Concord Housing Advocacy
A draft planning concept for MCI-Concord. Image via Speck Dempsey c/o The Concord Bridge
As planning for the redevelopment of several major sites in Concord moves forward, the town has a “once-in-a-generation” opportunity to rethink how we prioritize, fund, and develop affordable housing.
To launch the process, the Concord Housing Foundation published a roadmap called ‘Building Community: A New Housing Strategy for Concord’ which seeks to leverage this moment to create meaningful improvements in Concord’s housing diversity."
“Once in a Generation” Challenges and Opportunities
The Housing Crisis Continues
• Concord’s median home assessed value exceeds $1.4M
• The average first-time home buyer age has risen from 28 (1991) to 40 (2025) – schools are losing students
• Police, firefighters, and service workers cannot afford to live nearby
• The town continues to lack racial, ethnic, and economic diversity
Meaningful Change is Now Possible
• Previous quantitative affordable housing target (10% SHI) has been met
• The MCI Concord master planning process is underway
• Municipal consolidation may produce several additional town-owned surplus sites
• Concord voters generally support affordable housing and inclusive zoning
Concord will never have a better chance to build a more vibrant, equitable community. Now is the time to act.
The Concord Housing Foundation (CHF) strategy lays out attainable housing goals and concrete steps to reach them.
Proposed Housing Production Strategies by Income Tier
Aligning Efforts – Next Steps
1: Set New Affordable Housing Goals
Replace the focus on SHI percentage with clear targets at each tier, building on CMAHT’s goal to create 200 units of restricted housing within 5 years
2: Expand Zoning and Incentives
Enable increased housing production at MCI and Keyes Rd, create Chapter 40Y starter home zones, incentivize PRDs for town-owned sites.
3: Secure Additional Funding Sources
Pursue real estate transfer fee legislation, One Stop for Growth grants, in-lieu payments, and federal/state low-income housing credits.
4: Sustain Town-Wide Commitment
Achieve stakeholder consensus, prioritize housing for surplus municipal land, pass zoning changes, and update the Housing Production Plan in FY27.
Please click on the links below for the full CHF housing strategy in presentation or paper form.
Concord Housing Foundation is a a non-profit 501c3 corporation dedicated to community outreach, education, and fundraising for affordable housing.
Help us by making a donation using the button below.