Age Restricted Active Adult Housing in Massachusetts A Review of the Factors Fueling Its Explosive Growth and the Public Policy Issues It Raises Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association June 2005 1 Acknowledgements Research and Principal Author Bonnie Heudorfer Research Assistant Dana LeWinter Project Director Aaron Gornstein Editorial Assistance Karen Wiener, Connie Kruger Valuable market information and insights for this study were provided by many in the real estate, development, financial, and legal communities who willingly shared their knowledge and experience. Special thanks to the local officials, regional planning agencies and real estate professionals who identified and verified projects and bylaws and to the legal staff at the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, HUD’s New England Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, DHCD and MassHousing. The Pioneer Institute generously shared with CHAPA data it had collected on local zoning bylaws. Representatives of various trade organizations were also very helpful. In particular, the National Association of Home Builders provided information from a national perspective. Realtors, developers, and seniors – including some who purchased in age restricted communities and others who considered the option but chose not to – provided an important reality check. CHAPA’s 40B Sub-Committee also assisted in framing the issues unique to that program. Please Note While every effort has been made to provide the most current and accurate information possible, the author and sponsoring organization acknowledge that the data on local bylaws is a work in progress. Not all communities provided information, and the status of some regulations is in flux. Municipalities are urged to notify CHAPA at www.CHAPA.org or the author at
[email protected] with corrections, additions or updates.