The Housing Partnership Board unanimously supports Article 33 on the Town Meeting Warrant

[Wendy Manz]

Dear Fellow Town Meeting Members,

The Housing Partnership Board has asked me to post the following letter, which we have sent to the Select Board expressing our support for Article 33.  

Town of Lexington Select Board

1625 Massachusetts Avenue

Lexington, MA 02420

Re: Housing Partnership Board Support of Article 33, Town Warrant

March 22, 2024

Dear Select Board Members:

I am writing to express the Housing Partnership Board’s enthusiastic, unanimous support for 2024 Spring

Town Warrant Article 33. This article authorizes the Select Board to sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of

Town-owned land (parcel 68-44) for the purposes of developing affordable housing.

Recognizing this article as an early step in the process to allow the Select Board to seek to increase the

supply of much needed affordable housing, the Housing Partnership Board voted unanimously at its

March 21 meeting to support the passage of Warrant Article 33.

The Housing Partnership Board is charged with promoting and supporting the production and

preservation of housing, including housing suitable for those of low and moderate income, older persons,

and workforce housing. This is aligned with the housing goal stated in the Lexington Next

Comprehensive Plan: “to promote a wide range of housing options that respond to the needs of

households, regardless of the income and life stage.”

The Housing Partnership Board notes with approval the Affordable Housing Trust’s preparation of

detailed suggestions for content of an RFP and the Select Board members' expressions of support for the

content suggested during its meeting on March 11, 2024.

Lexington has long aimed to expand the supply of affordable housing and this is an opportunity to begin

to work toward that. We are pleased to join the broad support of the many other Lexington boards,

commissions, and committees that support Article 33 in encouraging the Select Board and Town Meeting

to approve Warrant Article 33 at the 2024 Annual Town Meeting.

Sincerely,

Wendy Manz, Chair

Lexington Housing Partnership Board