would finance the construction of nearly two million new affordable housing units over ten years by expanding the successful Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program to increase the amount of credits allocated to each state. Additionally, this measure would increase the number of affordable housing projects that can be built using private activity bonds, increase the credit for certain projects designated to serve extremely low-income households, and codify protections for veterans and victims of domestic and dating violence.
As I testified before the House Financial Services Committee on November 9, 2023, the lack of affordable housing is the single biggest challenge facing my home state of Massachusetts. The Commonwealth faces a shortfall of hundreds of thousands of units of housing of all types, including rental units designated for extremely low-income households. The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act would expand the LIHTC program in a measured and thoughtful manner, allowing projects to carry less debt and making more projects eligible to receive funding. This would help Massachusetts build more affordable housing.
I appreciate your attention to this important matter and hope to see the inclusion of the Affordable Housing Improvement Credit Act of 2023 in the forthcoming tax package.
Sincerely,
Jake Auchincloss
Member of Congress
cc: The Honorable Mike Crapo, Ranking Member, Senate Committee on Finance
The Honorable Richard Neal, Ranking Member, House Committee on Ways and Means
To learn more about Congressman Jake Auchincloss visit https://auchincloss.house.gov or connect with him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pt2h-w5ZsGj9hwr1g7Hk12Ijiip3_HfT/view?usp=drive_link