The 2014 Sustainable Greenfield Master Plan, developed through an inclusive process with a lot of community input, provides a shared vision for an economically vibrant and thriving community that maintains our small town quality of life. To help achieve that vision, it calls for the development of a variety of housing options that are affordable and close to employment and downtown. Since the plan was written, the housing situation in our region has only gotten worse, with very limited options for young families, individuals, and older adults. As this paper reported on Oct. 7, a new housing study from the Donahue Institute, commissioned by Way Finders, found that Franklin County has a 0.3% vacancy rate and that home prices have grown by one-third since 2014.
What good fortune that several opportunities to grow and diversify our housing supply are on the table: the Wilson’s project, the Hope Street mixed-use development plan supported by our mayor and City Council, and the Stone Farm Lane development approved by our Conservation Commission.
Are we going to follow through on our shared vision by supporting these projects? I urge Greenfield residents to rally around all three. This means voting “No” on Ballot Question 1, so the Hope Street development process can move forward. Let’s stick with the master plan and bring more housing and economic vitality to our community.
Lisa Ranghelli
Greenfield