HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-04-04-HPB-minLexington Housing Partnership: Building a Diverse, Vibrant Lexington
Lexington Housing Partnership
Meeting Minutes for Tuesday. April 4. 2017
Attendees: Harriet Cohen, Jeri Foutter, Mary Haskell, Paul Linton, Rich McDonough, Joe Pato, Bob
Pressman, Melinda Walker, Betsey Weiss
Absent: Wendy Manz, Nancy Corcoran-Ronchetti
Guests: Dan Gaulin (Regional Services Housing Office)
Melinda Walker chaired the meeting and Harriet Cohen took the minutes. The meeting was called to
order at approximately 7: 30 pm.
1. Approval of minutes of March 7, 2017
One minor correction was made. Ms. Foutter moved approval of the minutes and Mr. Linton
seconded the motion. The motion passed with one abstention.
2. Updates on projects/proposals with affordable housing implications / All
Judges Road - article 10(d), the CPA funding for the conversion of Pine Grove Village from a
cooperative to a condominium, was approved by town meeting. This insures that these units will
remain in the Town's Subsidized Housing Inventory and will otherwise improve the Town's position
regarding the 16 units. The Lexington Housing Authority will own and maintain the five low-income
rental units and there will be a deed restriction on the eleven owner -occupied units to maintain their
affordability in perpetuity. Ms. Weiss moved that the LHP support the 5 rental units remaining as
rental units. Mr. Pressman seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
3. Discussion of LexHAB activities / Pressman
Mr. Pressman said the Fairview triplex should be completed by the end of May.
4. Report on Keeler Farm LIP /Walker
Mr. Gaulin said that approval of the use of HOME funds for the LexHAB unit at Keeler Farm is expected
shortly. The Local Initiative Program (LIP) application is waiting for final signatures and will then be
sent to DHCD (Department of Housing and Community Development).
5. Update on changes to charge for partnership / Walker
Ms. Walker said the work to update the charge for the partnership is temporarily on hold.
6. Report on meeting with BoS re: Brookhaven / Foutter, Walker
Ms. Walker, Mr. Pato, Ms. Foutter and Mr. Pressman met regarding the Brookhaven development.
Brookhaven will be making a payment in lieu of on-site affordable housing payment has been
calculated to cover the cost for 5.5 units. The calculated payment was $2.1M over 15 years. The first
installment of the $2.1M amount will be in two and a half years, when the Brookhaven complex comes
online. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding the payment will be signed by the BOS
following approval of the zoning change by Town Meeting. Ms. Walker suggested the partnership
should be thinking about how to advocate for the use of the funds.
Lexington Housing Partnership: Building a Diverse, Vibrant Lexington
7. Status of the Lexington Housing Foundation Trust / Foutter
Ms. Foutter met with Pat Nelson about the Lexington Housing Foundation Trust. Ms. Nelson will
give Ms. Foutter an estimate of the fee to assess the LHF trust document to determine the powers
of the trust.
8. Update on progress on studying "Smart Growth Zones" / Foutter
No update at this time. Ms. Foutter is working to schedule a meeting with the Town.
9. New Business
The property at 186 Bedford Street, the former home of Eliot Community Human Services, has
come on the market. Ms. Foutter contacted Caritas Communities to ask if they are interested in
buying the property and converting it to affordable housing. They expressed interest in doing that.
The development of affordable housing at that site would require a zoning change.
10. Set next meeting date
The next meeting will be Tuesday, May 2, 2017 at 7:30 pm.
11. Meeting Adjournment
Ms. Weiss moved to adjourn the meeting, and Ms. Cohen seconded the motion. The motion was
approved unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:15 pm.