The Concord Housing Development Corporation (CHDC), which is an independent non-profit agency, will hold a public meeting at the Harvey Wheeler Community Center on April 14 to discuss the potential development of prison owned land.
The following press release has been issued:
The Concord Housing Development Corporation is sponsoring a public meeting April 14, 7:30 at the Harvey Wheeler Center to discuss the potential development of prison owned land.
Almost two decades ago, the Walden Woods Project made a promise to the town to find a suitable location for affordable housing. The first step towards that promise was recently taken by state Representative Cory Atkins, who filed legislation that would allow the Department of Correction to sell the land to the town's quasi-public housing corporation for market price.
The project is far from becoming a reality and many details are yet to be worked out. If the land deal goes through, the housing corporation would have to follow the regular town permitting process, which involves extensive environmental and planning review.
The overall goal of the effort is to develop more affordable community housing so more people in mixed-age groups and mixed-income levels can afford to live in town, while completing the Walden Woods commitments and providing new recreational offerings.
Preliminary plans call for the Concord Housing Development Corporation to buy about 10 acres from the Department of Correction to build condominiums with income restrictions in perpetuity, while incorporating new access to the Assabet River.
This special meeting is an opportunity for all the groups involved to understand the proposal, process, and timetable.
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