Newton Edges Forward On Using Armory For Affordable Housing

NEWTON, MA — The city took a step closer toward acquiring the castle-like National Guard Armory building on Washington Street last month and now has a group of residents and a consultant looking at whether its feasible for the city to renovate it and turn into affordable housing units.

"We needed special legislation from the House, Senate and the Governor to move forward," said Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller in a statement.

Governor Charlie Baker finally signed the special legislation that authorized the state to convey the armory to the city on Aug. 14, she said.

The legislation allows the future use of the armory in three possible scenarios. It could buying the armory for $1 and using the entire building for affordable housing. It could buy the building for a percentage of the full market value and use it for municipal needs, or it could sell it to a private developer.

The City has until the end of this year, to decide whether to purchase the property and to complete its purchase.

A Joint Advisory Planning Group, a group of nine Newton residents appointed by Fuller and the City Council, is evaluating the options and working with a Boston-based finance and development company Affirmative Investments, according to the mayor. The group will then submit a recommendation to the City Council’s Real Property Reuse Committee.

A $200,000 grant from the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development’s Housing Choice Capital Grant Program allowed the City to hire the consultant.

Although the City Council and the Zoning Board of Appeals have recently permitted projects with percentages of affordable housing units included in them like Northland, Riverdale, and Dunstan East the armory could have all units dubbed affordable.

The units would be reserved for people who make 80 percent of the area medium income or lower, according to the mayor.

"This would enable low-income individuals, families, veterans or older people to have a home in Newton, a critically important goal for our community," Fuller said.

The building at 1137 Washington St was most recently used as a recruiting office for the US Army National Guard. In years past, recreational volleyball teams would have their games inside.

The 2010 census had Newton at 32,648 housing units, although the city website puts housing in the city at 31,975 currently. The anticipated total for 2030 for large multi-families with more than 50 units under construction in 2018, include the Austin Street development with 68 and Washington Place with 140.

Read more:

• Could Newton Armory Be Used For Affordable Housing?
• Newton Eyes National Guard Armory To Use For ...
• Newton Commits To Increase Housing As Part Of Area Coalition

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).