The Marblehead Housing Authority continues to explore the proposed $67 million redevelopment of the Broughton Road public housing community in partnership with WinnDevelopments. During the May 21 meeting, board members and the public raised additional questions and concerns about the project.
MHA Executive Director Cathy Hoog provided updates on the ongoing discussions with WinnDevelopments as they establish terms for a potential memorandum of understanding.
While Hoog expressed confidence in WinnDevelopments based on references and the company’s track record, some board members emphasized the need to thoroughly vet the proposal given the project’s scale and long-term implications.
“This is probably one of the biggest monetary things that’s public or private that’s happened since they built the high school,” said board member William Kuker. “It’s going to be there for a long, long time. And it has to be done right at every aspect, that construction has to be absolutely as good as you could get.”
Board members also discussed the importance of protecting current residents during construction. They stressed the relocation process must provide comparable, subsidized housing options and cover all associated costs so tenants do not lose any benefits or services they currently have. School transportation will need to be maintained for relocated families with children.
“The tenants have choice,” Hoog said regarding relocation. “We have to provide them with what they need, and it needs to be subsidized as well.”
Kurt James with the Fair Housing Committee emphasized that current residents have a statutory right to return to the redeveloped complex. He explained that during the estimated 18-month construction period, residents would be temporarily relocated to other public housing units or provided with subsidized housing options in the private market.
“We have to find a way that we can do this and balance what is the best for the tenants now and in the future, as well as maintaining the property,” the board’s chair, Jenn Schaeffner, said. “If this doesn’t work for the developer who came to us, then we can’t redevelop this property, and I don’t know that that’s in the best interests of tenants either.”
Questions remain about the Housing Authority’s role after the redevelopment. Under the current proposal, WinnDevelopments would become the property manager collecting, while the Housing Authority would no longer manage the property directly. Some worry this structure could reduce the Housing Authority’s ability to serve its mission and maintain control.
The tenant selection process was another topic of debate, with some advocating for preferences for local residents, veterans and essential workers.
“A major concern of mine is who decides who lives there,” said Kuker. “Will the board have any say in that? I mean, why not? It’s Marblehead Housing Authority. We have our waiting lists. Is everybody on that waiting list just out the window?”
However, Hoog explained that fair housing laws and funding source requirements may limit the Housing Authority’s ability to provide those preferences. Tenant selection must follow a regulated, data-driven process focused on fairness and equal opportunity.
Hoog said she expects to have a recommendation ready for the board to vote on designating WinnDevelopments as the developer at the June meeting. The board decided to move its next meeting to June 25 at 7 p.m. in order to enable more community participation.
