Framingham Honored For Downtown Development Strategy

FRAMINGHAM, MA- Framingham has received an outstanding planning award by the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Planning Association for its strategy to create transit-oriented development in its downtown.

The city's strategic downtown transit-oriented development started in 2009. In October 2015, the Special Town Meeting voted to support zoning changes to Framingham’s central business district with a goal to make downtown Framingham an attractive, vibrant, diverse center that would become a hub of economic activity for the MetroWest region.

Mayor Yvonne M. Spicer said the development has been an ongoing process that deserved the recognition it is receiving. “The development is essential to revitalizing the downtown area, and we’re seeing the vision of economic growth come to fruition,” she said.

Arthur Robert, director of Framingham’s Division of Community and Economic Development, has watched the development process unfold downtown. “Framingham has worked on rezoning and revitalizing downtown. We have thought creatively, engaged carefully, and acted decisively to attract even more businesses and people to the neighborhood,” said Robert. “It is gratifying to see our results receive this recognition from planning professionals.”

In 2017, Framingham residents approved tax-increment financing agreements for two proposed “pioneer” transit-oriented developments for downtown. Residents also approved a new tax-increment financing plan for urban center housing.

By April 2018, Wood Partners broke ground on one of those projects, Alta Union House at 75 Concord Street. The $60 million mixed-use project is set to bring 196 new units of housing to downtown Framingham. Shortly after, Mill Creek Residential began construction at 266 Waverly St. This project is set to create 270 new units of multifamily housing and invest $73 million in Framingham, according to the city.

In November of this year, the Alta Union House Project was recognized as the “Project of the Year” by Smart Growth America. Several other projects are about to break ground, including 59 Fountain Street, a 258-unit rehab and new construction project directly adjacent to the commuter rail.

Since the neighborhood was rezoned to encourage new housing, almost 900 units of housing have been permitted for downtown.

Photo Credit: Samantha Mercado/Patch