Braintree To Spend $2.25 Million On Shaw St. Affordable Housing

BRAINTREE, MA — The Braintree Town Council last week approved spending $2.25 million to convert part of the Shaw Street apartment building into affordable housing units.

The town will pay Windjammer Cove LLC for a permanent deed restriction requiring 19 of the apartments to beat leased for below market. Tenants will have to meet certain income requirements to be eligible for the affordable housing.

"This is the perfect part of town to be doing this type of thing," said At-large Town Councilor Charles Ryan. "It makes perfect sense."

About half the money, $1.1 million, will come from excess profits from the Turtle Crossing condominiums, a 201-unit complex built under the state Chapter 40B law, intended to expand affordable housing across Massachusetts.

The rest of the money will come from the town's Community Preservation Act fund, which doesn't come out of the town's operating budget.

"This project will add to Braintree's affordable housing inventory," Town Councilor Meredith Boericke said. "This will help provide housing options for middle income residents. It's an ideal location. People can walk or bike to services or public transportation"

Mayor Charles Kokoros said approving the plan would move Braintree closer to the "safe harbor" requirements from Chapter 40B. Safe harbor communities are allowed to block developers that under law, are typically allowed to avoid local zoning rules, if the town doesn't have enough affordable housing.