Town Government &
  Services:

Committees Home Page

Hingham Affordable Housing Trust

Projects

Minutes

Contact Us

Committees: Hingham Affordable Housing Trust

Affordable Housing Trust

The Hingham Affordable Housing Trust Fund aims to further the following goals:

• The Trust seeks to preserve affordable housing through a variety of means which will benefit both current homeowners and potential new residents.
• The Trust will propose, support and develop affordable housing that contributes positively to the character of the town, considering both Hingham’s history and its future.
• The Trust will engage in education and advocacy with the goal of promoting the diversity of Hingham’s population.

Please see Article 39 of the Hingham Town By-Laws for information about the Hingham Affordable Housing Trust.

2009 Annual Report

The Hingham Affordable Housing Trust was created by a Town Warrant Article in 2007. The Trust is one of several state-authorized affordable housing trusts that work with Massachusetts and Town agencies to preserve existing housing opportunities and increase future housing for low and moderate-income persons. Increasing the stock of affordable housing benefits many different constituencies, including Town employees without the resources to live in the Town they serve, older Hingham residents on fixed incomes, former residents seeking to return to Town, young adults raised in Hingham but unable to afford a Hingham residence, and other persons with a stake in the community and a desire to live in it. To this end, the Trust co-sponsored the 2008 article that authorized the Town’s purchase of Lincoln School Apartments. The Trust is the sole member of LSA, LLC, and appoints 2 members of the Board of Managers.

The Trustees are appointed by the Board of Selectmen and include one member of that Board. The Trust has a wide range of powers, including the power to receive money and property and to undertake projects to improve affordable housing opportunities in Hingham. The Trust’s mission statement is as follows:
• The Trust seeks to preserve affordable housing through a variety of means which will benefit both current homeowners and potential new residents.
• The Trust will propose, support and develop affordable housing that contributes positively to the character of the town, considering both Hingham’s history and its future.
• The Trust will engage in education and advocacy with the goal of promoting the diversity of Hingham’s population.

An article authorizing a plan to develop the “Selectmen’s Parcel” in the old Naval Ammunition Depot off Beal Street into 20-40 affordable units was approved at the 2005 Town Meeting, and the Board of Selectmen released an RFP for this project in the fall of 2006. A developer was selected in 2007. The Trust assumed the former Housing Partnership Committee’s responsibilities with regard to planning and overseeing this development; unfortunately, due to the economic situation, the development of the Selectmen’s Parcel was delayed. The Trust has now started work on a Request for Qualifications process in order to permit and provide layout design for the Selectmen’s Parcel. This will provide both greater Town control over the development and a “shovel ready” project for prospective developers. The RFQ is scheduled to be released in early spring 2010.

The Trust was advised in July that the Amego property at 80 Beal Street was for sale. This site was a former group home and includes 3 acres of land abutting the selectmen’s parcel. A joint decision by the selectmen and the Trust was made to purchase this property and to renovate it into 3-4 affordable home ownership units. The goal is to have the units ready for sale within two years.

The Trust appreciates the cooperation of the Board of Selectmen, the Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Appeals, as well as other Town boards and officials. The Trust also appreciates input and assistance from Town citizens, all of whom are welcome to attend its meetings.