$1.25 Million Regional Community Development Grant Awarded, Officials Highlight Brewster Housing Gains

BREWSTER – In late December, the town received the news that the regional community development block grant had been awarded $1.25 million for the upcoming year.

Brewster, the lead community for the grant since 2021, announced the award, which supports Brewster, Wellfleet and Dennis with two different programs: a housing rehabilitation fund and a childcare stipend program. 

The federal grant helps to fund critical repairs for homeowners that don’t have the means to pay for them. It is an income-qualified program, with eligibility at or below 80 percent of the area median income. The program funds up to $70,000 for repairs like roofing and siding, electrical, heating and plumbing work, structural repairs, lead paint abatement and energy efficiency upgrades such as windows and storm doors.

“There’s a continuing need. There’s a waitlist,” said housing coordinator Jill Scalise. “I hear from residents repeatedly about what a difference this has made for them to remain in their homes here in Brewster and take care of those needed repairs that they cannot afford to make.”

The childcare stipend, which is separate from the Brewster daycare support program, is also an income-eligible program which provides subsidies of up to $7,000 per child, paid directly to a licensed childcare provider. The support is to assist families with childcare costs to maintain or seek employment. 

Scalise, town planner Jon Idman and assistant town manager Donna Kalinick released a housing highlights video in December, detailing the work that’s been done over the last year. 

Idman spoke about the many bylaw and zoning updates that were on town meeting’s radar this year, including zoning changes for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and the addition of mixed-use zoning. 

In line with the state’s update to the Affordable Homes Act, ADUs have more liberal permitting and approval processes. The guidelines removed special permitting requirements, owner occupancy restrictions and bedroom limitations. The town was able to preserve restrictions on short-term rental use for ADUs to promote year-round housing in Brewster. 

Mixed-use zoning was added to the bylaw, clarifying language surrounding such complexes. The bylaw allows mixed-use development in commercial districts with residential units within commercial spaces. 

Kalinick and Scalise spoke of updates to the three affordable housing projects that are currently underway: Spring Rock Village, Serenity at Brewster and Mackie Drive. 

Spring Rock Village will add 45 units of affordable housing off Millstone Road. The energy-efficient units will be a mix of income levels up to 80 percent of the area median income. After almost seven years of planning, Scalise said developers were close to closing the loans needed to start construction. The anticipated groundbreaking will be in the first quarter of 2026, followed by a 18-month construction timeline. 

Serenity at Brewster, the 55-plus community off Route 124, will be adding 23 units in the upcoming year. The work will convert existing space within the facility that was not being used including an industrial kitchen. Twelve of the units are set aside as affordable housing for applications at or under 80 percent area median income.

Of all the total number of units, 25 percent will be considered affordable. Kalinick said it will be about a year between construction and the final lottery. 

The third and final project on the list is the collaboration between Habitat for Humanity Cape Cod and the Brewster Conservation Trust (BCT). The BCT agreed to sell a portion of the property once known as the Washington Chase Bog for Habitat to build two affordable homes. Closing on the sale is expected in the next month or so after which applications will be solicited. One of the houses is slated for local preference.