MARBLEHEAD — The Fair Housing and Housing Production Plan Implementation committees came together to welcome state Rep. Jenny Armini and state Sen. Brendan Crighton’s legislative director, Eva DeCharleroy, to the Selectmen’s Meeting Room on Tuesday.
The meeting was led by Select Board Chair Erin Noonan, who is also a member of both committees. The committees and guests shared developments from their respective sides, and used that information to make plans to improve the town’s affordable housing.
Noonan presented a slideshow about the committees’ recent projects and accomplishments including the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, which currently has a record balance of $119,000 with an additional $10,000 expected to arrive soon.
The presentation also included the MBTA Communities Project, a statewide public nonprofit affordable-housing organization that works in concert with the governor and the state Department of Housing and Community Development to help increase the amount of affordable housing in the state. In 2021, a law was passed requiring towns to have at least one zoning district with multi-family housing to receive assistance from the project itself.
The committees’ biggest obstacle has been the lack of multi-family homes in Marblehead. However, a discussion led by Fair Housing Committee member Kurt James led to a breakthrough.
“Does 40R overlap with MBTA or are they separate?” James asked. “With 40R you get all these monetary benefits, so what I’m wondering is if we’re gonna be creating a multi-family district — because we have to — could we consider making that a smart-growth overlay district so we can get the money for it?”
With additional research by Town Planner Rebecca Curran Cutting, it was determined that the town could benefit from the resources of both the MBTA Communities Project and the Chapter 40R law simultaneously.
It was also determined that multi-family housing development can be done on Housing Authority property without traditional permits.
“They can do it through our bylaw,” Curran Cutting said. “They have a special zoning in our zone. It’s public.”
Members of the committees theorized how much time this could save in the process of developing affordable housing.
“That would fast-track things by a year or two,” James acknowledged.
One location the committees are eyeing for multi-family housing is the Coffin School site. The former elementary school has been lying dormant since fall 2021, and its future has yet to be decided.
When Noonan gave the floor to Armini, she began by explaining how Gov. Maura Healy is acting to allocate funds to improve affordable housing statewide. However, Armini used the rental assistance program to note this is a positive effect brought on by a negative cause.
“The budget upped the rental assistance program to $181 million,” Armini explained. “What’s interesting about this is it shows you that finally, we are starting to pay attention to this crisis.”
She compared the $181 million to last year’s allocation of just $41 million.
“The trend lines are good, but they’re good because there’s a crisis,” Armini admitted.
Housing Production Plan Implementation Committee member Lou Meyi asked Armini what avenues seniors older than 65 can explore to receive assistance for affordable housing. Armini explained that the Senior Circuit Breaker tax credit is one possible solution.
“For any senior whose rent and water and sewer bill exceed 10% of their income, they get tax relief,” Armini explained. “Currently, it’s $1,200 per year. The house budget package boosted it to $2,400 per year.”
It was later determined that the Senate has also doubled the budget package to $2,400.
Before the meeting adjourned, both Armini and DeCharleroy made a point to show the two committees that they have their full support.
“Whatever you come up with, just know I’m happy to support you with letters, phone calls, just let me know. That’s what I’m here for,” Armini said.
