Plans For Affordable Elderly Housing Face Opposition

Two proposed affordable housing projects, aimed at the growing population of aging suburbanites, anticipate tough community opposition in Framingham, MA."Jewish Community Housing for the Elderly hopes to build its 150-unit project on a site that was rejected two years ago for a development because Framingham had met the statutory minimum of having 10 percent of its housing stock deemed affordable. Since then, however, the below-market rate housing supply has fallen to about 9.81 percent in Framingham, according to town officials. But unless a developer challenges the town, the state technically views Framingham as having 10 percent affordable housing stock until the next census....Under Chapter 40B of the state's housing law, developers can bypass some local zoning requirements if they agree to sell or rent at least 25 percent of their units at below-market rates." This includes age-restricted housing. "Although the Framingham Housing Authority does not have a waiting list for senior housing...the agency's executive director...expects a real jump in demand over the next few years as the baby boom generation ages."

Thanks to Connie Chung