A Boston suburb is suing the Massachusetts government to block the construction of a 180-unit multifamily property on a state-owned parking lot used by a community college.
Under the Massachusetts Affordable Homes Act passed in 2024, the state can convert vacant or under-used land it owns into housing. The state estimates it needs to build 115,600 homes over the next decade to meet current demand.
According to combined media reports, the town of Wellesley, with a population of roughly 30,000, is arguing the 5-acre parking lot at MassBay Community College does not qualify for conversion into housing because it is still in active use. The state planned to issue a request for proposals to developers for the proposed 180-unit property, with proceeds from the land sale being used to fund MassBay campus upgrades.
In a lawsuit filed in Norfolk County Superior Court, Wellesley’s Select Board complained, “While the Commonwealth’s commitment to bolstering housing supply and affordability is commendable, and shared by the Plaintiffs, the ends do not justify the means; the Defendants cannot ignore the statutory text and framework enacted by the General Court. Here, designation of the Property as ‘surplus real property’ pursuant to the AHA violates the express terms of the statute.”
The state’s Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities responded in a statement that said, “We have worked extensively with the town of Wellesley to address their concerns and agree on a path forward that works for everyone. We are committed to continuing this work to build the housing that our state needs to lower costs for everyone.”
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