🔨 Coming Soon: More Housing?
Tenet Blames “Smear” Campaign for Their Issues | Mayor Holds District 9 Forum | State of the City Address Next Week | Community Events | The Civic Week Ahead
A lot happened last week, Framingham.
With the MetroWest Medical Center/Tenet administrators at the Council meeting last Tuesday and the Planning Board meeting on last Thursday, there is a lot of discussion on decisions and actions that will have repercussions for years to come.
The conversation surrounding the hospital and more housing aren’t even close to being over. It was good to hear from so many residents Tuesday night about the hospital, but more voices are needed. The Planning Board will look at zoning and apartments this year, and as they discussed, will want input from residents on what this would look like for Framingham.
I’ll keep you posted as both develop. But Framingham really needs to hear from more voices in these meetings. Facebook is fine and all, but the real discussion happens in the Memorial Building.
If you want to get more involved, don’t know how or who to talk to, reach out to me. I’m happy to chat over a cup of tea about this place we call home.
Let’s get to it…
Have a comment or question? I’d love to hear from you. Email me at mkfeeney@gmail.com
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Coming Soon: More Housing?
Taking a look at Framingham’s zoning: The Sisitsky Administration is seeking ways to update and change zoning in Framingham, including the possibility of new housing units at Shoppers World, along Waverly Street from Winter Street to Natick, and 9/90 & the Tech Park.
Some changes required by law: A new state law requiring certain zoning requirements for multi-family housing in MBTA communities is being implemented as one of the ways to tackle Massachusetts’ housing crisis. Framingham received an interim certificate of compliance. According to Sarkis Sarkisian,, Director of Planning and Community Development, Framingham has more to do by the end of the year to be fully compliant.
What is this housing law?: Cities and towns within the MBTA network are required to build more affordable, family friendly multi-unit housing in areas around public transportation. It also requires one area to be permitted as of right.
Define “as of right”: A development can be built under a zoning ordinance without the need for a special permit, variance, waiver or amendment or other discretionary zoning approval.
Where can this zoning district go?: Under the law, Framingham’s minimum unit capacity requirement is 4,355 units. The current Central Business District zoning, which is oddly cut through Downtown and Waverly Street has the capacity for 12,000 more units in the area.
Additionally, the state would like to see all parking restrictions eliminated.
Shoppers World a possibility: Discussed as another possibility for the by right zoning is the Shoppers World area. According to Sarkasian, it has the land and plenty of parking, located near the Logan Express bus service. It is a low to moderate income neighborhood due to the Lord Chesterfield Apartments on Caldor Road.
What they said: “The Planning Board should do the work because we can have deep dives…we can comply but not overburden Downtown districts.” - Planning Board Chair Kristina Johnson
Looking at the whole picture: Sarkasian proposed looking at other areas to rezone, providing for more creativity in housing and mix-ed use. On the list is Waverly Street, which is seeing more and more pressure for smaller rebuild and mixed use projects, and reviewing building height restrictions and the manufacturing zone in that area. 9/90 and the Tech Park will be reviewed to consider potential housing, more restaurants and onsite amenities, and lowering parking ratio.
Next steps: The Planning Board agreed all of this work to comply with state law and other rezoning initiatives should be done all at once. Framingham has until December 30, 2024 to fulfill the requirements of the new state law.
A team effort: A Northeastern University professor, along with an architect and students, has offered to work with Framingham. The team would come up with ideas, designs of model buildings and sketches of street views helping residents and community leaders picture what is possible.
Planning Board members agreed the public must be kept in the loop throughout the year as they work on changes. They want public input.
Note: This is a huge undertaking that is going to change the look of Framingham. I’ll continue to write about this as it progresses. The Planning Board wants to hear from you!
Tenet Blames “Smear” Campaign for Their Issues
Public hearing held: MetroWest Medical Center CEO John Whitlock and Tenet’s Massachusetts Market CEO Carolyn Jackson appeared in front of the Council and a packed Blumer Room and Zoom, at last Tuesday’s meeting.
Tough finances: Whitlock said Framingham Union has been in the red for 36 months, and only surviving due to Tenet Healthcare financial support. In addition Jackson said the costs of health care are impacting all hospitals around the state, including for-profit ones like MetroWest Medical Center, and a nurses shortage effecting the workforce.
Smear Campaign Hurts: Both Whitlock and Jackson ultimately blamed the “smear campaign” and negative stories generated about the hospital that is ruining its reputation.
“The constant criticism in a very difficult environment hurts the hospital, and ultimately hurts the caregivers,” said Whitlock
“We need positive energy from the council, we need to stop negative stories about things that create sensationalism,” said Jackson
Investments being made: Jackson and Whitlock did go through a list of recent investments they have made in digestive health, cardiovascular, and orthopedic.
The public speaks: While the Council took a muted tone in hopes of future collaboration, many of the speakers expressed their frustrations with sudden closings of services, like the aquatic therapy pool, how important the hospital is to the community and asking Tenet to invest more in frontline services, like the ER. Nurses in attendance spoke of their working conditions and hopes Tenet comes to the table to start negotiations now that the nurses are part of the Massachusetts Nurses Association.
My comments: In full disclosure I spoke out during this public hearing. While my family and I have always gone to Framingham Union for emergency health care needs, more recently I found myself taking a parent to Newton-Wellesley because I could not trust what Tenet has done to Framingham Union. For Tenet administrators to sit there and basically gaslight the entire community by saying this is a smear campaign and too much negativity, is outrageous. There is no secret false narrative campaign happening. What people are hearing a real stories from real people about their real experiences. Don’t tell us what we experienced isn’t true.
If Tenet wants more positive stories, then the solution is to invest in the facility and ER, treat your nurses and doctors well, treat your patients well, and treat and respect Framingham. We want you to succeed.
Mayor Holds District 9 Forum
Forums Kick off: Mayor Charlie Sisitsky visited Pelham Recreational Centre in District 9 last Thursday for his first of nine district forums.
Top issues: The audience of 20 residents, and 13 city employees, asked the Mayor a number of questions from traffic safety to fixing roads to school buses.
Discussion highlights: The Mayor talked about the cleaning of Mary Dennison Park and General Chemical. Mary Dennison is projected to be fully cleaned and ready for a new playground and fields within 2-3 years. The city and Avery Dennison signed an agreement the day before the forum ensuring Dennison would cover the costs of cleaning. Round 2 of the General Chemical project by the Department of Environmental Protection begins this summer.
Arlington Street Park construction is underway and will open this summer.
“When and if we get state money”: There was a lot of discussion about schools, including why it is going to take so long for a new southside school to be built. The Mayor warned it was a long process and “might not see a school for a number of years.”, reminding people it took four years for Fuller Middle School to become a reality. Follow up questions regarding why the newly purchased Marian High School building or the St. Stephen’s School building couldn’t be used for a new school instead. Modern school buildings have a different criteria that must be followed, including space and accessibility.
Future dates: Additional District forums dates have yet to be announced. I’ll let you know where and when the next one is as soon as it is announced.
Sisitsky Gives State of the City Address Next Week
Annual event: Mayor Sisitsky gives the annual State of the City address next Monday, January 29 at 7:00pm in Nevins Hall in the Memorial Building (150 Concord Street).
Sisitsky’s Second State Address: Last year the Mayor outlined several new initiatives he hoped to accomplish, including a Regional Public Safety Dispatch Center and making Framingham Union a priority.
All are welcome to attend. The address will also broadcast live on the Government Channel.
The Civic Week Ahead
Monday, January 22
Tuesday, January 23
Wednesday, January 24
Thursday January 25
In Closing
A programing note: due to the Mayor’s State of the City Address on Monday night, The Ham’er will publish with a review of the speech on Tuesday.
Have a wonderful week,
Mary Kate
In terms of more housing - I am 100% in favor of alleviating the housing crisis in MA by building more housing. Do we have statistics on how many of the CURRENT units are occupied? And how many of them could be used to assist in the ongoing housing crisis if the rents were lower?
In terms of Tenet, I didn't attend that meeting, but I had to call an ambulance after Christmas and we begged the EMTs to take us to Newton Wellesley instead of Framingham Union. I had both my kids at Framingham 15/10 years ago and my experiences there as a new mom were wonderful. But in the last couple years when we've needed emergency treatment, it's been awful. My kid needed to be evaluated for a concussion last spring - no pediatric doc on duty and was seen by an adult neuro who could not have been more unpleasant to my kid. There's no pediatric ortho there any more. My husband has been to the ER several times there - physicians and nurses not wearing masks while treating seriously ill patients, no beds to be admitted to because there's no nursing staff on the floors so he's in the ER for 40+ hours, plus it looks dirty. The doctors and nurses we've seen in the ER have been patient and kind and concerned, but they are hampered by an admin team that really doesn't give a flying you know what about this community.