Planning for Housing Choice in Woburn

Just north of Boston, Woburn has long reflected the story of American growth and change. Once a farming and industrial community, the city experienced a surge of development after World War II, transforming into the diverse, bustling community it is today. Now, with an aging population, rising housing costs, and increasing demand for a wider mix of homes, Woburn faces a new challenge: how to plan for housing that meets the needs of all residents.

The City of Woburn engaged JM Goldson to prepare its 2026–2030 Housing Production Plan, a roadmap for meeting housing needs over the next five years. Building on recent multifamily development and aligning with state mandates such as the MBTA Communities Act, the plan provides a framework to ensure Woburn can remain a welcoming and inclusive community.

The plan includes a detailed housing needs assessment that reveals the pressures facing Woburn: persistently low vacancy rates, limited housing variety, and over 3,000 households that are severely housing cost-burdened. It also highlights opportunities for the city to consider expanding affordable housing, encourage strategic development, and align new construction with local infrastructure capacity.

JM Goldson worked closely with city leaders to identify both constraints, such as restrictive zoning and environmental conditions, and opportunities, including redevelopment potential in underutilized areas and supportive overlay districts. The resulting plan outlines practical strategies to preserve affordability, create new deeply affordable units, and encourage the creation of homes that matches the needs of today’s smaller households while still supporting families.

Through thoughtful planning, the Housing Production Plan positions Woburn to meet its state obligations while also reflecting the values and priorities of its residents. By focusing on equity, feasibility, and community resilience, the city is better prepared to guide growth that works for everyone.