At last week’s Annual Town Meeting, residents supported the town’s ongoing quest to meet its quota of affordable housing by voting in favor of Articles 22 and 24.
Article 22 appropriated $150,000 for the Harvard Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Fund (MAHTF), to be transferred from Community Preservation Fund reserves and revenues.
Article 24 was a request that town residents express their desire (or lack thereof) to pursue the development of a senior rental housing project on town-owned property at the Hildreth House. There was no funding request associated with this article.
While both articles passed, they also both engendered some lively, and at times, heated debate.
Speaking on behalf of the Finance Committee for Article 22, Chairwoman Debbie Ricci said that the committee did not recommend the transfer of the full $150,000. The committee’s preference, she said, would be to transfer the required 10 percent, or $30,250, of Community Preservation Funds to the Trust. The reason for this, said Ricci, was that the Finance Committee believes that “big decisions [related to affordable housing] should be made at Town Meeting.”
Victor Normand, chairman of the Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Fund, countered by explaining that the Trust was created specifically for the purpose of being able to “act quickly.”
“Town Meeting is part of our culture and important to our town,” said Normand. “One thing that it is not, is very efficient. When you’re talking about real estate, if you’re not efficient, you lose. It’s important that the Trust be given resources in order to take advantage of opportunities.”
Some town residents took issue with what they perceived to be inappropriate dispensation of Housing Trust funds. In particular, neighbors of a proposed 40B project on Stow Road questioned the Trust’s decision to pay the developer $100,000 in incentive funds to increase the number of affordable units and decrease the number of market-rate units. Stow Road resident Bob LaPierre expressed his concern that even after a public hearing during which “no one thought that project was a good idea,” the Trust still opted to offer money to the developer.
Bruce Nickerson of Stow Road spoke in defense of the Trust and suggested that some of the previous speakers “misunderstood the issue.” He explained that it was not the Trust’s responsibility to approve or reject the application of any proposed 40B project. That was in the hands of the town boards, he said.
“I am not in favor of the [Stow Road] development,” Nickerson said. “Nevertheless, the Housing Trust has done exactly the right thing in the interest of the town. If the 40B project is approved, we’d be a lot better off with 40 percent of the units being affordable for the cost of $100,000 than for only 25 percent of the units being affordable. I congratulate the Housing Trust for having made that sound decision.”
Residents also had a lot to say about the idea of exploring affordable senior housing at the Hildreth House site. Housing Authority member Scott Hayward explained that after determining that a town-owned site on Mass. Ave. was not feasible, the group decided it would be worthwhile to look closely at the Hildreth House land as another option.
He cited the larger plot of land, its proximity to Council on Aging offices, and the project’s ability to “stabilize” the Hildreth House for the future as positive reasons for moving forward.
Some speakers expressed their concerns that septic issues and the significant amount of ledge at the site would make the project an unreasonable one.
Historical Commission chaiman Jonathan Feist asserted that “it would be difficult to have 30 [rental] units without compromising Harvard’s Common and the historical district.” However, he said, “it would be worth looking at in some detail.”
Planning Board Chairwoman Mary Essary also spoke to the need for the Housing Authority to work with the Planning Board to have a “holistic view of the process.”
Devens resident Nancy Reifenstein, of Walnut Street, while passionately in support of senior housing in Harvard, stated her belief that the Hildreth House site would be inappropriate. She called on the need for “real, dedicated senior housing,” explaining that just as the use of the library has increased with the opening of the new building, a new senior center would see increased use by the town’s senior population.
Meanwhile, Council on Aging Chairwoman Carlene Phillips spoke strongly in favor of the article, saying that senior housing near the Hildreth House would dovetail nicely with the town’s goal of bringing the center back to life.
“In thinking about restoring the vitality of the town center, it would be an asset to have Hildreth House as a senior center, and housing around it, along with some revitalized business,” she added.
“I think that it’s very evident that there is a great need for senior housing in town. “Something like this would be a great way to keep us here.”
