COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY Woburn Redevelopment Authority City of

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY Woburn Redevelopment Authority City of Woburn December 12, 2013

Massachusetts Community Development Block Grant Program Massachusetts CDBG Program COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY The CD Strategy must do the following: • Summarize the community’s various planning documents; • Specify community development goals and objectives; • Identify proposed CD target areas; and, • Indicate how the strategy complies with the Commonwealth’s Sustainable Development Principles.

Woburn’s Planning Documents • Vision 2020 Plan, December, 2005 • Woburn Square Revitalization Plan, May, 2000 • Open Space and Recreation Plan, June, 2004

Woburn Vision 2020 December, 2005 • Based on extensive process of community participation; • Functions as the City’s Master Plan document; and, • Identifies needs and sets priority goals and objectives in the areas of open space, housing, economic development, and transportation.

Woburn Square Revitalization Plan May, 2000 • Identified existing blighted conditions in downtown target area; • Set overall goals and objectives for downtown revitalization, • Proposed a program of short term and long term activities in the areas of building rehabilitation, business development, lighting and streetscape improvements, downtown promotion , and zoning.

Open Space & Recreation Plan June, 2004 • Inventories existing open space and recreation resources; • Analyzes need for open space and recreation facilities based on local demographics; • Identifies trends in the creation and loss of open space and recreation facilities; • Identifies goals and objectives.

Massachusetts CDBG Program FY 2014 Allocation Program Component Allocation Community Development Fund I $15, 535, 615 Community Development Fund II $ 2, 700, 000 Mini-Entitlement Program $ 8, 100, 000 Economic Development Fund $ 1, 600, 000 Reserves $ 150, 000 Section 108 Loan Repayments $ 330, 000 DHCD Administration $ 981, 926 TOTAL $29, 497, 541

Massachusetts Community Development Block Grant Program NATIONAL OBJECTIVES • Benefit to Low and Moderate Income Persons (at least 70% of all funds, statewide) • Elimination of Slums and Blight (no more than 30% of all funds, statewide) • Urgent Need (public emergencies only, not applicable)

FY 2013 Low and Moderate Income Limits Boston Metro MSA Area Household Size 1 person 2 persons 3 persons Maximum Income $47, 150 $53, 900 $60, 650 4 persons 5 persons 6 persons 7 persons 8 persons $67, 350 $72, 750 $78, 150 $83, 550 $88, 950

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TARGET AREA

CDBG Eligible Activities • Housing Rehabilitation • Economic Development • Public Facilities which serve the needs of low/moderate income people • Infrastructure • Public Social Services, in conjunction with other activities (must not exceed 20% of total amount requested) • Planning

Open Space Priorities 2012 CDS Ranking • High Priority – Whispering Hill upgrades • High Priority – Develop multi-use paths on former railroad rights-of-way • Medium Priority – Improve recreation and open space opportunities in the community development target area • Medium Priority – Preserve and improve existing parks

Housing Priorities 2012 CDS Ranking • High Priority – Preservation of existing affordable housing • Medium Priority – Encourage more mixed-use downtown • Medium Priority – provide more senior housing in Woburn Square • Low Priority – Pursue transit-oriented development at Mishawum Train Station

Economic Development and Woburn Square Revitalization Priorities 2012 CDS Ranking • High Priority – Parking System Improvements in Woburn Square • High Priority – Add additional parking spaces in the Downtown area • Medium Priority – Continue to assist property owners with business expansion and property rehabilitation improvements

Infrastructure and Transportation Priorities 2012 CDS Ranking • High Priority – Provide better access to the Anderson Regional Transportation Center by rebuilding the New Boston Street Bridge • High Priority – Sidewalk Improvements for ADA compliance • High Priority – Reconstruct Substandard Roadways in the Woburn CDBG Target Area • Medium Priority – Improve traffic operations throughout the City

Public Social Services Priorities 2012 CDS Ranking • High Priority – Support services for low income elderly residents that allow them to retain their independence and remain in their own houses • High Priority – Job-related child-care services • Medium Priority – foreclosure prevention counseling • Low Priority – Financial literacy training • Low Priority – First-time homebuyer training and assistance

Next Steps • Additional public comments can be made by mail or by emailing them to tsousa@cityofwoburn. com until December 20, 2013 • Input used to update the CDS and propose activities for CDBG grant application • Public Hearing January 2 nd to finalize CDS and discuss CDBG grant application