Accomplishments

Notable Successes

The Fair housing committee has seen many successes since its start in 1983.  The Marblehead Fair Housing Committee (FHC) was created by the Board of Selectmen in 1983 to work to increase fairness and opportunity for residents and others who may want to live here, with the emphasis on low and moderate income people and minorities.  Their accomplishments over the years are noted below.

2009 — Present:

The FHC played an important role as the town made incremental progress in the continuing process of increasing both the quantity and quality of affordable housing in the town.  We supported Marblehead Community Housing Corporation (MCHC) to purchase two condos for resale as affordable housing, allocating funds from the Federal HOME program and other MCHC accounts.  Condos on West Shore Drive and Pond Street were purchased, refurbished and sold using a lottery process.

We applied for the Town’s 2010 and 2011 HOME Consortium Federal funding allocation to assist in the rehabilitation of the existing four affordable housing rental units at the Sewall Building (a former school building on Elm Street) in order to preserve and maintain that property and undertake major restoration and renovation work.  The FHC received unanimous approval from the Board of Selectmen.  The amount of Federal funding is anticipated to be in a range around $100,000.  Work began in 2012.  Improvements were also initiated in the management and operation of the Sewall Building.  Harborlight Community Partners, a respected North Shore housing organization, now provides management services for the building and its residents.

The FHC collaborated with the MCHC and a number of local advocates to conduct a fund raising and public information event in April 2011, held at the Landing Restaurant.

The complexities and importance of affordable housing in the town and the state led us to conduct an informal strategic planning process, in 2010 and again in 2012, which has provided useful guidance for the planning of our future work.

The FHC supported by the MCHC explored a development planned to include affordable for-sale units in the area of Litchman Terrace.  The plan proposed did not contemplate reliance on the State “Chapter 40-B” provisions.  A preliminary design would have placed 5 or 6 affordable housing units among a total in the range of 20.  After extensive review that included discussions with neighbors and the Board of Selectmen, the project was abandoned.

We reinvigorated a working relationship with the Citizens Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA), an important statewide organization supporting affordable housing.  FHC continues to welcome collaborative relationships with other organization in our town and state.

We continued efforts to provide information and support to residents of affordable housing in the Town.  These efforts included joining with the Marblehead League of Women Voters and the MCHC to sponsor an evening forum on affordable housing.  One highlight of the event was the premier presentation of a power point presentation on the topic by Attorney Kurt James, a member of the Committee and the town’s Planning Board.

The FHC initiated a successful down payment assistance loan and grant program for buyers of the affordable units in two new 40B developments.  Substantial HOME funds have been distributed to date.

2000 — 2009:

FHC members advised the Zoning Board of Appeals about the Marblehead Highlands Project, the town’s first 40B project, which has 22 affordable units in its proposed 88 total condo units.  We proposed several key conditions to be met by the developer and our members monitored the lengthy development process for the project. (2003-2004.)

The Committee joined the North Shore Housing Trust, which promotes regional approaches to solving the affordable Housing problems in this area.

In 2009 the Selectmen appointed a Smart Growth Advisory Committee to plan for a Smart Growth Initiative.  Planning includes consideration of creating an Affordable Housing Trust, undertaking a housing master plan, creating 40R Smart Growth, Overlay District and adopting an Inclusionary Zoning By-law.  Members of the FHC played important roles in this new effort.

Before 2000:

The FHC drafted a comprehensive new policy resolution on affordable housing that was passed unanimously in 1986 by the Town Meeting.

The town was designated as a Massachusetts Housing Partnership Community in 1989.

The town joined the Essex County HOME Consortium in 1991.  This has enabled Marblehead to receive about $60,000 a year of Federal HOME FUNDS for various affordable housing projects.

The FHC proposed the creation of a non-profit organization, Marblehead Community Housing Corporation (MCHC), which was formed to create affordable housing opportunities in the town.

The Town Meeting approved an article in 1992 allowing a non-profit housing corporation to acquire the Sewell Building (former school and town office on Elm Street) for affordable housing.  The Committee approved the bid of the MCHC to acquire the building from the town.  The building was gutted and renovated with outside financing, creating two two-bedroom and two three-bedroom apartments for moderate income people.

The Committee provided advice and assistance to a new (501 c-3) non-profit membership organization, Connections Program, Inc., which was formed to foster affordable housing and diversity.

We assist the town with a Housing Rehabilitation Program, which has spent more than $120,000 of HOME funds.  Improvements were initiated in the management and conditions in the Sewall Building on Elm Street, which contains four affordable rental units.  Harborlight Community Partners, a respected North Shore housing organization, now provides management services for the building and its residents.