Mayor James J. Fiorentini is backing Gov. Charlie Baker’s decision to file legislation that bolsters the state’s Housing Choice Initiative to support production of 135,000 new units of housing by 2025.
Started in 2017, the program aims to use incentives and capital grant funding to encourage community-led housing efforts across the Commonwealth. Fiorentini calls last week’s legislation a step in the right direction.
“Massachusetts has a housing crisis. This bill is a small but important first step towards making it better,” Fiorentini said on social media after the Baker-Polito Administration filed the housing bill.
Haverhill has several housing-related redevelopment projects underway. As WHAV previously reported, the former Gerson furniture building is being turned into 54 units of veteran housing in March 2020, with other projects in the works to convert the former Haverhill Music Centre and Trattoria Al Forno restaurant into properties.
The mayor’s newly appointed master plan committee has been tasked with assessing the city’s future housing and development needs. Fiorentini is expected to discuss his thoughts on housing in the Haverhill during Tuesday night’s State of the City address, which WHAV broadcasts live on 97.9 FM starting at 7 p.m.