In a bid to tackle the housing crisis head-on, the Healey-Driscoll Administration has made a tangible move through its State Land for Homes initiative. As reported by Massachusetts Government, on Wednesday, a fruitful auction overseen by JJ Manning Auctioneers sold five parcels of state-owned property, amounting to nearly $3 million in revenue—a clear sign of the state's commitment to developing more affordable housing options.
These five parcels, situated across different Massachusetts towns, have been sold with conditions: a 30-day due diligence period for the buyers before the final closing. Keeping in stride with the 2024 Affordable Homes Act, these properties in Westborough, Wilmington, and Northborough come with the requirement for municipalities to permit housing at a density of minimum four units per acre, alongside obligations to comply with Inclusionary Zoning for affordable housing.
“This auction is an important milestone in our efforts to make state-owned land available for housing development, so we can get more reasonably priced homes built more quickly in this state,” Governor Maura Healey stated in a Massachusetts Government press release. Advancing the larger strategy for housing, the administration has implemented several initiatives, including the Affordable Homes Act, the MBTA Communities Law, and the Momentum Fund, since the inception of the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities last year.
Highlighted during the auction was the community-focused intent behind the sold parcels. Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll remarked on the positive impact that these public-private partnerships hold for easing the housing shortage. Following the auction, Secretary of the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities Ed Augustus expressed, “By turning surplus state land into new homes at a range of price points, we’re creating more affordable choices for Massachusetts residents while putting parcels back on the local tax rolls,” according to Massachusetts Government.
On the administrative side, Adam Baacke, Commissioner of the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance, praised the outcome of the auction, citing it as a major accomplishment within the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s housing initiative. The proceeds nearing $3 million manifest not just as revenue, but more importantly, as potential housing solutions for the Commonwealth's residents. Since Governor Healey’s tenure, the aggressive push for housing development has purportedly led to over 90,000 new homes being constructed or in the pipeline—a reflection of the administration's comprehensive approach to the housing quandary.
