{"id":2439,"date":"2025-11-27T12:48:10","date_gmt":"2025-11-27T17:48:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/in-the-birthplace-of-thanksgiving-a-modern-battle-erupts-over-affordable-housing\/"},"modified":"2026-04-13T10:16:23","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T14:16:23","slug":"in-the-birthplace-of-thanksgiving-a-modern-battle-erupts-over-affordable-housing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/in-the-birthplace-of-thanksgiving-a-modern-battle-erupts-over-affordable-housing\/","title":{"rendered":"In the Birthplace of: 7 Proven Can Affordable Housing Thrive in America&#8217;s Hometown? A Modern Battle Erupts Over"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_81 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"cursor:pointer\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/in-the-birthplace-of-thanksgiving-a-modern-battle-erupts-over-affordable-housing\/#The_Affordable_Housing_Crisis_in_Plymouth\" >The Affordable Housing Crisis in Plymouth<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/in-the-birthplace-of-thanksgiving-a-modern-battle-erupts-over-affordable-housing\/#The_state_of_affordable_housing_in_Plymouth\" >The state of affordable housing in Plymouth<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/in-the-birthplace-of-thanksgiving-a-modern-battle-erupts-over-affordable-housing\/#The_catch-22_of_40B\" >The catch-22 of 40B<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/in-the-birthplace-of-thanksgiving-a-modern-battle-erupts-over-affordable-housing\/#This_isnt_your_great-great-great-grandmas_Plymouth\" >This isn&#8217;t your great-great-great-grandma&#8217;s Plymouth<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/in-the-birthplace-of-thanksgiving-a-modern-battle-erupts-over-affordable-housing\/#Can_locals_afford_to_stay\" >Can locals afford to stay?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/in-the-birthplace-of-thanksgiving-a-modern-battle-erupts-over-affordable-housing\/#When_growth_creates_strain\" >When growth creates strain<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/in-the-birthplace-of-thanksgiving-a-modern-battle-erupts-over-affordable-housing\/#Building_toward_a_different_future\" >Building toward a different future<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/in-the-birthplace-of-thanksgiving-a-modern-battle-erupts-over-affordable-housing\/#Who_gets_to_call_Plymouth_home\" >Who gets to call Plymouth home?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/in-the-birthplace-of-thanksgiving-a-modern-battle-erupts-over-affordable-housing\/#External_Resources\" >External Resources<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/in-the-birthplace-of-thanksgiving-a-modern-battle-erupts-over-affordable-housing\/#FAQ_In_the_Birthplace_of\" >FAQ: In the Birthplace of<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/in-the-birthplace-of-thanksgiving-a-modern-battle-erupts-over-affordable-housing\/#What_should_be_planned_first\" >What should be planned first?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Affordable_Housing_Crisis_in_Plymouth\"><\/span>The Affordable Housing Crisis in Plymouth<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Plymouth, Massachusetts, is a town with a rich history, from being the birthplace of American Thanksgiving to its current struggles with affordable housing. Can the town find a balance between preserving its historic charm and providing affordable options for residents?<\/p>\n<p><strong>In the Birthplace of<\/strong> helps improve planning, consistency, and publishing quality when teams follow a repeatable workflow.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s been called \u201cAmerica\u2019s Hometown.\u201d It\u2019s considered both part of the greater Boston area and the beginning of legendary Cape Cod. And now it\u2019s another front in the ongoing battle to create truly affordable housing in the United States; though, \u201caffordable\u201d is a term that\u2019s in the eye of the beholder.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Many agree that Plymouth desperately needs truly affordable housing. The fight is over whether the state&#8217;s Chapter 40B program actually delivers it, and whether it\u2019s possible to maintain Plymouth\u2019s charm while allowing it to continue developing into, potentially, a coastal gem.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Can there be such a thing as building affordable housing that makes everyone, from existing residents to relative newcomers to local government, happy?&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-state-of-affordable-housing-in-plymouth\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_state_of_affordable_housing_in_Plymouth\"><\/span>The state of affordable housing in Plymouth<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>According to Plymouth&#8217;s Select Board, which functions as the town&#8217;s executive branch, Plymouth has constructed more than 4,500 housing units over the past eight years. Yet Select Board members have said that a new development, which is able to bypass the town\u2019s control, is similar to a \u201chostile takeover.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Plymouth desperately needs truly affordable housing,&#8221; Select Board member <strong>Deb Iaquinto <\/strong>wrote to Realtor.com\u00ae in an email. But she argues the latest proposals under the state&#8217;s Chapter 40B program won&#8217;t deliver what the town actually needs.<\/p>\n<p>The development in question is proposed by Pulte Homes: 163 condominium units on two lots totaling less than 10 acres in what officials describe as an already congested North Plymouth neighborhood. The projects would join more than 1,000 other units built or approved through 40B in recent years, part of a state program designed to increase affordable housing across Massachusetts.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-catch-22-of-40b\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_catch-22_of_40B\"><\/span>The catch-22 of 40B<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Massachusetts&#8217; Chapter 40B program requires that 10% of the housing stock in each municipality be designated as affordable. To incentivize developers, projects that include 20% to 25% affordable units can bypass local zoning regulations, including restrictions on lot size and density.<\/p>\n<p>The problem, according to Plymouth officials, is that the state ties pricing for these affordable units to income levels in the greater Boston area, which are significantly higher than average incomes in Plymouth.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;As a result, rents for these units in Plymouth actually are as much (sometimes more than) market rate units,&#8221; Iaquinto<strong> <\/strong>explained.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, Iaquinto argued that the site of the development does not have the infrastructure to support a project of this size.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe&#8217;re not opposed to density, as long as it&#8217;s in a location that has the infrastructure to support it and it complements the neighborhood.&nbsp;Good design is all it takes!\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Original roadway the Pilgrims built next to Brewster Gardens a public park across from the waterfront in Plymouth Massachusetts. <span class=\"image-credit\">(Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/na.rdcpix.com\/c7e4fb337f90db78bda9147d058b94b8w-c2489659536srd_q80.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1096551\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An icon in the town: the Plymouth Lighthouse, in Massachusetts <span class=\"image-credit\">(Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/na.rdcpix.com\/621c50c4238c3740dda40b9f74a6d741w-c1461340609srd_q80.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1096552\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Afternoon on Leyden Street in Plymouth.  <span class=\"image-credit\">(Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-this-isn-t-your-great-great-great-grandma-s-plymouth\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"This_isnt_your_great-great-great-grandmas_Plymouth\"><\/span>This isn&#8217;t your great-great-great-grandma&#8217;s Plymouth<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Plymouth has been in existence since the 1600s and is, by area, the largest town in Massachusetts\u2014so big it can take 40 minutes to drive from one end to the other on the highway. Despite its significance as the pilgrims&#8217; landing site and the symbolic birthplace of American Thanksgiving, it was for decades primarily a blue-collar summer town where restaurants downtown struggled to stay open through the winter.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Peter Zheutlin<\/strong>, a journalist who moved to Plymouth a year ago and writes for the local Plymouth Independent newspaper, describes the area to outsiders as &#8220;flyover country&#8221;\u2014a place people pass through between Boston and Cape Cod.<\/p>\n<p>That&#8217;s changed dramatically in recent years, says Zheutlin, driven in part by two massive planned communities: Pine Hills and Redbrook. These developments tend to attract affluent retirees and empty nesters, he says\u2014contributing to a change in the character of Plymouth, which has deep blue-collar roots as a hub of rope-making, fishing, and shipping.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>But Zheutlin sees immense potential: The waterfront views, where you can spy whales and dolphins, are spectacular. The town has a philharmonic orchestra, an arts center that books major acts, and a growing restaurant scene.<\/p>\n<p>However, says Zheutlin, &#8220;There are properties really close to the waterfront that are derelict.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Is Plymouth on the verge of being like the next Portland, ME, or Portsmouth, NH?&#8221; he asks, referencing other small East Coast cities that have become hip destinations. &#8220;Plymouth could be headed in the same direction.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>This mix of potential and decay, of affluent newcomers and working longtime residents, sets the stage for Plymouth&#8217;s current housing tensions.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-can-locals-afford-to-stay\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_locals_afford_to_stay\"><\/span>Can locals afford to stay?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Jane Coit<\/strong>, a real estate broker who has worked in Plymouth for 26 years, sees the disconnect and distance firsthand. She works with young buyers\u2014often first-time homebuyers\u2014who are now stretching to pay for homes in the area.<\/p>\n<p>Between mortgage payments, private mortgage insurance, and the cost of necessary repairs, homeownership has become an expensive proposition even for those with steady incomes.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Plymouth used to be a very affordable town to live in, and it&#8217;s really become like the new Cohasset or Scituate,\u201d says Coit. \u201cIt&#8217;s a coastal town, and there&#8217;s been a lot of people that have come in and invested.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The numbers back this up: In September 2025, the median home listing price in Plymouth was $749,500, up from $549,900 in 2023.<\/p>\n<p>Yet the state&#8217;s &#8220;affordable housing&#8221; designation hasn&#8217;t kept pace with that transformation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The cost of affordable housing in Plymouth is still high,&#8221; Coit says. &#8220;It&#8217;s not cheap housing.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>For Coit, the issue is that truly affordable housing should serve the next generation of Plymouth residents.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s basically our kids buying it, right?&#8221; she says. &#8220;So they can stay in this town.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-when-growth-creates-strain\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_growth_creates_strain\"><\/span>When growth creates strain<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In a June 2025 letter to the state opposing the Pulte projects, Select Board members detailed just how much Plymouth has already built. The list includes The Oasis 40B (320 rental units), The Walk 40B (320 rental units), and Kanso Plymouth 40B (a town-supported project of 300 units currently under review).<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;This unprecedented growth has placed considerable strain on Town services and threatens the Town&#8217;s ability to provide critical life\/safety support to the community,&#8221; the letter states. &#8220;The 911 call volume at these locations far outpaces any projections, causing both the Fire Chief and Police Chief to rethink their deployment strategies.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The letter requests a &#8220;well-deserved pause&#8221; to allow town services to catch up with demand.<\/p>\n<p>For Coit, the issue isn&#8217;t growth itself; it&#8217;s how the town manages it.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;A lot of them have been running this town the way it was run 30 years ago, and it needs to change, because their mentality is resistant toward change,&#8221; Coit says of town leadership. &#8220;I think we need a hired mayor that is elected and that can do a job and be accountable.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>She argues that when the town resists development, &#8220;we end up getting things that we didn&#8217;t want&#8221;\u2014referring to projects such as The Oasis, which she says became an apartment complex after the town rejected a developer&#8217;s proposal for single-family homes.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s where the resistance hurts us,&#8221; Coit says. &#8220;To work with developers so that it is something that&#8217;s beneficial for the people that live here and the kids that grew up here.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-building-toward-a-different-future\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Building_toward_a_different_future\"><\/span>Building toward a different future<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>There&#8217;s a twist in Plymouth&#8217;s story: The town is trying to build its way out from under 40B&#8217;s requirements. Once a community reaches the 10% affordable housing threshold, it enters what&#8217;s called &#8220;safe harbor&#8221;\u2014meaning it can deny 40B projects without state override. According to Iaquinto, the town is near that threshold.<\/p>\n<p>The distinction matters because not all 40B projects follow the same path. Some developers work collaboratively with towns on design and mitigation measures. Others, operating within their legal rights under the program, take a more aggressive approach.<\/p>\n<p>Plymouth is also pursuing other strategies, including a proposed land bank that would allow the town to proactively purchase land for housing, open space, and municipal use\u2014rather than always reacting to developer proposals. That plan currently awaits state legislative approval.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-who-gets-to-call-plymouth-home\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Who_gets_to_call_Plymouth_home\"><\/span>Who gets to call Plymouth home?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>What&#8217;s clear from talking to people across Plymouth is that nobody is opposed to affordable housing in principle. The disagreement is about process, pace, and whether the current system achieves its stated goal.<\/p>\n<p>Coit, despite her frustrations with town leadership, acknowledges the challenge.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s hard to have both,&#8221; she says when asked whether Plymouth can preserve its character while accommodating growth. But she believes the North Plymouth area targeted by Pulte &#8220;needs this growth&#8221; and that &#8220;whatever they do there will be amazing.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>For his part, Zheutlin sees the tensions as part of Plymouth&#8217;s evolution.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Change is inevitable anywhere,&#8221; he says. &#8220;You just have to embrace it and make sure that you have a voice in it.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>As one of America\u2019s oldest towns, Plymouth has seen about as much change as any single place in the country. In this latest chapter of the town\u2019s history, Plymouth is grappling with whether its current system can deliver truly affordable housing, or whether it will continue building its way toward a goal that keeps moving further out of reach.<\/p>\n<p>The state&#8217;s Chapter 40B program is designed to increase affordable housing across Massachusetts, but its implementation in Plymouth has raised concerns. With over 4,500 housing units constructed in the past eight years, Select Board members argue that the latest proposals won&#8217;t deliver what the town actually needs.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"External_Resources\"><\/span>External Resources<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/developers.google.com\/search\/docs\/essentials\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Google Search Essentials<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/developer.wordpress.org\/plugins\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WordPress Plugin Handbook<\/a> are useful references for best practices.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ_In_the_Birthplace_of\"><\/span>FAQ: In the Birthplace of<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_should_be_planned_first\"><\/span>What should be planned first?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Start with the goal, audience, and deliverables so the final content and media support the same outcome.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Need help implementing this workflow?<\/strong> Contact Miami Real Estate Insights &amp; Market Trends to plan a practical content and media process.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>7 Proven Can Affordable Housing Thrive in America&#8217;s Hometown? A Modern Battle Erupts Over: The Affordable Housing Crisis in Plymouth Plymouth, Massachusetts,&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2440,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_title":"7 Proven In the Birthplace of Mistakes to Avoid","rank_math_description":"The Affordable Housing Crisis in Plymouth Plymouth, Massachusetts, is a town with a rich history, from being the birthplace of American Thanksgiving to its","rank_math_focus_keyword":"In the Birthplace of","rank_math_canonical_url":"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/in-the-birthplace-of-thanksgiving-a-modern-battle-erupts-over-affordable-housing\/","rank_math_robots":"index,follow","footnotes":""},"categories":[1719],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2439","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-miami-real-estate"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2439","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2439"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2439\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3951,"href":"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2439\/revisions\/3951"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2440"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2439"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2439"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2439"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}