Swampscott Seeks to Improve Housing Stock in Town

There is a dearth of senior and affordable housing in Swampscott, especially of the single-family variety. So says the results of a recent housing forum in town. More insight from residents is sought in another upcoming forum.

The town and Metropolitan Area Planning Council are seeking the public’s input to establish housing goals, strategies for achieving those goals, and an implementation plan. Another forum is scheduled on Thursday, Oct. 15, 7-9 p.m., at the Swampscott Senior Center, 200 Essex St. (rear).

MAPC is working with the town to develop a Housing Production Plan (HPP) to guide the town in a housing strategy that will address both market-rate and affordable housing preservation and development as well as meeting the needs for senior housing. Through community input, the Housing Production Plan will identify the town’s housing needs, demand, opportunities, challenges and goals for the future.

The Housing Production Plan will also inform the Swampscott 2025: The Master Plan housing element, and will assist the town in meeting its state-mandated affordable production target.

This is the second of two public forums as part of the Swampscott Housing Production Plan process. Full findings from the first housing forum, which was part of Swampscott 2025: The Master Plan Public Forum #2 in June 2015, can be found at http://tinyurl.com/Forum1Results.

Residents can register for the forum online by visiting http://mapc.ma/SwampscottHPP. Registration is not required, but is recommended to help the town prepare for the meeting. For more information or for special accommodations, contact Ralph Willmer, MAPC Principal Planner at rwillmer@mapc.org or 617-933-0700.

To learn more about the Swampscott Housing Production Plan and/or the Swampscott 2025: The Master Plan process, contact Swampscott Town Planner Peter Kane at 781-596-8829 or pkane@town.swampscott.ma.us.

For more, visit http://swampscott2025.mapc.org.