Monday, August 5, 2019

"aren’t building enough housing to keep up with population growth"

From the Boston Globe, articles of interest for Franklin:
"As the demand for more housing surges across Eastern Massachusetts, some communities are grappling with how to meet that need without damaging the quality of life. 
Dedham recently approved a temporary moratorium on new mixed-use development projects; Saugus instituted a moratorium on multifamily dwellings; and Arlington recently delayed action on zoning proposals that would ease restrictions to promote housing growth. 
“Like many cities and towns, there is a concern about growth and the ability to absorb that growth, whether it’s traffic, schools, or the infrastructure,’’ said Dedham Town Planner Jeremy Rosenberger. 
Multifamily housing accounted for nearly all new housing permits issued in Suffolk County between 2000 and 2017, and the majority in Middlesex and Norfolk counties, according to a recent report by the Boston Foundation. Single-family housing continued to predominate in Essex and Plymouth counties."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/globelocal/2019/08/01/too-much-too-fast-towns-hit-pause-big-projects/w7hfobk9LgLVH2gqfc8tFM/story.html

The complete Boston Foundation Report:
https://www.tbf.org/news-and-insights/reports/2019/june/greater-boston-housing-report-card-2019

On Page 93: the table of "Municipalities with the Highest Affordability Indices" shows Franklin in the top 20 sitting in the 12th position. Compared to the other top rankings Franklin has received, this is not one we want to be on.


the table of "Municipalities with the Highest Affordability Indices" shows Franklin in the top 20 sitting in the 12th position
the table of "Municipalities with the Highest Affordability Indices" shows
Franklin in the top 20 sitting in the 12th position

2 comments:

  1. The issue isn't not enough housing, it's isn't enough well planned housing. No one wants to build medium sized single homes, or two or three family homes built in a village type setting. Towns should be encouraging those developments instead of ultra expensive oversized homes or huge apartment complexes! Franklin certainly does not need more of those! In fact, Franklin does not need any more housing period, the town has time and time again let builders have their way with uncontrolled growth and then asks for an override to finance the infrastructure to support it.

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  2. The restriction of just multi family dwelling units (MFDUs) has an adverse impact on people of color due to the lower price point of MFDUs and the correlation between race and income. Also stated these MFDU restrictions are racist though that may not be the intent.

    Can we insist that our council and planning committee members not be allowed to profit from decisions including they (or family member) cant practice real estate in the town during their term or are excluded from all business involving development and land use. The management of real estate listing inventory by a real estate agent in town is in conflict with objective decision making regarding our capacity to absorb growth.

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