09/10/26 Affordable Housing Advisory Board

The Affordable Housing Advisory Board meeting held on September 10, 2026, focused primarily on updates and discussions related to affordable housing projects in Lawrence. Key procurement-related topics included the review of municipal land donation research, with ongoing evaluation of potential sites for affordable housing development and a clear indication that no construction decisions have been made yet. The board also discussed the upcoming Affordable Housing Trust Fund application process, noting that 13 applications requesting over $3 million were received, while only $700,000 is available for allocation. The board reviewed procedures for scoring and prioritizing funding for these applications, emphasizing transparency, equitable presentation times, and conflict of interest policies. Public comments highlighted community concerns about preserving natural areas and suggested exploring alternative sites and adaptive reuse of existing buildings. The board encouraged public engagement and outlined a timeline for application review, presentations, and final funding recommendations to be made by December 2026.