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  • The Plan
  • Housing
    • Overview
    • The Business Case for Housing
    • Housing Endorsements
    • Housing Endorsement Form
    • Series: Housing on the South Shore
  • Infrastructure
    • Overview
    • Transportation
    • Water & Wastewater
  • News Center
    • The 2030 Blog
    • Virtual Events & Videos
    • Informational Reports
  • Our Region
    • About the South Shore
    • Demographics
    • Workforce Statistics
    • Essential Industries
    • Job Board
  • Partner With Us
    • Invest in Your Region
    • Why Invest
    • 2030 Funders
  • About Us
    • Why?
    • SSEDC Trustees
    • Our Team
    • Working Committees
    • Contact Us
  • Sister Sites
    • South Shore Chamber
    • Hello! South Shore
    • EAT South Shore

The 2030 Blog

Economic Forecast at South Shore Chamber

1/31/2020

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Mr. Mark Melnick of The Donahue Institute spoke at the South Shore Chamber's Economic Outlook breakfast co-sponsored with Envision Bank.  We are pleased to share his presentation which included some nice comparisons on how the South Shore stacks up with the rest of the state on key economic factors.   It validated some of our work on South Shore 2030 to make the region economically stronger.  We were particularly impressed with three slides:

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  1. Slide 9  shows we are 1/3  below (less competitive) the state’s concentrations of jobs in the high talent/high salaried Professional and Technical service industry mix but more concentrated than the state’s overall share in the financial services (by almost 70%) and retail  (by 30%) sectors. That illustrates one of the underlying challenge facing the South Shore.  Some of our largest job sectors are in contracting industries that are shedding jobs while at the same time we have a smaller share of some key sectors that are growing and have higher paying jobs. Our challenge becomes how do we expand and attract the growth sectors.  We believe we do it by growing the talent and workforce available on the South Shore.
  2. Slide 22 compares the percentage of family income going to housing. That has declined for homeowners since the recession but has stayed high for apartment owners.  The percentage of course depends on two factors:  household incomes and the cost of the housing. Overall we believe this supports our housing agenda. It suggests we are not building enough of the housing product (multi-family such as apartments) that young professionals are looking for.  That keeps apartment rents too high for many younger people. That in turn limits our ability to grow the workforce.   
  3. Finally, slide  27 nicely captures our transportation and economic challenge.  (This compares the middle section of the South Shore). We have 1/3 more residents commuting out of the area for jobs than workers coming in from other regions.  This reinforces information from our Original 2030 study that the entire South Shore has more people leaving the area for jobs than coming in for jobs.   And most of our traffic heads North to or through Boston.  While we continue to work on the Boston commute for our residents the better solution to the transportation problem is creating more jobs in the region so residents have better employment choices than driving to Boston.  

download presentation here
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Housing 'Squandered' Near South Shore MBTA Stations, Study Says

12/20/2019

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Local train stations could handle 250,000 new homes, and South Shore stations are underdeveloped, a new study shows.
By Jimmy Bentley, Patch Staff

PictureThe only station in those communities close to the MBTA station average is Wollaston Station in Quincy which averages 6.4 units per-acre. (Jenna Fisher/Patch Staff)
​BRAINTREE, MA — Major train and bus stations in greater Boston could handle up to 253,000 new units of housing, and many stations — especially among transit stops on the South Shore — are woefully under-developed, according to a new study from the Massachusetts Housing Partnership.

The average housing density across all transit stations in the area — a group that includes all subway stops and all MBTA stations — is about 6.5 units per-acre, according to the study. The MBTA stations in Braintree, Weymouth, Quincy, Holbrook and Hingham all fall below that mark. An ideal housing density could be as high as 12 to 26 units per acre — a number only seen in dense areas like Roxbury and the South End, the study said.

The only station in those communities close to the MBTA station average is Wollaston Station in Quincy which averages 6.4 units per-acre. The average housing densities for other area stations are:
  • North Quincy - 5.5 units per-acre
  • Quincy Center - 4.6 units per-acre
  • Weymouth Landing/East Braintree - 4.3 units per-acre
  • Quincy Adams - 3.3 units per-acre
  • South Weymouth - 2.9 units per-acre
  • Braintree - 2.6 units per-acre
  • East Weymouth - 2.6 units per-acre
  • Holbrook/Randolph - 1.5 units per-acre
  • West Hingham - 1.2 units per-acre

The study highlights that low-density areas are "squandered opportunities" to build housing, which is in short supply in the Boston area. The numbers are just estimates, and the authors acknowledge barriers to housing in some neighborhoods, like commercial zoning.

There's also questions at the local level about where residents want this housing, how large should these housing units be and if they match the community's existing neighborhood.

In Braintree, a re-zoning ordinance was withdrawn by Mayor Josesph Sullivan following months of controversy from residents, local officials and candidates for town office.

Opponents of the re-zoning ordinance, including hundreds of protesters, argued it would have allowed for too much overcrowded housing, would exacerbate traffic problems and could have fundamentally changed Braintree's "small town character."

This doesn't mean residents are necessarily opposed to new development and re-zoning. Housing near the train station has been suggested during public hearings throughout the year. But many of the residents, town officials and former candidates for public office, including Mayor-elect Charles Kokoros, said the town's master plan needs to be updated before any type of zoning changes get approved.

The study acknowledged this isn't a simple call to action for communities with less housing to build more because increasing housing density doesn't make sense for every community.

"While this math is incredibly simple and ignores some important neighborhood factors, it does show the potential that re-imagining these high-access neighborhoods could have in terms of better supporting transit while simultaneously making a huge dent in our chronic housing supply problem," the study says. "Of course, every station area is different, and there are places where even greater levels of density make sense, and surely some places where market demand may not support large numbers of additional new units."

See a map of stations and read about the methodology on the Massachusetts Housing Partnership website.

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Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito meets with local developers & business leaders

6/18/2019

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Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito joined the Chamber and South Shore Economic Development Corp. (SSEDC) leaders, Braintree Mayor Joe Sullivan, Weymouth Mayor Bob Hedlund, and area developers in a discussion held June 4 that focused on economic development and housing initiatives both generally around the Commonwealth and more specifically throughout the South Shore and the Braintree/Weymouth Landing.

Throughout the discussion, which started at Landing 53 (25 Commercial Street, Braintree), Lt. Gov. Polito discussed how the initiative, South Shore 2030, launched by the South Shore Chamber is very similar to what she and Governor Baker are looking to achieve across the Commonwealth, and how the leadership of the mayors and the business community took this vision and made it a reality at the Landing. A plan is important, she said, but without resources and partnerships, it cannot be implemented.

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NEREJ's Ones to Watch 2019

6/3/2019

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Courtney Bjorgaard
Housing Initiative Lead, South Shore Chamber of Commerce​

Year you entered your current field? 2016
What do you consider to be your greatest professional accomplishment in the past 12 months? My greatest professional accomplishment in the past 12 months has been taking the South Shore Chamber’s 2030 Housing report and putting it into an action plan. It’s easy to talk about what needs to be done. It’s tougher to come up with the plan to implement some of these bigger changes to help businesses and communities plan for the economic future of the region. Check out our work here: www.southshore2030.com. 
Who or what do you attribute to your success? Nobody can do it all on their own. You have to find people you can trust, to lean on and to go to for input and advice. We have a lot of fantastic professionals across the South Shore that I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with to make things happen. Following through, showing up, asking questions, being open to new ideas, working as a team, looking at issues from all perspectives to try and work toward a solution. 
What advice can you offer to someone who is interested in a career in your industry? It’s all about relationships. Treat people with respect, be prepared and be thoughtful in the delivery of your message. 
Who are some leaders that you admire and why? ?I’ve had the opportunity to meet a lot of fantastic business leaders throughout the South Shore over these past few years – many that care deeply about their communities. I’m not from this area, but it feels like I’ve been here forever. That says something about the people in our communities and the people who are involved in the Chamber and our work. They are thoughtful, open-minded, flexible and passionate about their business and they want to see people succeed. 


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2nd Annual South of Boston Summit

3/26/2019

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March 20, 2019 

Over 250 attendees gathered for the 2nd Annual South of Boston Summit hosted by the New England Real Estate Journal & the South Shore Chamber of Commerce to hear from key stakeholders about real estate development throughout the region. 

The program included a keynote address from Rich Beal of A.W. Perry, panel discussions on changing commercial real estate and how the South Shore is attracting various business in the region as well as a roundtable update on the Hanover Crossing project at the Hanover Mall. Attendees heard from Peter Abair of MassEcon, Patrick Brady of Cornerstone Realty Capital, Tim Cahill of Quincy Chamber of Commerce, David Ellis of Ellis Realty Advisors, Peter Forman of South Shore Chamber of Commerce / South Shore Economic Development Corporation, Ian Frenette of the Boston Cannons, David Gilmore of Pyramid Management Group (Kingston Collection), Josh Katzen of Forest Properties and Steven Kelly of Timberline Construction.

Thank you to our sponsors!
Platinum: A.W. Perry
Corporate: Ellis Realty Advisors, Timberline Construction, Inspired Technology and Communications LLC, Zaxia
Vendor: Cornerstone Realty Capital, PREP – Hanover Crossing, U.S. Pavement Services Inc., Bedford Cost Segregation, iCorps Technologies
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​More photos can be found in our gallery.
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In the Press: South Shore 2030 Housing Initiative

2/19/2019

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Key stakeholders gathered at the beginning of the month to recognize some critical leadership in the next phase of South Shore 2030’s Housing Initiative. The business voice is a critical component to moving the number on our housing goal of 44,000 new units by 2030. It isn’t only about increased housing production, but the right kind of housing in the right locations – some key housing developments and town initiatives were highlighted during the event and can be found on South Shore 2030’s housing page.  
 
Getting to that 44,000 number will take a lot of effort and leadership from community members, local officials from all 25 communities, small business, big business, all industry representatives. This is bigger than just increasing the number of homes on the South Shore – it is about building our communities and supporting the economic vitality of the region.  We have some great leadership here on the South Shore and Rockland Trust’s, Christopher Oddleifson, is leading the charge with a $35,000 contribution to support the project work.
 
Check out some of the media coverage of this announcement from the sources below.
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​For more information about the Housing Initiative and/or to get involved in the conversation, contact Courtney Bjorgaard at cbjorgaard@southshorechamber.org or 781.421.3915.
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Norwell Selectmen Discuss Development Options For Accord Park Drive, Queen Anne’s Plaza

1/10/2019

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Norwell selectmen are looking to have the Economic Development Committee look into a Chapter 43D designation for 98 Accord Park Drive based on the recommendations given by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council and have it voted on at the annual May Town Meeting.

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Representatives from MAPC are working with town officials to better utilize Norwell’s commercial properties and to help reduce the tax burden for homeowners.

MAPC’s recommendations are to have the Accord Park Drive properties listed in Norwell’s Economic Growth Plan as strictly commercial properties and to have Queen Anne’s Plaza grow into a mix of residential and commercial properties.
Selectmen are looking to have possible Chapter 43D zoning changes for Accord Park on the annual Town Meeting Warrant in May.

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Plymouth Seeks To Invigorate Economy With Innovative Housing

10/16/2018

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After driving through a secluded and sylvan Plymouth landscape to arrive at A.D. Makepeace Company’s Redbrook Village, one arrives at what’s described as a “New England village, re-imagined.”

The focus is on the village green and surrounding nature. Homes and parking lots are tucked discretely behind trees and shrubbery. There’s a farmers market, café, fire pit surrounded by Adirondack chairs, boat launch, YMCA, playing field and basketball court.
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A band plays on the green where residents have gathered for a “JamBEERee” to enjoy hotdogs, craft beer and a sense of community. Later in the afternoon, some will make their way to the Meeting House to watch the Patriots.


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The Kids Are Gone, But Their Boomer Parents Can’t Afford To Downsize

6/5/2018

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In the Boston area housing market, there’s no longer an upside to downsizing for many empty nesters.

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LET ME FIRST APOLOGIZE for any part my wife and I may be playing in worsening the Massachusetts housing shortage. Our youngest child has a freshly minted college diploma and a job. That officially makes us empty nesters, although our golden doodle might object to the description. After more than 20 years at the same address in Plymouth, we’re theoretically in a position to downsize, to ditch the drudgery of yardwork and upkeep for a simpler life governed by condo association rules. We’ve built up a pile of equity. Our 120-year-old house sits on a corner lot in a “desirable” part of Plymouth, about two blocks off the ocean. It’s updated and spacious, ideal for a growing family stretching at the seams.

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South Shore Chamber Talks Economic Growth In Hanover

9/28/2017

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HANOVER – Representatives from the South Shore Chamber of Commerce brought their vision of the region’s economic future to Hanover Wednesday night.
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Town officials and the Massachusetts Housing Partnership arranged the presentation so the chamber’s efforts to spur economic development could be discussed. The event was held at the John Curtis Free Library
“Our entire 2030 South Shore economic plan looks at attracting more businesses and a broader mix of businesses than we’ve had in the past,” South Shore Chamber President and CEO Peter Forman said. “What we are looking at is: What does it take to attract those businesses?”

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South Shore Economic Development Corporation
1050 Hingham Street, Rockland MA 02370
Phone: 781.421.3900 | info@southshorechamber.org | sitemap
Photo Disclaimer: Photos found on website may be subject to copyright. Permission to use images was provided by development teams for use on website. Other photos were taken by staff.
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