Newton, Massachusetts, is moving forward with $1.9 million in affordable housing funding. The fund follows a debate over a proposed apartment complex that would partially demolish a historic bank building.
The city's Finance Committee approved the grant in a 7-0-1 vote, rejecting an effort to postpone the allocation over concerns about the development.
Here's what to know
The Newton Affordable Housing Trust receives an annual grant through the Community Preservation Act, which the City Council has approved since 2022, according to The Heights.
The project would create 72 affordable apartments at the former Santander Bank site. The trust is expected to help fund a proposed $63 million development by Beacon Communities at 1314 Washington St. in West Newton.
Plans to tear down part of the 1915 bank building had raised concerns at the Newton Historical Commission, per The Heights. Those concerns, along with unresolved questions about the project's legal validity, led Ward 3 Councilor Julia Malakie to seek a delay.
Her motion failed 2-6.
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"Since we know what the trust wants to use the money for and they don't have any inclination apparently to use it for anything else, I don't feel that we're delaying anything if we don't vote tonight," Malakie said.
More background
Councilors established the trust to give it latitude in advancing affordable housing.
The Finance Committee's chair, Ward 7 Councilor-at-Large Becky Walker Grossman, said, according to The Heights:
"We set [the trust] up to not have a thumb on the scale … and now we're struggling with whether we should have a thumb on the scale."
Councilors also argued against the delay, warning it could create a substantial financial burden for the development.
What's being done?
Newton Affordable Housing Trust chair Ann Houston explained the remaining steps, according to The Heights.
"By approving these funds, you're not directly funding 1314 Washington," Houston noted. "We still have to finish our review, and we can't even begin to do that until it gets out of the historic commission."
Ward 5 Councilor-at-Large Brittany Hume Charm supported the allocation to make sure the trust has enough funding to evaluate proposals promptly.
Ward 1 Councilor-at-Large Alison Leary, who served on the council that helped create the trust, said the trust should be allowed to do the job it was created for.
"We have to have some trust in the housing trust, which I do."
Where can I learn more?
Other Massachusetts communities are also seeking funding and policy changes to build more housing.
• Massachusetts could use $1.9 million to help tourism-hit towns add 594 year-round homes.
• Massachusetts allocated $18.2 million to two Cambridge housing projects totaling 162 affordable units.
• Massachusetts committed $330 million to 403 local projects aimed at creating 27,000 homes.
• Massachusetts reached 15.6% of its 222,000-home goal as its housing chief backs review reform.
• Boston could cover developers' infrastructure costs to help revive stalled housing projects.
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