For Immediate Release

 On June 3, 2010, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick signed into law legislation initially proposed and supported by the Walden Woods Project that will transfer a parcel of state-owned land in the town of Concord, MA (outside of historic Walden Woods) for affordable housing and open space. Chapter 117 of the Acts of 2010 filed by Representative Cory Atkins (D-Concord) and Senator Susan Fargo (D-Lincoln) conveys a 12 acre parcel under the control of the Massachusetts Department of Correction (DOC) to the Concord Housing Development Corporation (CHDC) to facilitate the development of affordable housing in Concord.

Kathi Anderson, Executive Director of the Walden Woods Project, said, “For nearly twenty years, we have been a partner in Concord’s conservation and historic preservation efforts. This initiative affords another opportunity for partnership with the Town. It is a culmination of the Walden Woods Project’s commitment to affordable housing in Concord that dates back to 1990 when the organization acquired its first conservation site in historic Walden Woods. A portion of that site had been proposed for affordable housing, and we are very pleased that we have been able to identify a viable new location outside of Walden Woods for affordable units. We are proud to be a part of this unique collaborative effort.”

Since this new law requires that 100 percent of the units be affordable, the conveyance of this land will go a long way toward helping the town meet its affordable housing goals. The CHDC will manage the project and determine the design and affordability guidelines. The units will likely be offered at a range of income levels, from 80 percent to 150 percent of the area median income. Using the 2010 limits for a family of four, published by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), eligibility would likely be based on gross incomes ranging from $64,400 to $137,700.

Selectman Greg Howes, speaking on behalf of the Concord Board of Selectmen, praised the bill’s passage, stating, “With the enactment of this legislation, the Walden Woods Project fulfills its longstanding affordable housing commitment to the Town of Concord. A strong partnership between the Town, the Walden Woods Project, the Concord Housing Development Corporation, state and local officials yielded this successful outcome. Conveying this land to the Concord Housing Development Corporation will benefit the residents of Concord in the form of a smart growth project to help the Town reach its affordable housing goals and open up public access to a currently underutilized portion of the Assabet River.”

The proposal for the land transfer was brought to Rep. Atkins’ attention by the Walden Woods Project (WWP), which has been working collaboratively for nearly two years with the Representative, Concord town officials, the CHDC and the DOC to make the site available for affordable housing and publicly accessible open space along the Assabet River.

Representative Atkins stated, “This endeavor is a fine example of public-private partnership. The Walden Woods Project has worked hand-in-hand with Concord officials and with me to provide the resources needed to make this proposal a reality. Concord will benefit from having a smart growth, affordable housing project along with the potential for more open space and access to the Assabet River in that location.”

“Making housing more available and affordable is a wonderful goal,” said Senator Susan Fargo. “The reality of this new law came about through hard work of the town of Concord, the Walden Woods Project and the Concord Housing Development Corporation. The cooperation and coordination between the state and local leaders is an example of not only building relationships but also building homes,” said Senator Fargo.

The site is close to the West Concord commuter rail station and commercial district. In addition to being an ideal location for affordable housing, the property has considerable potential for open space and passive recreation. It abuts the proposed Bruce Freeman Rail Trail and an underutilized and currently inaccessible section of the federally-designated wild and scenic Assabet River. The property also includes a 320 foot setback from MCI Concord.

"The Massachusetts Department of Correction is pleased to have been an integral part of the Walden Woods collaborative effort," said DOC Commissioner Harold W. Clarke.

In accordance with state law, the fair market value of the land will be determined by an independent appraiser. The WWP has agreed to help the CHDC pay the appraised market value, so town funds will not be used to buy the land. The Walden Woods Project covered the costs of environmental and preliminary site engineering.

Mike Malouf, the former Chairman of the CHDC and the member who has led this project for them, said, "The Concord Housing Development Corporation is extremely pleased to obtain this land from the Department of Correction. The work that the Walden Woods Project, Representative Atkins and Senator Fargo have done not only fulfills the Walden Woods Project’s commitment to affordable housing, but it helps continue our focus on increasing affordable housing here in Concord. This site is unusually attractive in that it provides all of the things that one would look at for affordable housing, such as ease of access to public transportation, proximity to a business district, and an economic situation that can speed completion of the project. We should be starting the first phase of the project as soon as the site transfer is complete."