Experts Tackle Housing

U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas and her district director, Brian Martin, left, listen to experts’ advice on addressing the housing crisis. About 150 attendees gathered in Wannalancit for the summit, organized by Tsongas.

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The Merrimack Valley’s significant housing challenges – including a shrinking stock of affordable housing, a large number of aging homes and an increase in sub-prime loans and foreclosures – affect the economic vitality of the region. U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas recently gathered experts and community leaders on campus – including Chancellor Marty Meehan, State Sen. Steven Panagiotakos and faculty members Robert Forrant and David Turcotte – to discuss the state of housing in the Merrimack Valley.

In response to the regional situation, the University announced two initiatives.  The first, “The Merrimack Valley Housing Report” – a monthly collaboration between UMass Lowell and the Middlesex North Registry of Deeds – will share objective information on housing, track sales and foreclosures, and analyze the effect foreclosures have on economic vitality and the environment.

The second effort calls for formation of a new Community University Housing Advisory Panel to develop strategies for strengthening the integration of campus and city life. Both efforts support the University’s goal of increasing on-campus student housing while supporting Lowell’s neighborhoods.  “Our goal is to integrate campus and city life in ways that enrich the student experience and help Lowell sustain itself as a city that can offer housing to people across the socio-economic spectrum,” said Meehan.

To subscribe to the Merrimack Valley Housing Report, contact David_Turcotte@uml.edu, or visit www.uml.edu/mvhousing.