Brockton Residents Demand Pure Senior Zone, Reject Mixed-Use Housing Proposal

BROCKTON — July 28, 2025 — Brockton residents oppose mixed-use housing in proposed R-5 Senior Residential Community Zone amendment. Three speakers at a special City Council public hearing Monday night uniformly argued that the city's R-5 Senior Residential Community Zone should be restricted to seniors only, with no mixed-use or general multi-family component. Deborah Garland, of 43 Sprague Ave., warned that the Thatcher Street corridor already has approval for 173 units on an adjacent parcel and cannot absorb additional traffic from a combined roughly 300-unit build-out. Veronica Stephens, of 32 Green Place, alleged a "bait and switch" at the May 20 Council meeting, where she said members discussed a 20 percent non-senior allowance but voted on a 50-50 split — a discrepancy she said Councillor Farwell identified. Ellie Texera, of 54 Henry Street, cited her 102-year-old grandfather's accessibility needs as evidence that only purpose-built senior housing meets the population's real demands. No votes were taken; a separate hearing on an MBTA parking-minimum amendment drew no speakers.