Day of Action Recap

Building Stronger Community
Through Housing Solutions

On January 20th, WATCH hosted its annual Day of Action in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. The event featured a dynamic panel of city leaders engaging in an open dialogue focused on addressing Waltham's housing challenges, particularly the absence of a defined plan to expand affordable housing. Guided by Dr. King’s vision of equity and justice, the discussion highlighted actionable solutions to ensure housing that is accessible, safe, and equitable for all residents.

The moderated discussion focused on:
Exploring common challenges and potential solution in housing policy. Robert Logan – Ward 9 City Councilor, presented Waltham’s current housing policies and plans. He highlighted issues like the lack of mandatory affordable housing, slow progress under the MBTA Communities Act, and the limited pro-housing stance among city council members. Councilor Logan emphasized the importance of a Financial Feasibility Study to better balance housing costs for developers
and residents.

Discussed the role of local government and community organizations in addressing housing issues. Alex Koppelman - Gloucester’s Community Development Director presented Gloucester’s approach to community development including the benefits of subsidized land for developers and lessons that could be applied in Waltham to strengthen partnerships with local governments.

Colleen Bradley-MacArthur provided insights on community engagement stressing the importance of grassroots efforts to advocate for sustainable development.

Tom Benavides highlighted the challenges faced by housing advocates including restrictive zoning laws and lack of awareness about policies like Chapter 40B. At the Event was also highlighted the Watch’s Housing Rights Notification Ordinance, which empowers residents by ensuring they have information about programs, resources and their rights to prevent or at the time of evictions.

Actionable opportunities highlighted at the event:
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU’s), small and affordable housing options, were highlighted as a practical solution. However, current zoning laws heavily restrict their construction in Waltham. A proposed zoning review could open opportunities for ADU’s city wide, providing affordable spaces for families, serios and low-income workers.

Chapter 40B Development:
This tool allows developers to bypass zoning restrictions enabling the creation of affordable housing on state/city-owned parcels. It was emphasized as a key resource for Waltham to consider.

Community Support:
Participant called for greater involvement of residents and city officials to support pro-housing policies, emphasizing collaboration as essential for progress.

Call to Action:
A key outcome to the event was the signing of a letter urging the city council to revise restrictive zoning laws and adopt policies to support ADU’s and affordable housing initiatives. The letter highlights the community’s demand for flexible, affordable housing options. The event concluded with a commitment to continue the conversation and share updates on upcoming initiatives. Participants were encouraged to remain engaged and advocate for actionable solutions.