Andover WECAN will be hosting the town’s first ever Youth Sustainability Fair. This youth-based and youth-led event will take place on Saturday, April 27th from 1-3pm at Andover’s Cormier Youth Center.

The goal of the Youth Sustainability Fair is to increase youth engagement in local climate education and highlight youth-led work that is being done, all while promoting community building around environmentalism. 

Andover Community Trust will have a table present hosted by Evan, our student intern. Stop by and say hi!

Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to help shape the Town of Andover’s future!

The MBTA Communities Working Group invites all in Andover to join a discussion of Andover's draft MBTA Communities zoning map. Based on the community outreach done to date, revised potential zoning district locations will be discussed.

Passed in 2021, the state zoning law requires the 177 communities that host MBTA service create at least one multi-family housing district.  Now codified as Section 3A of the Zoning Act (Chapter 40A), the law requires that an MBTA community shall have a zoning ordinance or by-law that provides for at least 1 district of reasonable size in which multi-family housing is permitted as of right; provided, however, that such multi-family housing shall be without age restrictions and shall be suitable for families with children. Please visit Andoverma.gov/MBTACommunity to learn more about the law and the work that has been done so far in Andover.

The CHAPA Municipal Engagement Initiative Team is partnering with the Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action (JALSA) to offer these virtual sessions.

The agenda will include:
● Defining racism
● Introduction to the racial wealth and opportunity gap
● Building an inequitable America: history of zoning and housing discrimination
● Introduction to affordable housing in this context
● Framing our challenge
● Building an Inclusive Community
● Making the affirmative case for affordable housing development

As affordable housing advocates, we know the value of creating opportunities for all across Massachusetts. But how do we communicate this critical need to people who are new to the world of housing advocacy in a way that resonates? How do we use language that will ensure the cross-sector collaboration we need to achieve our goals?
 
Join CHAPA on September 13, 2023, at Nixon Peabody’s office from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM for CHAPA’s in-person forum, Amplifying Your Housing Message!
 
This forum will include a case-making presentation by Dr. Tiffany Manuel, President and CEO of TheCaseMade, followed by a brief presentation by CHAPA’s Director of Communications & Events, Jenna Connolly, on how TheCaseMade helped CHAPA pivot to more positive messaging. Then, we will hear from a panel of experts in healthcare, media, business, and transit on the success they’ve had reaching their audiences on housing.

To create the 200,000 new homes we need by 2023 to stabilize home prices and rents and expand affordable housing opportunities, we must connect with communities on what they need and effectively communicate the benefits of more housing for all. How can we more meaningfully engage and build trust with residents where we’re creating housing?
 
Join CHAPA on September 12, 2023, at MassHousing’s office from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM for CHAPA’s in-person forum, Making the Case for More Homes!
 
This forum will include a case-making presentation by Dr. Tiffany Manuel, President and CEO of TheCaseMade, followed by a conversation with a panel of development experts on the successes they’ve had working in collaboration with communities where they’ve created homes. Participants will learn from their peers’ experiences in the field and acquire tools from DrT that they can immediately apply to their work.

The CHAPA Municipal Engagement Initiative Team is excited to be partnering with the Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action (JALSA) to offer these virtual sessions! 

The agenda will include:
● Defining racism
● Introduction to the racial wealth and opportunity gap
● Building an inequitable America: history of zoning and housing discrimination
● Introduction to affordable housing in this context
● Framing our challenge
● Building an Inclusive Community
● Making the affirmative case for affordable housing development

Let’s see each other in person to celebrate all that ACT has accomplished this year. We are gathering at the Oak & Iron. All are welcome to come and celebrate affordable housing in Andover and our work in continuing to expand housing access. We will be giving out some well-deserved awards and sharing camaraderie!

Celebrate Resilience. Strength. Achievement.

Presented by Andover Baptist Church. Join us for this free event. In partnership with the Town of Andover, Andover Interfaith Community, MVBBV, and the DEI Commission. Workshop: 4 pm. Program: 5 pm to 7 pm.

Andover Community Trust will present an application to build an affordable single-family home on Mary Lou Lane in Andover.

The home will be:

• 1 single-family home, 3 bedroom, 1 ½ bath

• Net zero potential with green building materials, Energy Star appliances, rooftop solar, no fossil fuels, passive house design.

• Built with technical school students providing training for future carpenters, plumbers, electricians, HVAC technicians, solar installers and landscapers.

• Permanent affordability – ACT will continue to own the land as a community resource and the homeowner will have a 99-year renewable ground lease.

If you can attend the Select Board meeting to listen to the presentation, that would be great!! The Select Board is meeting in the School Administration building in the 2nd floor school committee room.

Andover Housing for All is a coalition of individuals in Andover committee to improving housing affordability in Andover.

Andover was one of three towns chosen by The Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA) for theirMunicipal Engagement Initiative (MEI) 2022 cohort. MEI provides support and technical assistance to communities in their efforts to create coalitions in support of affordable housing. With local expertise at the forefront, MEI seeks to help municipalities develop unique, actionable strategies that work within the context of each community. 

Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month.

For more information contact info@andoverclt.org

Andover Housing for All is a coalition of individuals in Andover committee to improving housing affordability in Andover.

Andover was one of three towns chosen by The Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA) for theirMunicipal Engagement Initiative (MEI) 2022 cohort. MEI provides support and technical assistance to communities in their efforts to create coalitions in support of affordable housing. With local expertise at the forefront, MEI seeks to help municipalities develop unique, actionable strategies that work within the context of each community. 

Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month.

For more information contact info@andoverclt.org

Please come join the town’s planning team in a visioning workshop for the Town Andover’s Master Plan. The workshop will be a time to learn more about Andover and to share your vision for the Town directly to the planning team.

Topics to be discussed include transportation, climate, housing, economic development, urban form, land use.