Developers propose 40B housing project on Main Street in Shrewsbury

SHREWSBURY – A nearly 200-unit, development may be coming to Shrewsbury.

KIG Real Estate Advisors presented their plans for a proposed 40B housing development at 104 Main Street to the Board of Selectmen on Aug. 23.

The developers are proposing to construct the project as a “friendly 40B,” meaning that it would be constructed through the state Department of Housing and Community Development Local Initiative Program (LIP) and would allow the town to negotiate with the developers.

According to Massachusetts State Law, in each municipality, at least 10% of the housing stock must be affordable. The current percentage of the affordable housing stock in Shrewsbury is 6.42%.

What is proposed

According to KIG Real Estate Advisors Founder Justin Krebs, they are proposing to construct 190 units on the approximately six-acre site.

Krebs said the development would be a “first class building” marketed to families and young professionals and include studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments.

The site is currently used to store trucks that are out of operation, and there are currently no active stormwater control systems, according to Krebs.

Senior Project Manager of Embarc Design Steve Regal said he believes the developers are “lucky” because the housing production plan recognizes that there are not large tracts of land available for affordable housing in Shrewsbury.

“This is available in an area where we don’t feel we are going to be very impactful to neighbors,” he added.

The project would include a south facing courtyard with a pool, a fitness center, a club space and remote work spaces.

Regal said they were hoping to use the two existing curb cuts onto North Quinsigamond Avenue. He said they “tried to maintain the existing vegetation as much as possible” as part of their plans.

“We have spoken with the Department of Public Works related to the sewer capacity and other components. We feel like the project is viable, but there would be significantly more study on traffic, fiscal impacts, engineering, etc.,” said Krebs.

Other 40B projects in Shrewsbury

The developers have also completed projects in Winchester, Scituate, Medway, Bridgewater, Framingham and Brighton.

Though the plans for the units are not fully developed, the developers are proposing that the one-bedroom apartments include larger living and dining room areas. The two-bedroom apartments would include a living room and interior den. This configuration is based off their other developments.

Krebs noted the den would not be a “suitable extra bedroom.”

“There’s no window, no closet and there aren’t any doors on them. We’re trying to address it to be a work office, not for somebody to say, ‘Oh I can slide another bedroom in’ Unless you’re an infant, you won’t be able to make your way around it if it is used as a bedroom,” he said.

This is not the only proposed 40B project in Shrewsbury on the horizon. Earlier this summer, the selectmen signed a development agreement for a senior housing project on South Street.

Krebs addressed concerns about the congestion this project would add to Shrewsbury, in addition to the other 40B projects that are underway in town.

“If you look at the state stats and the overall need, we are still 30,000–40,000 units below what we need in the suburbs,” he said.

As part of the next steps for the project, Town Manager Kevin Mizikar said he believes the developers will request the Board of Selectmen to work with them in formally submitting a LIP application.

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