High MCAS scores, strong police and fire departments, along with the civic groups and sports programs have all worked to attract new developers and keep those who are already in the town.

Counting on growth
By Max Bowen/ mbowen@cnc.com
Friday, February 25, 2005

Abington officials have been able to bank on the town's growth over the last few years while putting together the town's budget. Heading into Fiscal Year 2006 is no different. This year's budget includes a forecasted growth for the town of $425,000. According to Deputy Assessor Chuck Shea part of this will come from a 75-unit expansion of The Gables, a luxury condominium development located off North Quincy Street. Other growth will come from a variety of sources, including single-family homes, additions such as decks and pools and any lots that are subdivided. The estimated new growth is based on tax dollars which the town will receive from new construction and the creation of new subdivisions. Deeds for new developments need to be filed by Jan. 1 to be included in the new growth figures for the year. "It's something we didn't have in 2005, but will have in 2006," said Shea.  

Shea said he is historically conservative about these estimates, saying the only thing that could impact the numbers is if The Gables were to stop construction. He said he is confidant the town will meet or possibly exceed this amount, which is used to plan for the town's operating budget. In FY 05 the town saw $783,768 in new growth, $646,725 in FY 04 and $511,158 in FY 03. Board of Assessors Chairman Tom Dion said the town has seen a robust amount of new growth over the past few years due mainly to new condo developments such as The Gables and Woodlands Station on Summer Street. Single-family parcels have been diminishing over the years, however, and Dion expects that as time goes on, these will have less of an impact on the
town's growth. High MCAS scores, strong police and fire departments, along with the
civic groups and sports programs have all worked to attract new developers and keep those who are already in the town. "Abington is a bit of a diamond in the rough," said Dion.  

The proposed budget for FY06 is $36.7 million, an increase of $1.2 million over the FY05 budget of $35.5 million. Residents will vote on the budget at Town Meeting on April 14. The finance committee is currently looking over the budgets for the town departments. Abington must be doing something right when it comes to housing and growth, given the awards it has received over the last year. On Aug. 25, the town was informed it had received its Housing Certification, for which it had to submit a report on what affordable housing the town had and what it had added in 2003, along with its housing strategy and affordable housing goals. "Abington was the only town in my district to receive this certification," said State Sen. Michael Morrissey, D-Quincy, in October of last year. "It speaks a lot for the actions by the town." Abington also took part in a survey by Vision 2020, which asked each town to evaluate its regulations and practices against accepted principles of smart growth. Of the 46 communities in southeastern Massachusetts to participate in the survey, Abington was one of only three that was categorized as growing smart. Last November the town again proved itself housing-conscious when it received the Smart Growth Leadership Award for the designation of the central business district and the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) zoning district, both of which were approved at the 2003 Town Meeting. Along with being consistent with the state's smart growth objectives, these two districts facilitate more concentrated development in the area. "It's really the kind of proactive steps the town has taken with updating its master plan, zoning bylaws and the way it's viewing development," said Town Planner Dan Crane about the award. The Smart Growth Leadership Award earned the town extra points when they apply for funding for smart growth projects. Getting the housing certification helped as well, moving Abington up the list of communities applying for discretionary grants, which can be used for affordable housing or to help first-time homebuyers. The town can also apply for grants to start programs to improve future housing projects, and earned points on the Commonwealth Capital Application, which will help the town apply for grants for capital improvements.