Margo, If I'm not mistaken the WGBH articles were based on a report that showed people under 36 dominate the outflow. Main concerns being cost of living, housing availability, traffic and weather. As someone who will be in that cohort for another 20 days I can say anecdotally that those concerns line up with many in my circle. People are wondering whether they can afford to have *a* kid, remain in their apartment or if they'll ever be able to own a home. I can say they aren't wondering which of the 3 homes for sale in Lincoln (starting at $1.26mil) they'd move into.
I know we have an economist or two lurking on here but in my mind thousands of empty units means lower prices. I'd guess it will move much more slowly than that. Hopefully at very least slowing the increases we've seen over the past few years despite rising interest rates, but I'm way out of my element so I'll stop. One thing I do know for a fact is that in the 3 short years my family has been here we could no longer afford to live in Lincoln if we had to do it all over again. - Chris On Thu, Dec 7, 2023 at 5:20 PM Margo Fisher-Martin < margo.fisher.mar...@gmail.com> wrote: > Hi, > > Just some food for thought - according to a recent WGBH article, the trend > for the past 2 years is that people have been moving out of Massachusetts. > What will happen when every town on the commuter rail builds hundreds of > new units at every station at the same time? In our case, it will be 90% > high end market rate units. With a net outflow of people (more people > moving out of our state than in), who will be filling these thousands and > thousands of units? > Also, if we are to believe what we’ve been told, this will not happen > overnight - thus there will not be more housing now, and if this does get > built, is there really a luxury unit crisis in Lincoln that these new units > will remedy? > > Respectfully, > > Margo Martin > > > > On Thu, Dec 7, 2023 at 4:41 PM Staci Montori <stacimont...@gmail.com> > wrote: > >> Hi Lynn, >> >> Another way to look at the numbers from Saturday's vote is: *62% of the >> voters* on Saturday voted for a plan that includes rezoning the mall, >> the only area where there is currently a plan in the works to increase >> homes to help with the housing crisis. As a proponent for more housing NOW, >> I found this number very encouraging. >> >> Way to go Lincoln. :) >> >> Best, >> Staci Montori >> 84 Codman Road >> >> >> On Thu, Dec 7, 2023 at 12:28 PM Lynne Smith <ly...@smith.net> wrote: >> >>> Below is my article published today in the Lincoln Squirrel. It is >>> edited slightly for Lincoln Talk. >>> >>> ------------------- >>> >>> My Turn: With measured success, officials grapple with HCA vote at >>> multi-board meeting >>> <https://lincolnsquirrel.com/2023/12/y-turn-with-measured-success-officials-grapple-with-hca-vote-at-multi-board-meeting/> >>> >>> December 7, 2023 By Lynne Smith >>> >>> >>> <https://lincolnsquirrel.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/myturn-sm-feb2021.jpg> >>> >>> On December 2, Lincoln residents voted with the recommendations of the >>> Planning Board (PB) and the Housing Choice Act Working Group (HCAWG) to >>> adopt Option C. On December 4 at a multi-board meeting, the two groups were >>> aware that the vote was not an overwhelming majority. In fact, Option C >>> received 55% of the votes while Option E, developed by the grassroots >>> organization Lincoln Residents for Housing Alternatives (LRHA), received >>> 38%. Select Chair Jim Hutchison expressed his view that he would like to >>> see a higher level of support for the proposed rezoning by the March 23 >>> Town Meeting, even though only a majority vote will be needed. >>> >>> To gain greater support, the PB and the HCAWG have work to do to create >>> Lincoln’s option for compliance with the Massachusetts Housing Choice Act. >>> The PB must develop the bylaws and the HCAWG must communicate them to >>> residents who are now more fully aware of the impact such development can >>> have on the Town. >>> Developer bylaws for 800+ units are key >>> >>> At the multi-board meeting, members focused on the best ways to adopt >>> bylaws to allow HCA development that will now be concentrated within half a >>> mile of the MBTA station. The HCA model for Option C gives the town credit >>> for 648 housing units, but the LRHA estimates that approximately 800 new >>> housing units could be developed on a by right basis within that small >>> area. The impact of this development on the town will depend in large part >>> on the content of the zoning bylaws to be proposed by the PB and presumably >>> adopted by the town. At Saturday’s Special Town Meeting, the Selects >>> presented a chart listing the types of “guardrails,” which the town can >>> impose on developments. It appears that the Planning Board and Selects >>> expect the members of the HCAWG to be part of this process. >>> >>> The content of these bylaws is extremely important and must be carefully >>> drafted to impose appropriate standards for by right development that will >>> win town support and pass HCA compliance requirements. >>> Outreach and input are important >>> >>> Select Kim Bodnar emphasized the importance of a steady stream of >>> communication to town residents, especially those most affected by the >>> rezoning in and near the Option C parcels: Codman Road, Lewis Street, >>> Lincoln Woods, Lincoln Road, and the mall. Margaret Olson, chair of the PB, >>> suggested that HCAWG should manage outreach while coordinating with PB and >>> the Selects. PB vice chair Lynn De Lisi said that just outreach is not >>> enough and that every meeting of the PB and HCAWG should allow public >>> input. HCAWG member Terri Perlmutter said that there had been a “loss of >>> trust” as residents felt that developers would be given a “free rein” >>> because details of the zoning were not fully communicated. She felt this >>> created a disconnect with residents. >>> >>> Communication with residents is a vital part of the work of the >>> town-appointed groups. >>> Meetings and topics need organized scheduling >>> >>> Between now and March 23, the PB plans to schedule weekly meetings to >>> write and deliberate on the proposed bylaws. Craig Nicholson of the HCAWG >>> suggested that the meetings could be organized by topic — for example, >>> height of the buildings, setbacks, energy efficiency and sustainability, >>> and overall design. This meeting format would help participants focus on >>> the key bylaw provisions, allow residents to tune in to the topics of >>> greatest interest, and help organizations such as the Green Energy >>> Committee, FOMA, and LRHA to contribute expertise in a timely manner. Susan >>> Hall Mygatt requested that draft guidelines be issued prior to the >>> scheduled meetings. >>> >>> All of these meeting suggestions would facilitate better discussions, >>> shorter meetings, and greater resident participation. >>> Outside expertise still needed >>> >>> Director of Planning and Land Use Paula Vaughn-MacKenzie said that >>> Utile, the consulting firm that helped develop the C and D options, could >>> continue its role up through the March Annual Town Meeting. If we run out >>> of grant money for this service, we might have to use town funds. Town >>> counsel will continue to be consulted for zoning bylaws. Officials at the >>> multi-board meeting said that the Rural Land Foundation (RLF) needs to >>> provide more information about the potential and proposed development at >>> the mall. They also pointed out that residents need to know what it will >>> look like, what the footprint will be, and the details of parking and >>> traffic studies. Susan Hall Mygatt suggested that several residents in town >>> be invited to sit on the HCAWG in an advisory capacity. Rather than >>> commenting on the draft language from “outside” the Planning Board, they >>> could actually help draft bylaws and develop models. This would increase >>> participation in the process and would likely lead to increased public >>> support for the proposed bylaws. >>> Voting tabulation at Town Meeting >>> >>> With over 800 people attending the December 2 Special Town Meeting, the >>> Select Board discussed the difficulty of tabulating ballots on the spot. As >>> many residents who stayed for the entire eight-hour meeting noted, about >>> three of those hours were spent wandering around while the votes were >>> tabulated. While it was fun to get coffee and snacks from the Girl Scouts >>> and eat sandwiches brought from home sitting in the hallways of the >>> sparkling new school, it would be better if the time were spent actually >>> discussing the issues at hand. More people could have participated if the >>> meeting were shorter. Select Jim Hutchinson bravely faced the topic head on >>> and said he would look into it. Good luck, Jim! >>> >>> >>> The multi-board meeting closed with 41 people attending on line and >>> several in the Donaldson Room. Many Lincoln residents will be paying close >>> attention to the Planning Board meetings where the drafts of bylaws will be >>> discussed. Planning Board meeting dates, agendas, and minutes can be found >>> here <http://www.lincolntown.org/147/Planning-Board>. >>> ------------------------------ >>> Lynne Smith >>> 5 Tabor Hill Road >>> Lincoln, MA 01773 >>> cell: 781-258-1175 >>> ly...@smith.net >>> >>> -- >>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>> To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. >>> Browse the archives at >>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>> Change your subscription settings at >>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>> >>> -- >> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >> To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. >> Browse the archives at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >> Change your subscription settings at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >> >> -- > The LincolnTalk mailing list. > To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. > Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/ > . > Change your subscription settings at > https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. > >
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