Amesbury Housing Trust

By City Clerk at 12:12 pm, Mar 06, 2023 AMESBURY CITY HALL 62 Friend Street Amesbury, MA 01913 Amesbury Affordable Housing Trust MEETING MINUTES January 11, 2023 @ 4:30pm City Hall Auditorium Members present: Margaret Hoffman, Kathy Troiano, Kerry Hamel-Pope, Mayor Kassandra Gove, Nancy Frick, Councilor Steve Stanganelli, Katelynn Lemieux, Drew Lafleur Staff: Angela Cleveland, Adam Krans 1. Margaret Hoffman called to Order at 4:31pm 2. Minutes from December 14, 2022. Mayor Gove requested that the minutes be amended to reflect that Mayor Gove reminded the Trust at the 12-14-22 meeting that two new affordable units will be available for purchase soon, not Margaret. Minutes were amended accordingly. Margaret moved to accept the amended minutes, seconded by Nancy Frick, motion passed unanimously. 3. Public Comment – • Heidi Gowen of 42 Grove St. in Amesbury spoke regarding her current housing situation and asked how to ensure that she would be made aware of any new affordable housing opportunities that may come available in the future. i. Mayor Gove responded that there are many housing-related projects in progress. She also mentioned that additional funding had just been added to the rental assistance program. Mayor Gove also let Ms. Gowen know that information on new projects, such as the affordable condos on Main St, is available on Amesbury’s website, and that she would be happy to assist Ms. Gowen in navigating the site if necessary. She also recommended that she get in touch with the Council on Aging to access additional resources. ii. Katelynn Lemieux advised that Ms. Gowen contact Pettengill House, as well as ensuring that her information is up to date with the Amesbury Housing Authority. 4. Communications • Housing Trust Account update: Affordable Housing Trust Principal balance $138,265.59 and Earnings balance $672.15 for a total balance of $138,937.74 o Councilor Stanganelli asked if that balance included the payment of $2,500 to RKG Associates on the consulting contract for the Master Plan update. Angela indicated that it did not. 5. Existing Business 1|Page Housing Campaign Update: Progress is being made with RKG Associates on the MBTA Communities compliance. Hoping to have an action plan at the next meeting showing 4 districts selected. The Housing Production plan is also moving forward. Merrimack Valley Planning Commission (MVPC) will be at the next I AMesbury 2030 Task Force meeting to discuss the HPP and how it aligns with the Master Plan. The East End Smart Growth District is still moving forward. KP Law is reviewing the final changes and will be returning comments by 1/12/23. The bill will have a first reading before the City Council on 1/24/2023. I AMesbury 2030 Update: Katelynn Lemieux gave the update. The Task Force met again with RKG and a representative from MVPC in attendance. RKG went over housing resources already available in Amesbury, as well as the housing tour with Angela, Adam and RKG. The next step is a big push for the housing summit, which is scheduled for March 29th, 6-9PM. Locations are still being discussed. Katelynn also discussed how RKG has had success with other communities on ADU ordinances, as well as utilizing more focused income determinations to more closely tailor affordable housing to the individual community rather than using the Boston Metro area income numbers from HUD. Housing Choice Grant 2024: The application window has opened, and expressions of interest for 2 projects are due March 17th. However, if the expression of interest is submitted prior to 2/3/2023, up to 5 projects can be included. Katelynn asked if any communities had success stories from this grant. Angela responded that yes, Amesbury used this funding in the last round to fund the Housing Element of the Master Plan and hire RKG to assist with the ADU and inclusionary zoning ordinances. Amesbury is one of only 87 communities in MA that are Housing Choice Communities. Angela suggested that we consider funding infrastructure improvements on the 110 corridor including walkability improvements to support housing. This area has many services already available and would be a good location for housing. Funding could be used for a feasibility study on this area. There is up to 300k available. Councilor Stanganelli stated page 3 mentions buildings, public building improvements, infrastructure. He was alerted to the building next door, 9 School St, that has been condemned, Could we use these funds to demolish and rebuild on that site? Potential for affordable units that the HA could manage. Building is blighted, proximity to service is good. City owns the building. Mayor Gove responded that the building needs to be brought to code and then used. Building has been condemned more than once. It is not usable as is. Feasibility study funded for that block to determine best layout. Study will determine what will be done with these properties. It will need to be demolished almost certainly. Feasibility study also funded for old elementary school reuse, recreation/community center type use. Process is just getting started. School will be vacant at the end of the school year. Councilor Stanganelli asked if an engineering study could be funded with this money for Housing Support Inc who is looking to expand on their existing housing site on Main St. Angela responded that the developer has already laid out plans for the site, and that water and sewer upgrades may be needed on Main St. to accommodate that project. Mayor Gove stated that the City had applied for federal funding to assist with another water project along Merrill Street, and it was denied, follow up request has been filed. She expressed interest in the Housing Choice Grant funds for initial design work as part of the Transportation Improvement Plan. Margaret asked if the building at 9 School St. is part of the ongoing study of the downtown block. Mayor Give responded that it is. Margaret asked if we could isolate the building from the rest of the block to target it with HCG funding. Angela stated that we would have a better chance at approval if we have the entire plan for that block complete. The plan should be complete prior to the final application deadline. 2|Page Councilor Stanganelli asked if the funds could be directed to a private developer if the project included affordable housing. Angela stated that we could consider that for the 150 Market St. project, which is halfway through the Conservation Commission currently. 278 Main St. project may also be a possibility. Mayor Gove mentioned that we could also look at water improvements at the Main St. Merrill St. intersection near the bridge. Margaret asked if we had enough information already to submit the Expression of Interest for the 278 Main St. water project? Angela responded that we could put that together, but that 300K would not be enough. Other programs may be available to help offset the additional cost. DPW did estimates several years ago on the project to upgrade the water pressure in that part of Amesbury. Councilor Stanganelli stated that those estimates were in the seven figures. Drew Lafleur asked how these improvements would relate to affordable housing? Angela responded that at the project at 278 Main Street is development of 8 affordable housing units. Margaret asked if a vote was needed on which projects to submit? Angela responded that we have until the end of February to submit 5 ideas for the expression of interest. What is on the table currently is a general assessment, parking study, and demolition costs for 9 School St, the 110-corridor connectivity study, and funding for infrastructure projects to support the 278 Main St. project. Katelynn Lemeiux suggested that we focus on projects that have already been studied as a way of spending the funds most efficiently. Mayor Gove stated that she can provide a list of studies that are complete including improved connectivity for pedestrians downtown, walkability improvements, pocket parks, communal spaces, all these have been studied and budget estimates are available. Drew Lafleur asked if, since acquisition is allowed, if there was any vacant land in the city that we could acquire to develop. The Mayor responded that there was not a lot of City-owned land left. The city is already in the process of doing that with several parcels that are already city owned. • A request to speak was received from a member of the public: Carol Finn- 412 Main St. Amesbury- Ms. Finn stated that she has spoken several times before about the assistance her family has been providing to a homeless man in Amesbury trying to find him permanent housing. Efforts have been unsuccessful so far, despite reaching out to several local political reps, including Diana DiZoglio, and Maura Healey’s office. Carol suggested that we offer overnight parking at the compost facility on South Hunt Rd. There is a port-a-potty there. She also suggested that the city investigate a warming center for the winter months to help the homeless population. She suggested that Amesbury look at Salisbury for ideas as they have had success with affordable housing and community integration. She suggested that Amesbury should follow Salisbury’s lead in attracting developers to build affordable housing. 3|Page  Margaret thanked Carol for her time and input, agreed that affordable housing struggles are real. Developers are difficult to attract, and the process is very competitive between communities. Councilor Stanganelli stated that the reason that the Trust is supporting the Cynthia Lane project is because the property would have to go through the Disposition Committee, and that the RFP could be structured in such a way as to attract non-profit developers and others that would use it for affordable housing. Carol suggested that the Trader Allen’s property is more centrally located and should be considered for housing. Councilor Stanganelli stated that that parcel has already been through the Disposition Committee, and the proposal was for a mixed use, bio-pharma facility. Carol asked if the zoning for Trader Alan’s could be changed if a specific proposal was brought forward. Councilor Stanganelli responded that the Council will always listen and be open to zoning changes if a specific proposal is on the table. Angela said that she will send out the three previous years of Housing Choice Grant ideas for review, and that the Trust can discuss them at the next meeting. Mayor Gove also stated that she would send a list of current studies that the city has in process for review as well. 6. New Business 7. Next Meeting Date – February 8, 2023, at 4:30. 8. Councilor Stanganelli moved to adjourn at 6:05 pm and Nancy Frick seconded. Unanimous approval. 4|Page