Shrewsbury begins negotiations proposed housing development on Main Street

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Shrewsbury begins negotiations proposed housing development on Main Street
Developers are proposing a 190-unit affordable housing project on this site on Main Street. (Photo/Caroline Gordon)

SHREWSBURY – Developers took the next step in bringing a nearly 200-unit development to Shrewsbury.

The Board of Selectmen gave Town Manager Kevin Mizikar permission to begin negotiating a Local Initiative Program (LIP) agreement with developers KIG Real Estate Advisors for a proposed 40B housing development at 104 Main Street during their Sept. 13 meeting.

Town Manager Kevin Mizikar said KIG was formally requesting to enter into the “friendly 40B” process with Shrewsbury, meaning that the town and developer would submit a joint application for the Department of Housing and Community Development’s Local Initiative Program. 

According to Mizikar, this process would allow the town to work with the developer to create a “mutually-agreeable” outcome within the confines of the state affordable housing statute 40B. That would ensure that a sufficient number of units are affordable and that the public infrastructure is protected during the project, he said.

“It puts the town in the best position to have some say in this project,” Mizikar said. 

The opposite of this process is an “unfriendly 40B” where the developer would apply for a comprehensive permit with the Zoning Board of Appeals. The Board of Selectmen would not have a say in the project if a developer opted for that route, according to Mizikar. 

“This is something that we welcome when a developer is going to construct a major project,” Mizikar said.

Chair Moe DePalo this isn’t to encourage a 40B project. 

“This is trying to engage in a dialogue to try to look out for the town’s interest as best we can for a project that is allowed by state law, and we really have essentially no control over as far as having it come in the community,” DePalo said.

The housing development explained

KIG Real Estate Advisors presented their plans to construct 190 units on a six-acre site during the selectmen’s Aug. 23 meeting.

KIG Real Estate Advisors founder Justin Krebs told the selectmen the development would be a “first class building” marketed to families and young professionals and include studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments.

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

Board of Selectmen member John Samia voiced his support for concurrently negotiating a development agreement that would be submitted at the same time.

“I think that would be, to me, the best foot forward for a collaborative relationship and also make sure that the parties understand where we’re going,” Samia said.

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