We need more than 2BR rentals

Every multiple-unit housing development proposed or under construction in Brockton has been two bedrooms (“2BR”) or less (rentals at that) with the exception of Trinity phase II downtown, which has a few 3BR’s.

Much of the City Council and other city officials have lived in fear that 3BR’s and larger would add students to the system. The developers know this is a fear in most cities and towns thus they don’t propose anything larger. Plus, they make the main nut of their money on each kitchen, so to speak. I’ve spoken about this in a number of public forums and to a number of city folks…

Moises M. Rodrigues, to his credit – and breaking with most of his colleagues, said to me a few months ago he thought that logic was backwards, because our school funding is largely tied to headcount and it was in danger of declining. He was correct.

Those units being all rentals is also a problem in that many families are looking to come here to buy and plant roots, as compared to paying $2100/month in rent to get no equity and no rights.

Add on to that, much of our housing stock are smaller single fams – 1200 sf to as low as 900 sf – that just can’t support a 3BR or larger… and those owners are prevented from expansion in most cases by our outdated zoning. At last week’s Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, two of the cases were brought by families who were seriously outgrown their homes but were established in their neighborhoods and desperately want to stay.

Isn’t it time we change our thinking on this?