Editor’s note: Wellesley Middle School Social Studies students as part of a Civics Action Project have this week taken over The Swellesley Report‘s letters-to-the-editor page. The students are well-versed in their topics, have carefully researched all angles, and are ready to present their opinions to the community. Thank you to the WMS Social Studies teachers for organizing this community-based project.
To the editor,
Mental health is affected by poor housing conditions. This topic is not especially known in Wellesley because Wellesley is a rich town, with good housing (however, it is very expensive: $2.1 million average for a house). This topic is more relevant in other towns, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen in Wellesley. This could be easily changed if housing prices were decreased, allowing easier access to nice housing for all (people with disabilities , the elderly, and low-middle income families). However, decreasing housing prices is something that can only be done over a long period of time, and it will be extremely difficult. In fact, it’s much more likely that housing prices will continue to increase. But there is an alternate solution, one that isn’t well known— Accessory Dwelling Units, or ADUs.
These are small attachments to the primary place of residence. They can be inside of the main residence (internal ADU), built off to the side (attached ADU), or a separate building on the property (detached ADU). These are beneficial because it allows cheaper housing to be built than single-family homes, and it can also help solve the lack of housing in Wellesley. Furthermore, it allows homeowners to earn rental income, as well as giving low-to-middle income families the ability to acquire cheap housing in Wellesley. As people grow older and retire, it also gives them the opportunity to be able to stay in their homes, without needing to pay major home expenses. ADUs were legalized in Massachusetts in the 2024 Affordable Homes Act, however, only a few of them are being built per year.
There are some challenges that make it more difficult to build these. However, Article 40 of the 2025 Wellesley Town Warrant could make some changes (if it is passed) to make building ADUs easier.
Currently, to build an exterior ADU, you have to get a special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals, as well as having your property meet all zoning requirements. Additionally, All ADUs need a building permit and a health permit, as well as having filed the ADU with the Registry of Deeds. Furthermore, all sales have to be sent to the Planning Department, and an annual report must be submitted to the Planning Department. If Article 40 is passed, it removes the need for the special permit, which will make it significantly easier to build ADUs.
One of the requirements to rent out an ADU is that the owner of the main residence (not the renter) live on the property for at least 184 days in each calendar year. If this requirement is not met, the owner is not able to rent out their ADU when they aren’t living in the property. Although this doesn’t apply to many ADU owners, it is possible that some owners live somewhere else for most of the year, and are unable to rent out their ADU. This undermines the entire purpose of an ADU because it will only put less available housing on the market. However, Article 40 will remove this restriction, allowing for increased affordable housing for all.
Article 40 is not high on people’s minds, if this is not implemented into place earlier, it will only cause housing prices to increase, and it will not allow low-to-middle income families, who only want better education and better housing, to move to Wellesley. Furthermore, the mental health of low-to-middle income families isn’t affected by nice ADUs, as ADU’s must be reviewed every year, and one of the requirements to build ADUs is to have it in the same architectural style as the main residence. Wellesley houses are often very nice, so any ADU built in the same style has to be nice as well. Even though an ADU is small (250-900 sq. ft.), there are benefits to it. ADUs don’t have big effects on the environment, and incur lower utility bills.
I urge you to consider building an ADU on your property, as most Wellesley residents have the space and money to build one. Every ADU built will add diversity to Wellesley, as well as improving the lives and mental health of low-to-middle income families. Low-to-middle income families, as well as the people with disabilities and the elderly, deserve the opportunity to live in Wellesley in affordable homes.
Sincerely,
Alvin Xin
Wellesley Middle School student
