160 Forest is a single family dwelling willed to the town in 2020 that the

Affordable Housing Trust has been working to convert to a unit of affordable housing. 

The Fall Town Meeting warrant includes two articles regarding the property at 160 Forest Street:

• Article 28 authorizes $350,000 in Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding
• Article 29 transfers the care, custody, control, and ownership of the 160 Forest St property to the Affordable Housing Trust (AHT)

160 Forest Street is a worthwhile investment in affordable housing for Winchester.

We urge you to read three key reasons why below, and write to your Town Meeting Members this week to show your support.

Need to know the TMMs for your precinct? or which precinct you're in? Check out the Precinct Maps and Names by Precinct on the Town Meeting Member Association website.

What is the Affordable Housing Trust (AHT)?

• The AHT is a Municipal Housing Trust created by Town Meeting in 2019 with a mandate to “provide for the preservation and creation of affordable housing in the Town of Winchester for the benefit of low- and moderate-income households.”  
• The members of Winchester's AHT have lending, development, architectural, and legal skills. 

What homework have they done?

• In 2024, Town Meeting voted to authorize the Select Board to accept title to the property and to convey an affordable housing restriction on it. 
• At the Select Board’s request, the AHT developed a plan to put this vacant, deteriorating property to use as affordable housing. 
• The AHT’s efforts have included investigating the property’s physical condition, contracting for a topographic and property line survey, touring the property with contractors to develop a renovation scope, convening a community forum to explain the project and get feedback, hiring a project management consultant, considering the feasibility of adding an additional unit, and analyzing the availability of financial resources.



What is their plan?

• Based upon conversations with contractors and feedback from the project consultant, the AHT has budgeted $600,000 for the project (construction hard costs, site work, legal, design, contingency).
• The AHT submitted an application for $350,000 in CPA funding and has committed up to $250,000, if needed, to assure that a quality renovation of the property is completed in a timely manner.
• After evaluating site constraints and the time, risk, and costs associated with the permitting process, the AHT voted to focus efforts on providing one housing unit, rather than adding an ADU or other units to the site.

Reason #2: We cannot afford to wait.

Waiting will cause the property to deteriorate further, continue to be an eyesore, and cost the town more down the road. The house needs a new roof and related repairs to be weather-tight.

• Site investigations revealed the building is structurally sound, but substantial renovations are needed.
• The work includes replacing all major systems (roof, plumbing, heating, electrical), installing new kitchen and baths, remediating lead paint, insulating walls and attic, reconstructing the driveway and retaining walls, etc. 
• Neighboring homeowners are growing impatient with the presence of a run-down, vacant property on their block.
• Delays will lead to further expense to the town for insurance and upkeep.

Reason #3: Time to show we want affordable housing in Winchester.

Bringing this project to fruition will show developers, the state and homebuyers that Winchester is working in good faith to add housing. In Winchester, there are currently over 200 rental units and only 14 homeownership units restricted to households below 80% of AMI (Area Median Income).

• The AHT has voted to renovate the home to create one unit of affordable homeownership for a First Time Homebuyer.
• We will add a unit to the SHI, the Subsidized Housing Inventory.
• 160 Forest Street is a model of what affordable housing could look like in Winchester.

For more details on 160 Forest St, please see the town website and the Affordable Housing Trust 2025 Annual Report to Town Meeting.

Lastly, mark your calendar for the Washington & Swanton ZBA Hearing on November 18th!