WORCESTER—On Thursday, the city announced that JM Goldson, a renowned team of planners and a Massachusetts-certified Women Business Enterprise (WBE), would spearhead the development of a comprehensive five-year Housing Production Plan.
Funded through a grant from the FY2023 Housing Choice Grant Program, the initiative looks to bolster housing availability and affordability for Worcester’s residents.
JM Goldson’s role extends beyond drafting the plan; they will also offer advisory support in formulating an action plan for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board of Trustees.
Working under the auspices of the city’s Executive Office of Economic Development, JM Goldson, in collaboration with RKG Associates, orchestrates a Housing Production Plan to assess housing needs and demands. Officials say the planning process aims to pinpoint obstacles and propose viable solutions to streamline new housing development.
Over the five years, JM Goldsten will pore over data as it relates to housing needs; analyze physical and regulatory constraints, come up with a housing production target (in real numbers); and implement a strategy to hit these goals.
This assessment will serve as the cornerstone for setting specific development objectives and devising an implementation strategy to achieve them. Furthermore, the plan outlines strategies to maximize the use of city resources, as well as local, state, and federal initiatives, to address the demand for affordable housing.
“The selection of JM Goldson marks an important milestone in our ongoing efforts to support housing development in Worcester and promote policies that further housing stability, supply, and subsidy,” said City Manager Eric D. Batista in a press release. “We look forward to the insights and recommendations that will emerge from this comprehensive planning process.”
For more information on the Housing Production Plan and upcoming community engagement opportunities, visit the Housing Production Plan webpage or contact development@worcesterma.gov.
Send news to Charlene Arsenault at carsenault@theworcesterguardian.org
