Wilmington Selectman Pushes Government Subsidy For Senior Housing

WILMINGTON, MA -- Selectman Mike McCoy made a push tp earmark $5.98 million from Wilmington's free cash subsidize building senior housing in town and address Wilmington's shortage of affordable housing. The motion came towards the end of the Feb. 5 meeting and, while it was seconded for discussion, ultimately failed in a 4-1 vote. Had his motion passed, a warrant to consider the subsidy for private builders would have been added to the Town meeting Warrant.

"I think it’s time we step up to the plate and do something for our seniors," McCoy said. According to the Wilmington Apple, which first reported this story, McCoy envisioned the housing being built on the Whitefield site. The housing would have only been available to Wilmington residents over the age of 62.

Under the Massachusetts Comprehensive Planning Act, also known as Chapter 40B, Wilmington needs to add between 60 and 70 affordable housing units by 2020 or risk falling under a state statute that allows developers to override local zoning laws if they propose a development that includes such units.

Chapter 40B is aimed at increasing the state's stock of affordable housing and suspends local zoning regulations in towns where affordable housing makes up less than 10% of the total available housing. Wilmington cis currently above the 10% threshold, but that will change in 2020, when the federal census will be used to recalculate Wilmington's total number of housing units.

Selectmen who spoke against the proposal were more concerned about the last-minute nature of it than the idea of using government money to build private housing.

“I just have a lot of questions about this proposal,” Selectman Kevin Caira said. “It’s a nice idea. It’s a nice thought. It’s something to start to talk about, but — right now — it’s not the right thing to do.”“I just have a lot of questions about this proposal,” said Selectman Kevin Caira. “It’s a nice idea. It’s a nice thought. It’s something to start to talk about, but — right now — it’s not the right thing to do.”

Wilmington residents have been split on what the government should do to address the lack of affordable housing. On one side, residents feel that the town has allowed for the addition of too many housing units which has increased traffic and eradicated the small-town feel they grew accustomed to when they first moved to Wilmington. On the other side, many long-time residents are finding it harder to afford housing in town as real estate prices increase in the greater Boston area.

For more on this story, see the Wilmington Apple. Subscribe to Wilmington Patch for more local news and real-time alerts.

Patch file photo.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).