Could Newton Armory Be Used For Affordable Housing?

NEWTON, MA — Newton is getting closer to finding out if it can turn the historic West Newton Armory into affordable housing, after the city received a $200,000 grant to look into the possibility.

In April, Mayor Ruthanne Fuller began looking into the possibility. The plan, she said, would be to figure out if the 33,000 square foot historic property, which has sat empty for years, could be transformed into housing units. If it could, the city would buy the property for $1 from the state.

"The only way they'll give it to us for $1 is if it's 100 percent affordable housing," Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller told Patch previously. "The goal is to preserve the building and use it for affordable housing."

Newton was one of 20 to receive grant money from the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development’s Housing Choice Capital Grant Program. More than 40 applied.

The money will help fund a pre-development study to gauge whether the layout and historical significance of the armory would prohibit turning the building into housing.

"This is going to allow us to thoroughly examine the possibility of creating much-needed affordable housing at the West [Newton] Armory," Fuller said in a statement.

The City Council’s Real Property Reuse Committee and the Joint Advisory Planning Group are looking into other municipal uses for the building, should it not be a perfect spot for housing.

The proposal comes as the city is looking for ways to address an affordable housing shortage. A number of housing developments are in the works, each with a portion set aside to be dubbed affordable, but the city officials have said Newton still falls short.

In the fall, a developer finished a housing project on Austin Street, which includes 23 affordable units. Last month the city council approved the Northland Development project in Newton Upper Falls, which would develop some 22 acres of land bringing commercial space and 800 total housing units, including 140 deemed affordable (based on area median incomes). That question was opposed by a group called RightSize Newton, which petitioned it to be brought to the voters to decide.

Related:

Newton Eyes National Guard Armory To Use For Housing (April)

Newton Commits To Increase Housing As Part Of Area Coalition

Newton Councilors To Discuss Northland, Possible Vote (January 2020)

Group Of Newton Councilors Thwart Vote On Northland ( Jan. 2020)

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).