Execs Inform Governor Housing Prices Placing Drag On Enterprise Enlargement
BURLINGTON, MASS., JAN. 28, 2025……In Burlington to advertise her 10-year transportation funding plan, Gov. Maura Healey additionally occurred to be in the suitable place to speak up new housing development after what her transportation chief referred to as a “historic vote” simply 12 hours earlier.
Burlington City Assembly voted overwhelmingly Monday evening in assist of a mixed-use district to function each housing and business house centered across the Burlington Mall.
After Healey touted her $8 billion transportation plan in a Division of Public Works break room, Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt chimed in concerning the vote to “reinforce Burlington’s dedication to housing.”
“They’re going all in on this. So I feel this was nice timing to have the ability to come out and simply say thanks,” Tibbits-Nutt stated.
Healey stated she appreciated the native assist to assist transfer the state towards its housing targets. Different cities, like Milton and Needham, have been bitter on the concept of adopting state-mandated MBTA Communities zoning plans. Burlington voted final yr for a separate plan to adjust to the MBTA zoning mandate.
“OK, like I’ve stated, there are some cities which can be preventing us on this. And look, I grew up in a small city. I perceive among the NIMBY-ism,” the governor stated. “However on the finish of the day, your youngsters can not afford to remain within the state if we don’t construct extra housing. Proper? Grandparents can’t afford to downsize and keep in Massachusetts close to their grandkids due to housing prices.”
Healey pointed to “actually scorching” life sciences and know-how companies finding round Burlington, which sits on the intersection of Route 128 and Route 3. However she stated folks on the firms inform her they’re not sure about remaining or increasing as a result of housing prices make it tough to recruit new expertise.
Burlington’s mixed-use district envisions “strategic infill” across the mall, city financial growth director Melisa Tintocalis stated. The world options round 3 million sq. ft of asphalt and has not considerably modified in 65 years, she stated.
On a tour of the DPW barn, native officers eagerly gave the governor particulars of their plan, which Selectman James Tigges stated handed City Assembly with round 90 p.c voting in favor.
The landslide vote was not the results of “an MBTA play or another factor,” Tintocalis stated. “It’s our selection for sensible progress. That’s large. As a result of we perceive the financial profit.”
