We want Newton to be a place where seniors can afford to stay as they age, where our kids can raise their own families, and where our teachers, police officers, firefighters, and other city workers can make a home for themselves and their families. A city that is diverse in every way–in age, income level, occupation, ethnicity, religion, race, sexual orientation, and other qualities that make us who we are as individuals and as an inclusive community-must have a diversity of housing options available.

How we can keep the City on track to meet this vision:

• Set the goal, as we have, to add at least 800 affordable units or 10% to our housing stock by 2021.
• Increase the amount of housing for middle-income residents, including our municipal workers.
• Look at possible ordinance changes to increase the number of accessory apartments, which may especially help seniors.
• Support the growth of Newton’s middle class by raising the inclusionary housing requirement to 20%.
• Adopt 40R, a state program that encourages by-right development with affordable housing in specific areas under requirements adopted by the Board of Aldermen, and with payments from the state to defray development costs and support Newton’s schools.
• Encourage developments such as the Austin Street project that will help us reach these benchmarks.

Following today’s Open House, our Planning Department and consultant team will be reviewing best practices and collecting and analyzing data about current conditions and trends for the future in demographics, housing, jobs, and other areas. We will be back to present the results of this work in September, and there will be additional meetings over the course of the fall. In the end, this housing strategy will provide us with a clear set of actions that will allow us to advance housing in Newton, such as policy and financing recommendations and specific locations for new development. Please check our housing strategy webpage for updates – on the site you will be able to sign up for updates and provide additional comments and questions.

Thank you for all you do to contribute to our community. We look forward to working with you to make our city even better.

Sincerely,

Setti D. Warren

Mayor

City of Newton, MA