The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has released the draft 2006 QAP for the low income housing tax credit program. The plan is available by clicking here. Comments may be submitted to DHCD in writing or at the public hearing that is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on December 20, 2005, 100 Cambridge Street, 4th floor.

Massachusetts Remains Unaffordable to Renters

The National Low Income Housing Coalition's report, Out of Reach, was released this morning. The report found that once again Massachusetts is among the top three least affordable states, only behind Hawaii and California, and the Boston/Cambridge metropolitan area is listed as the 7th least affordable metropolitan area in the country. The entire report is available here.

2006 Affordable Housing Competition Announced

CHAPA, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston, the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, and Kevin P. Martin & Associates, P.C. invite Greater-Boston-area housing developers to participate in the 2006 Affordable Housing Development Competition. The Competition pairs developers with multi-disciplinary teams of graduate students from Boston-area universities to prepare innovative and comprehensive housing development proposals. This is a great opportunity for developers to explore new ideas about a site or sites that you own or wish you had and work with talented students for free. Students come from architecture, planning, public policy, law and business schools.

First, second and third place prizes ranging from $10,000 to $2,500 are shared equally among the developer and th e student team. The Competition runs from mid-February to mid-April 2006. The Competition is open to six to eight developers. To learn more about the Competition and register to participate, log onto www.fhlbboston.com/compete or call Chris Norris at CHAPA, 617-742-0820. Registration deadline is January 15, 2006.

Smart Growth Alliance Issues Agenda for State

Today the Massachusetts Smart Growth Alliance released the report, Shared Destinies: A Smart Growth Agenda for Massachusetts. Written by Larissa Brown of the Boston Society of Architects, the report describes why Massachusetts has not been "growing smart" and explains what needs to be done to increase housing choices and affordability, improve the transportation system, protect our natural resources and parks, and develop our economy in a way that benefits all residents.

At the press conference, CHAPA's executive director, Aaron Gornstein, called upon the Romney Administration to increase the bond volume cap for the production of more affordable housing and the preservation of state public housing. He also urged the legislature to pass the employer assisted housing proposal now before the House - Senate conference committee on economic stimulus acknowledging that it makes sense to help employees live near their jobs to avoid long commutes and sprawl.

The Massachusetts Smart Growth Alliance members include the Boston Society of Architects, CHAPA, the Conservation Law Foundation, the Environmental League of Massachusetts, the Fair Housing Center of Greater Boston, the Massachusetts Association of CDCs, and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council. The report is available on CHAPA's web site and by clicking here to download it.

Chapter 40B: Hearing and Trainings

The Joint Committee on Housing will hold a public hearing on Chapter 40B legislation on Tuesday, January 24, at 10:00 a.m. in Gardner Auditorium. More information will be made available as the hearing approaches.

The Massachusetts Housing Partnership has scheduled two regional workshops to explain and answer questions about the new guidelines that are intended to provide a practical guide to zoning boards of appeal reviewing Chapter 40B development proposals. The first workshop will be held on Friday, January 13 at the Middleboro Town Hall, and the second workshop will be held on Friday, January 20 at the Andover Memorial Hall Library. Both workshops will be held from 9:15 a.m .- 11:00 a.m. The cost to attend a workshop session is $15. For more information, contact Gercide Luc at MHP, 617-330-9944 x292 or visit the MHP web site.

On March 31, 2006, CHAPA, MHP, and DHCD will hold a half-day 40B training at the Radisson Hotel in Milford. Save the date. Registration brochures will be sent one month before the training.

Smart Growth Development Resources

CHAPA has just released a new presentation entitled Affordable Housing and Open Space: Creative Partnerships for Success . The presentation highlights 13 developments in 8 communities across the state that provide a broad range of strategies for successfully constructing affordable housing while preserving important natural areas. In total, these 13 examples include 205 housing units for low and moderate income households while preserving 474 acres of open space (69% of the land) in perpetuity.

The Office for Commonwealth Development has developed the Massachusetts Smart Growth Toolkit, a web-based and CD resource designed to help municipalities and interested citizens understand and implement various smart growth techniques in their communities. The toolkit includes case studies and model zoning bylaws, and focuses on 12 techniques including Inclusionary Zoning, Transfer of Development Rights, and Transit-Oriented Development.