Arlington Awarded $2 Million For Housing And Infrastructure Projects

The town reportedly received preferential consideration because of its recent designation as a Housing Choice Community.

By Benjamin Pierce, Patch Staff

Oct 5, 2026 11:00 AM EDT

ARLINGTON, MA — The town has received six grants totaling more than $2 million through the state's Community One Stop for Growth program, according to an announcement made by Arlington officials.

The $2,048,413 in funding will support several projects related to affordable housing, infrastructure, downtown improvements, and future planning. Town officials said Arlington was eligible for the awards because of its compliance with the state's MBTA Communities Law and received preferential consideration because of its recent designation as a Housing Choice Community.

"We are grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration for its investment in Arlington through the Community One Stop for Growth," Town Manager Jim Feeney said. "These awards will help us strengthen our downtown, support creation of 40 affordable housing units, and appropriately plan for future growth."

More than half of the funding will support the Housing Corporation of Arlington's planned Emma's Court affordable housing development at 840 Massachusetts Ave. and 17 Newman Way. The town received a $673,413 HousingWorks grant to replace the water main along Newman Way and another $500,000 Housing Choice Community grant to support construction of 40 new affordable housing units.

The Arlington Redevelopment Board approved plans for Emma's Court earlier this year. The project calls for a six-story building with 28 apartments and commercial space at 840 Massachusetts Ave., along with a three-story building containing another 12 apartments at 17 Newman Way. All 40 units will be deed-restricted for households earning at or below 60 percent of the area median income.

The new funding follows a $3.5 million MBTA Communities Catalyst grant awarded to Arlington last year to support HCA's acquisition of 840 and 846 Massachusetts Ave. and 17 Newman Way. The larger project is expected to preserve 57 existing naturally occurring affordable housing units in addition to constructing the 40 new units.

Arlington also received a $500,000 Mass Downtown Initiative Capital grant for improvements at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Peg Spengler Way. The project is expected to include pedestrian safety improvements, better public transit access, streetscape upgrades, and ADA-compliant sidewalks.

Another $280,000 MassWorks grant will fund the design of upgrades to the aging Dow Avenue pump station. Town officials said the work is intended to support an expected increase in residents in the area associated with the assisted living facility proposed at the former St. Camillus church property.

The remaining awards include a $65,000 Community Planning grant to hire a consultant to update Arlington's Housing Production Plan, which expires next year, and a $30,000 Mass Vacant Storefront Tax Credit allocation. The storefront program will provide up to three businesses with as much as $10,000 each in refundable tax credits intended to help smaller businesses enter Arlington's commercial market.

Arlington was designated a Housing Choice Community for the first time in 2025. The state program recognizes municipalities that meet certain housing production benchmarks and adopt policies intended to support housing development, while providing participating communities access to additional grant opportunities.

The town is also currently listed by the state as compliant with the MBTA Communities Law. Arlington adopted its MBTA Communities Overlay District in 2023 and made additional mapping changes the following year to comply with the state's multifamily zoning requirements.

The Community One Stop for Growth program provides municipalities and other eligible applicants access to several state grant programs through a single application process. This year's funding round included approximately $330 million for more than 400 projects across Massachusetts.