Updates & Events August 2025 l Volume 21

Waterfield Commons Among Projects to be Funded

On July 31, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll, and Secretary of Housing Ed Augustus Jr., announced to dozens of residents and housing advocates gathered on the Winchester Town Common that the Commonwealth will provide subsidies and affordable housing tax credits for projects throughout the state.

Winchester's Waterfield Commons is among the projects to receive funding! We hope to have updates soon about what the announcement means for timing of a construction start for this 56-unit mixed income building.

Watch Winchester Select Board Chair Michelle Prior introduce Governor Healey in the video below, courtesy of WinCAM.

Next up: 160 Forest Street, at 8/25 AHT Meeting

Winchester Affordable Housing Trust (AHT) is holding a community meeting on Monday, August 25, 2025, at 7:00 PM relating to the renovation and sale of the house and land located on 160 Forest Street. The meeting will be held in the Winchester Room at Town Hall.

The AHT is overseeing the development of this Town-owned property and is interested in sharing its current plans with Winchester residents. Please come to learn and give feedback!

More about 160 Forest Street and the Affordable Housing Trust (AHT):

• In 2025, the Town acquired 160 Forest Street for the purpose of creating affordable housing and the property has now been restricted to occupants at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI). More information about the project can be found here.
• If the Trust’s application for funding is approved, the property will be the first affordable unit in Winchester created using Community Preservation Act funds. 
• The mission of the Winchester Affordable Housing Trust is to support and sustain an inclusive and socioeconomically diverse community consistent with the policy objectives of the most recent Winchester Housing Production Plan through investment, education, and advocacy. If you'd like to learn more, email AHT Chair Marty Jones.

9/2 Hearing on Special Permits for 2 More Properties

The Winchester Planning Board will hold a Public Hearing on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at 7:00 PM in the Select Board Room at Winchester Town Hall. The Public Hearing will include discussion of Special Permits being requested for two potential mixed-use structures: 10 Converse Place and 972 Main Street.

For questions or comments regarding this Public Hearing, contact the Planning Board at planningboard@winchester.us.

Featured Resource

Our "featured resource" this month is John Suhrbier, Chair of Winchester's Housing Partnership Board (HPB). Want to understand the difference between the Affordable Housing Trust and the Housing Partnership Board? Have questions about Chapter 40B and what it means with respect to affordable housing? Email John if you would like to learn more about specific topics and ways to support what's happening with affordable housing in Winchester.