House Passes Brookline’s Colonel Floyd Home Rule Petition

BROOKLINE, MA — The Massachusetts House of Representatives has passed a local home rule petition filed by Rep. Tommy Vitolo that will allow the Brookline Housing Authority to redevelop sustainably.

The Colonel Floyd Home Rule Petition, H.4083, specifically exempts the BHA from the filed sub-bid system during the redevelopment of the Colonel Floyd Apartments, allowing for the selection of subcontractors with the skills needed to design and build to net zero energy and passive house building standards.

“I am proud to represent a town that not only wants to expand and improve affordable housing but that also believes that everyone, regardless of income, should be included in helping us meet our local and state climate goals” said Vitolo in a statement. “I am grateful to Senator Creem and my colleagues in the legislature who worked hard to ensure this bill's passage.”

The Colonel Floyd Apartments, located at 32 Marion Street, consists of 60 units of walk-up senior public housing. In spring 2022, the BHA will begin to redevelop these units into 115 units of modern affordable housing with on-site services.

"I am so glad to hear that H.4083 has made it through the House. Thank you to Representative Vitolo and his team for their support,” said Michael Alperin, Executive Director of the BHA, in a statement. “This legislation will allow the BHA to not only build high quality 100% affordable housing for our residents but housing that is also great for the environment.”

The bill now heads to the Senate before reaching the Governor’s desk.