Planning & Policy

In addition to Concord Square’s focus on developing housing in Brockton and Massachusetts’ Gateway Cities, the company and Ted Carman led multiple efforts to conceptualize and implement policies that promote smart growth and housing development in New England.

Concord Square was instrumental in the conceptualization, analysis and political efforts that led to the passage of new Smart Growth Zoning legislation (Chapters 40R and 40S) in Massachusetts in 2004 and 2005. Following legislative adoption of 40R and 40S, Concord Square served as the lead municipal consultant on numerous approved 40R Districts, and has played a supporting role in others.

Related to the company’s work on Smart Growth Zoning, beginning in 2015, Carman helped create, advocate for and successfully pass legislation establishing the Workforce Housing Trust Fund (WHTF) in Massachusetts. The program is designed to financially support the creation of housing units in Gateway Cities that want and need more housing, but have difficulty financing projects due to high construction costs and low market rents. The WHTF was passed by the Massachusetts legislature in 2016, and awaits regulations and implementation by the Baker administration.