GLOUCESTER, MA – The City of Gloucester will host a Housing Compass Community Forum on Wednesday, July 29, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Rose Baker Center for Aging Well, located at 6 Manuel F. Lewis Street in Gloucester.
The forum will mark the release of the draft Housing Compass Plan and the beginning of a public comment period. Community members are invited to attend, learn about the City’s proposed approach to addressing Gloucester’s housing challenges, and share feedback on the draft recommendations.
The Housing Compass Plan will guide Gloucester’s housing policy priorities for the next five years. The draft plan is shaped by extensive data analysis of Gloucester’s demographics, housing stock, and affordability metrics, as well as a thorough community engagement process designed to ground the plan’s findings and recommendations in the lived experiences of residents, workers, families, seniors, employers, and community organizations.
The draft plan focuses on how the City can protect residents facing housing challenges, preserve housing the community can afford, and encourage housing development that fits Gloucester’s needs in appropriate locations. The event will also feature a video produced by 1623 Studios highlighting Gloucester’s housing needs and the families, workers, and seniors affected by housing challenges in the community. The forum, being offered by Art Haven, is free and family-friendly, with activities available for children.
“Housing is one of the most important challenges facing Gloucester today, and it affects every part of our community.” Said Mayor Paul Lundberg. “The Housing Compass Plan reflects months of thoughtful engagement with residents and stakeholders across Gloucester, and I’m grateful to everyone who shared their experiences and ideas. This forum is an important opportunity for the community to review the draft recommendations, provide feedback, and help shape a housing strategy that will support a more affordable and sustainable Gloucester.”
So far, the Housing Compass engagement process reached more than 550 people who live or work in Gloucester between August 2025 and April 2026. Engagement included conversations with community leaders, outreach at local events, a multilingual public survey, focus groups with housing-insecure and unhoused residents, Brazilian community members, artists and creatives, and major employers, as well as a community forum attended by approximately 100 residents.
Several key themes emerged from public input. Residents consistently described Gloucester as increasingly unaffordable and raised concerns about rising rents, limited year-round housing options, difficulty finding homes that are affordable to local incomes, and the growing challenge of staying in the community. Many participants said homeownership feels out of reach, while renters, seniors, veterans, workers, artists, and families described housing instability, limited choices, and concerns about not being able to stay in Gloucester.
Participants also emphasized the connection between housing and Gloucester’s local economy. Employers reported that high housing costs make it harder to recruit and retain workers, while artists, creatives, and small business owners described difficulty finding housing and workspaces that allow them to remain part of Gloucester’s year-round community.
In March, the City held a community forum to understand priorities for future housing development. Participants supported medium to larger multifamily and mixed-use development downtown, while favoring smaller, more attainable housing types in residential neighborhoods, such as accessory dwelling units and small multifamily homes. The strongest priorities were for housing that supports improved affordability, workforce stability, downsizing options, and cultural and economic growth.
The July 29 forum will provide an opportunity for the public to review how this input is reflected in the draft plan. A public comment period will then run through the month of August for additional feedback.
We have the kind of pothole that will absolutely cause major damage to your car after a couple of tough hits. It’s like driving straight into a curb. We reported it using the See-Click-Fix App which allows you to take a picture of an issue, tag the location and send it to Gloucester’s DPW for review. pretty slick
It’s a lot — and many people have never seen it all in the same place.
Beauport Financial Services brings your financial life together in one coordinated, easy-to-understand plan called a RISK or ARC Blueprint.
Want your entire financial world clearly organized and to start building your Blueprint? Call 978-283-0748 to schedule a one hour no obligation consultation or visit https://beauportfinancial.com/ for more information.
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Happy July at Rose Baker. Warm weather, salty breezes, fireworks and flags. Daily activities can be found by going to www.gloucester-ma.gov, clicking on Departments and scrolling down to the Council on Aging. You can see our newsletter or call 978-325-5812 to get on our mailing list. For events indicating registration, please stop by or call Natalia at the above phone number. Follow us on Facebook – Rose Baker Senior Center Gloucester
Special things going on:
July 6th, 13th and 20th at 1:00 – Old Salties Jazz Band
July 22nd at 9:30 – Driving Decisions Event Seminar. Please register.
July 22nd at 10:00 – Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program Coupon Distribution. This event is in conjunction with SeniorCare. Coupons are limited. For more details, contact Senior Nutrition Care Distribution at 978-281-1750.
July 30th at 9:30 – Scam Awareness Discussion – Please register.
Movies on Thursdays at 12:30
July 9th – Batman Returns with Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Christopher Walken and Michelle Pfeiffer
July 16th – Gosford Park with Maggie Smith and Helen Mirren
July 23rd – Sea Biscuit with Toby Maguire, Jeff Bridges and Chris Cooper
July 30th – Grown Ups with Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock and David Spade
Seniors on the Go Bus – Please register.
July 6th – Liberty Tree Mall with lunch at Endicott Grille
July 13th – Trader Joe’s with lunch at Putnam Pantry
July 20th – Bevery Dollar Store with lunch at Depot Diner
July 27th – Connor’s Farm with lunch at Brother’s Deli in Danvers
Group Luncheon and Entertainment
September 17th – Danversport – Solid Gold’s Remember the 50’s and 60’s.
December 2nd and 3rd – Danversport – The Music and Passion of Barry Manilow
Call Natalia for details and to register 978-325-5812
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We try to get out onto the water at least once a week during the summer. While we were on the Ardelle recently for the Battle of Gloucester, the winds were kicking up and created some challenges for the captains.
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The annual Gloucester Fishtown Horribles Parade starts Friday, July 3, at 6:00 PM from the Gloucester High School, followed by fireworks at 9 PM over City of Gloucester, MA, front harbor!
🚦 Traffic Advisory: Expect significant traffic congestion, road closures, and delays throughout downtown Gloucester before, during, and after the parade. Motorists are encouraged to plan ahead, use alternate routes when possible, and allow extra travel time. Please follow posted detours and directions from public safety personnel.
🚗 Stacey Boulevard Parking:
No parking on Stacey Boulevard from 12:00 a.m. through 6:00 a.m. on July 3.
Any vehicles parked in the area before 6:00 a.m. are subject to ticketing and/or towing.
🪑 Parade Route Reminders:
Chairs, blankets, and other items used to reserve spots along Stacey Boulevard and the parade route are not permitted before 12:00 p.m. on July 3.
Items placed before noon may be removed by the Department of Public Works (DPW).
Ropes, cones, chains, caution tape, or any other items used to create or reserve perimeter areas are prohibited.
🎇 Following the parade, enjoy the spectacular fireworks display at 9:00 PM along Stacey Boulevard.
We look forward to celebrating America’s 250th with everyone! Have a safe and happy Third and Fourth of July!🇺🇸
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Good Morning Gloucester 