Hamilton Could Use Housing for Young Couples, Seniors

Housing construction in Hamilton should focus on homes for young couples without children and senior citizens, according to the town's latest housing production plan.

The plan, which has received an OK from the Planning Board and - on Monday - from the Board of Selectmen, is required by state law.

If a young couple, who at some point plan to have children, move to Hamilton six years before their children enter the Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District and move out six years after their youngest child graduates, the town will "break even" on the taxes paid and the cost to educate two children.

That's what Fred Mills told the Board of Selectmen on Monday night before the plan was given the board's OK. Mills is a member of the town's Affordable Housing Trust.

"It is highly hopeful," Mills said, adding it "a possibility list."

The plan says that there are 70 senior citizens in Hamilton that want to keep living in Hamilton but have nowhere to move.

"There really is no senior housing available in Hamilton," he said, adding that the people who helped build the town do not have many good options to "retire and live in grace in the community they have helped develop."

Many senior citizens are looking for a smaller home that is easier to maintain, Mills said as he presented the plan to the Selectmen before it gave an OK.

There are also ideas in the plan for loans to help pay for home improvements to assist senior citizens.

Selectman Jennifer Scuteri said some older residents want the company of others too, and may be living alone.

"They want to be in a community living situation, they do not want to be living on an acre by themselves," Scuteri said.

Many seniors in Hamilton have told Selectmen David Neill that they want to move to a smaller home, he said, and many want to be closer to the downtown.

"You can walk to the post office or you can walk to Boston - literally," he said.

On the other end of the spectrum, there is a declining number of young couples and young families. Having residents of all ages is important to a community, he said.

"Otherwise it loses that cohesive quality of people being born, aging and maintaining the community that they live in," Mills said.

To that end, the production plan also identifies way to come up with ways to attract young couple without children.