Business & Tech
Framingham Mayor Comes Out Against Apartment Moratorium
The debate over Framingham's approved 9-month moratorium is pitting business leaders against citizens concerned about traffic and schools.
FRAMINGHAM, MA — Framingham Mayor Yvonne Spicer has picked a side in the ongoing debate over the now-approved apartment moratorium.
"I want to make it clear that as mayor, I do not support this moratorium, which I think will adversely impact the city's growth and economic opportunities going forward," she said in a news release Tuesday. "Moreover, I'm concerned it will derail progress in attracting new investment."
The City Council approved the moratorium in a 10-1 vote on July 21, with Chair George King Jr. the lone "no" vote. The nine-month moratorium came to the Council via a citizen petition, but talk about an apartment ban was one of the major issues in the 2019 City Council races.
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Leaders in Framingham's economic development community have spoken out against the idea. The moratorium ultimately won support because Councilors said they wanted to at least study whether apartments are worsening traffic, and if apartment-dwellers are contributing to overcrowding in Framingham schools.
In her statement on Tuesday, Spicer broadened criticism of the moratorium, saying it will worsen a local and regional housing shortage.
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"There are residents who have lived here 30-plus years and wish to downsize," the statement said. "There are those just graduating from college and want to live here while pursuing their new careers. For these people, as well as others, a moratorium will give them fewer options. Lastly, we have a shortage of accessible, veteran, affordable, and workforce housing options that serve a broad constituency at multiple price points."
About 1,400 apartments have been approved for development in Framingham since 2016, according to City Council estimates. Most of the apartments are in the downtown area, but a 158-unit mixed use project has also been approved for the former Nobscot shopping plaza.
The moratorium does not affect developments that have already been approved, and the Council has the option of extending it for up to 12 months.
Here's Spicer's full statement:
Mayor Spicer Position on Moratorium Final by Neal McNamara on Scribd
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