The sound of a man speaking through a microphone emanated from a parking lot at the corner of Tremont and Jefferson streets on Monday, Sept. 15, at the celebration party announcing the renovations at Tremont Village began.
Behind the speaker sat state officials and private bankers from Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation, Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation, and Boston Private Bank and Trust. They sat in front of Tremont Village Apartments, a squat red brick structure with beige balconies and old fashioned air conditioners. Garbage bags covered the inside of some of the apartment’s windows and a small alleyway, or backyard area, collected garbage behind the building. At the end of the man’s speech there was a cheer from a crowd of about thirty.
The Tremont Village Apartments received the much needed attention from the Asian Community Development Corporation, who spearheaded the search for funding, eventually connecting with Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation, Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation, and Boston Private Bank and Trust.
The 20-unit state-owned affordable housing building, which was constructed in 1987, will undergo its first renovation beginning in October and scheduled to last about a year. The construction, handled by Page Building Construction Co, is planned to happen in phases, the building dissected into four parts, each section emptied of its occupants, who will be housed at hotels in other areas of the city for two to three weeks before returning to the apartments. “It’s a challenge working on an occupied building and it’s in tough shape.” Herb Pitts, the project manager at Page, said. “We’re really interested in getting it going,”
Eric Taelen, a property manager at Maloney Properties, the firm that has managed the issues at Tremont since August, was also excited “It just needs a full upgrade,” he said. “With new fixtures, lighting, we won’t get called out as often.” Renovations also plan to update the sprinkler system as well as convert the nearly 30-year-old structure to green energy.
For a young man named Will, 21, the renovations were a long time coming. “I’ve lived here all my life,” he said. “We heard something would happen a while back, but nothing really happened. We were hoping something would happen this time.”
Jeff Wong , 70, a senior board member at Asian Community Development Corporation, sees the renovations as a new step for the ACDC. “This is ACDC’s first renovation building.” he said. “I’m just eager to see it done, eager to see all the tenants be happy about it. There’s nothing better than seeing a happy tenant”
Category: CEDAC
New Hope 2 gives new life to historic home
Following years of uncertainty and jumps in ownership, the old historic Red Cross building at 391 Pawtucket St. found new life on Thursday, opening as the House of Hope’s latest housing addition for seven families.
The $1.2 million “New Hope 2” project, funded with the help of the state, is the nonprofit’s fourth permanent housing building in the city. Tenants will receive Section 8 housing subsidies through the Lowell Housing Authority, along with support services from House of Hope.
These services include help finding employment or child daycare. Aaron Gornstein, head of the state’s Department of Housing and Community Development, noted the project’s combination of housing with such services.
“I think what’s significant about this is that it’s part of a permanent solution to ending homelessness,” he said.
The lot next to the historic Spalding House reached its final fate after years of conservation effort. Originally built in 1860, the house sits along the Pawtucket Falls and was originally part of the 10-acre Spalding House property.
Capt. John Ford, who owned the Spalding House from 1777 to 1789, sold it and later moved next to the current site. The land later became the home of the American Red Cross until its departure in 2003.
The Lowell Parks and Conservation Trust acquired the property in 2004, a move aimed to preserve the trust’s neighboring Spalding House that left it $1 million in debt.
But through former U.S. Rep. Marty Meehan’s office, the trust received a $1 million federal transportation earmark for the project.
“We do now have a brand new city park behind us, we have a fabulous neighbor,” said Parks and Conservation Trust Executive Director Jane Calvin, reflecting on the changes that occurred over the years.
“Forever and ever, though, this will be my million-dollar acre.”
The city later took over and transferred the property to Community Teamwork, Inc. Will Soucy, president of Soucy Industries in Pelham, bought the property in 2012 and did all the restorative work on the house and its backyard garage, both painted in a joyful light green.
The Franklin Square House Foundation also gave money to House of Hope to convert the house’s third floor into a three-bedroom unit, as well as make one of the units handicap-accesible.
Two modern family units are on each of the first two floors of the house, with one family on the third floor. In the old garage, a handicap-accessible unit features a kitchen, bathroom and two bedrooms just overlooking the water.
Maria Maldonado, a tenant living on the third floor of the house with her family, said she never thought she would have this blessing.
“It’s a dream come true because this brings stability to my family, to my children,” she said.
House of Hope Housing, Inc. Announces Its Newest Affordable Housing Project
House of Hope Housing, Inc. is proud to announce the opening of its newest affordable housing project, New Hope 2, located at 391 Pawtucket Street in Lowell. We will be joined by at least one tenant, Mayor Rodney Elliott, Senator Eileen Donoghue, Mr. Roger Herzog, Mr. Aaron Gornstein, Mr. Gary Wallace and Ms. Jane Calvin who will speak briefly about the importance of this housing. The home at 391 Pawtucket Street was built circa 1880.
The City of Lowell acquired the property in November 2006 and has been committed to using the property both for public recreation (Pawtucket Dam area) and the development of affordable housing. The City subdivided the property to meet these needs and subsequently transferred separate lots to The Lowell Conservation Trust and CTI. Mr. Will Soucy, President of Soucy Industries, purchased the property from CTI in 2012.
Mr. Soucy, working with the City fully renovated the property and created quality apartments, including 2 units of affordable housing per an existing deed restriction. HOH Housing then entered into a successful option agreement with Mr. Soucy and bought the property with the assistance of the Patrick Administration through its Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (CEDAC). DHCD awarded HOH Housing $1,205,000 through the Housing Innovation Fund (HIF) and the recently created Housing Preservation and Stabilization Trust Fund (HPSTF) to purchase the building. The goal of the Trust Fund was to establish a flexible method for funding affordable housing for low-income families, just like New Hope 2.
Through a competitive bidding process, Lowell Housing Authority has awarded 7 Section 8 Project Based Housing Vouchers to the New Hope 2 project.
Financial support from the Franklin Square House Foundation and Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation was received in order to make modest design changes more suitable for the homeless families who will now be living in New Hope 2.
House of Hope Housing is happy to make New Hope 2 its fourth building totaling 22 units of permanent housing with support services for homeless families and is grateful for the high degree of support received from all partners and supporters.
For further information, contact Deborah Chausse, Executive Director, House of Hope Housing, which is based in Lowell, Massachusetts, 978-654-6778.
House of Hope Housing Mission Statement:
HOH Housing provides affordable permanent housing and support services to previously homeless
families with an enduring commitment to build family economic self-sufficiency, promote neighborhood stability, and provide educational opportunities to improve the lives of our poorest children
The Deal Sheet
Yesterday, The Community Builders broke ground on the affordable $27M, 94-unit Worcester Loomworks (they are hoping to channel Rumpelstiltskin and weave some gold out of that loom), which will expand its portfolio in this city to 733 rental units, says CEO Bart Mitchell.
Yesterday, The Community Builders broke ground on the affordable $27M, 94-unit Worcester Loomworks (they are hoping to channel Rumpelstiltskin and weave some gold out of that loom), which will expand its portfolio in this city to 733 rental units, says CEO Bart Mitchell.
The Loomworks, the adaptive re-use of a former mill at 93 Grand St, sits near Clark University where residents who satisfy admission requirements can attend college tuition-free. TCB has another 903 units under construction in 10 developments and 40 more projects in the pipeline. In Boston, it’s renovating 146 units in the South End and completing construction on 20 townhouses at the $200M Charlesview’s Brighton Mills. Marketing just started and already 1,034 households have applied for the homes selling for about $150k under market price, Bart says.
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On Friday, TCB started permitting to build the $10M Clarion, 40 apartments and 5k SF of first-floor retail space, on a city-owned one-acre site at 311 Blue Hill Ave. If all goes well, it expects to break ground next year on the vacant parcel now owned by the city’s Department of Neighborhood Development. 27 apartments will be affordable
Patrick Administration Announces Fundinf For Homeless Projet in New Bedford
The Patrick Administration today announced nearly $900,000 in funding for Sister Rose’s House in New Bedford, a shelter for homeless men that is run by Catholic Social Services (CSS). The funding was awarded through the Housing Innovations Fund, which was created in 1987 to provide financial assistance for alternative forms of housing for low-income persons and families. Undersecretary Aaron Gornstein, of the Department of Housing and Community Development, made the announcement during a visit to CSS on Friday.
“Catholic Social Services and Community Action for Better Housing have an outstanding track record in serving low and moderate income families and individuals in the New Bedford area,” said Aaron Gornstein, Undersecretary for the Department of Housing and Community Development. “We are proud to fund this important project and appreciate the support of Mayor Mitchell, the state delegation, the neighbors of Sister Rose House, and the residents of New Bedford for their compassion and commitment.”
The $856,822 in funding announced on Friday will help the shelter relocate to St. Hedwig’s Church, a larger space in New Bedford. The new space will be comprised of 25 beds, including some for single women, and will also feature a kitchen, food pantry, GED classes and a job training program. This new plan, developed by the non-profit Community Action for Better Housing (CABH), CSS, the City of New Bedford and the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation, also includes a plan for renovating St. Hedwig’s.
“There is a great need in the New Bedford area for homeless services, particularly for women,” said Senator Mark Montigny. “I applaud the efforts of the Patrick administration in addressing my concerns in supporting these critical and vital services, particularly in providing funding for more beds for women, a concern I had brought to the attention of the Secretary of Housing and Economic Development in recent months. It is wonderful that the incredible work of Sister Rose will continue on. No one should ever be homeless or hungry, it is our duty to show compassion and humanity to those less fortunate who have fallen on hard times and need assistance.”
“Sister Rose House provides critical services to homeless families by providing them immediate support to stabilize their families and preparing them to address future challenges,” said Rep. Antonio F.D. Cabral.
“This funding is a great use of state funds to support an institution that does great work in our community,” said Representative Christopher Markey. “I am very happy the administration has put our money to such good causes.”
Under the Housing Innovations Fund, DHCD gives preference to projects that provide transitional and permanent housing for homeless individuals and families, and in order to be eligible for this funding the project must be financially feasible, ready for construction and meet the affordability requirements of the capital subsidy program. Only non-profit developers are eligible.
Since 2008, the Patrick Administration has taken action to protect and strengthen the safety net that state-aided public housing’s 45,600 units provides for the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable families, senior and people with disabilities. These initiatives are a part of a broader strategy being implemented to reform the state’s public housing system. Other reforms have included requiring local housing authorities to provide DHCD with the salaries of the five highest-paid management staff and setting a maximum salary for local housing authority executive directors, require greater reporting of financial information and instituting a vacant unit initiative
Highland Woods to see shovels in ground in fall
Selectman Thomas Sheldon remembers touring the Spruces Mobile Home Park after it was ravaged by Tropical Storm Irene in August 2011.
Sheldon was acting as chairman when the storm hit, and recalled seeing people’s damaged personal possessions askew outside their homes.
“It really changed me. It really affected my perspective, my values, and interest,” he said. “A lot of heartache and displacement grew out of that storm.”
But out of those events came a collaboration that would ultimately create affordable housing the town desperately needs.
Sheldon joined numerous local and state officials at the Council on Aging’s Harper Center on Friday in celebrating a new prospect for former residents of the park — a 40-unit senior housing project, to be called Highland Woods, on the end of Southworth Street.
“I spent 35 years in state government,” Sheldon said, “and I can’t ever recall an undertaking as collaborative as this has been.”
The collaboration took place between the town and multiple entities, including Berkshire Housing Development Corp., nonprofit Higher Ground and Williams College.
The college announced last summer it would donate four acres of land to the project, a move seen as one way to fast-track a project and have housing for when the Spruces closes in early 2016.
Project developer BHCD will receive $2.67 million from the state’s Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and was awarded $5.4 million in federal housing tax credits. Local funding comes from $2.6 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency money, representing a portion of a grant meant to relocate residents of Spruces, and $250,000 from the Community Preservation Fund.
Allegrone Construction of Pittsfield was selected as the general contractor for the overall $12.6 million project, BHCD President Elton Ogden said. He said there was no exact date that construction would begin, but shovels are expected to be in the ground this fall. Construction is expected to take 14 months and to coincide with the closing of the Spruces.
“We’ve come very far, very fast,” Ogden told attendees.
Speakers included Higher Ground President Bilal Ansari, state Rep. Gailanne Cariddi, D-North Adams, state Sen. Benjamin B. Downing, D-Pittsfield, and DHCD Undersecretary Aaron Gornstein.
Gornstein said that the community being this close to construction in such a short amount of time “is a testament to the incredible work at the local level.”
“But I also know you’re not going to stop there,” he said. “The need isn’t going to go away by building this one project. We know there’s a tremendous need for affordable housing for seniors in families, both in Williamstown, the region, and the state.”
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to Celebrate Saint Polycarp Village Completion June 9th
Construction is complete at Saint Polycarp Village Phase III, the Final Component to a Landmark Green, Mixed-Use, Affordable Housing Village in Winter Hill
Saint Polycarp Village Phase 3 Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Monday June 9th, 10:30am
7 Memorial Drive
Somerville MA
On Monday, June 9th, at 10:30am the Somerville Community Corporation (SCC) will commemorate the completion of Saint Polycarp Village Phase III with a ribbon cutting ceremony open to the public. Congressman Michael Capuano, Mayor Joseph Curtatone, Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development Undersecretary Aaron Gornstein, and HUD Regional Administrator Barbara Fields, among other notable local leaders and Village residents, will speak at the event. The Ribbon Cutting will take place at 7 Memorial Road, Somerville MA 02143, in the courtyard of the Phase III Village.
The Saint Polycarp Village site was formerly owned by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston and was used by the St. Polycarp Parish until 2002. SCC purchased the 3.5 acre property in March 2006 to revitalize this neglected and underutilized parcel of land at a key entrance point into Somerville. Now complete, the site creates a vibrant smart growth community with 84 affordable rental units, commercial space, a church, a transitional home for single mothers and their children, and open space.
“We are thrilled to be able to continue the use of this gateway to Somerville as a valuable community asset, creating 84 critically-needed new affordable apartments in the process,” said Danny LeBlanc, SCC’s Chief Executive Officer.
Phase III
The Saint Polycarp Village Phase III is the final of 3 phases of new construction on the site. This project includes 31 affordable apartments in an elevator building around a courtyard. Eight units are affordable to very low income families with project-based Section 8 subsidies, including two apartments reserve for homeless households and three for people with disabilities. The majority of families will complete their move-in by the end of June, and 53 families are already living in the Phase I and II buildings.
New residents are quick to express their appreciation for the high-quality, affordable housing. Maria Salmeron, a Phase 3 resident and featured speaker for Monday’s ceremony says, “Thanks to SCC for building apartments for low-income families. This has allowed me to stay in the community as it develops and be part of the community where my kids are in school.”
All three phases of the village have a strong focus on open space, green construction and environmentally-friendly features, such as energy conservation and air purification systems, and a rain garden to collect storm water naturally on site. Phase I has a LEED Silver award, Phase II is LEED Silver certifiable, Phase III is both Energy Star Version 3 and LEED Platinum, the highest green honor awarded to new developments. In addition to the Phase III in particular includes a double wall thick “super insulation”, making this building more energy efficient than any previous phases of Saint Polycarp Village. The buildings are designed for smart growth, and are located in, transit friendly, walkable neighborhood of Winter Hill, reducing the need for car trips and giving people more opportunity to get exercise by walking.
“SCC has developed a substantial track record now in sustainable development. We are particularly grateful to Davis Square Architects, New Ecology and our General Contractor, Dellbrook Construction, for working so diligently with us in furthering our sustainable development goals”, said Scott Hayman,SCC’s Director of Real Estate.
Saint Polycarp Village Apartments received financing through the City of Somerville, the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), MassHousing, Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (CEDAC), Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP), First Sterling Financial, Bank of New York Mellon Bank of America, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), Enterprise Foundation, US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD),
SCC, the developer of the project, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to maintaining diversity and preserving affordability in Somerville by building and preserving housing, organizing for necessary policies and funding, and giving residents the financial skills they need to survive.
For more information, please contact: Danny Leblanc, CEO at SCC 617-776-5931 x223 or dleblanc@somervillecdc.org
Lawrence project gets $400K
The Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (CEDAC) recently approved $400,000 in loans to Lawrence Community Works, Inc. (LCW) for affordable housing developments, one of which will be focused on ownership.
LCW received $400,000 in predevelopment lending for their Duck Mill project. The project is a redevelopment of the former mill building and is across from another affordable housing project that Lawrence Community Works developed. Construction is expected to begin in October of this year, and will result in 73 affordable rental units, and 16,000 square feet of commercial space.
“Lawrence Community Works is providing tremendous leadership to the City of Lawrence in developing the city’s historic mill buildings into affordable housing,” said Roger Herzog, CEDAC’s executive director. “Both the additional housing units and the commercial space this project will provide will help that community significantly.”
Somerville Community Corporation (SCC) landed $2 milllion in loans
“The City of Somerville is witnessing a tremendous amount of change, especially with the expansion of transit opportunities there,” said Herzog. “It is encouraging to see that the Somerville Community Corporation is not only continuing its commitment to provide quality affordable rental housing but is looking to develop affordable housing for ownership, as well.”
CEDAC Provides $2.4M for Affordable Housing in Somerville, Lawrence
The Community Economic Development Assistance Corp. (CEDAC) recently approved more than $2.4 million in loans to Somerville Community Corp. (SCC) and Lawrence Community Works Inc. (LCW) for three affordable housing developments.
SCC received $600,000 in predevelopment lending to develop Washington Street Apartments, which will be built at the location of a vacant former Boys and Girls Club. The four-story development will include 35 units of affordable rental housing and 5,600 square feet of commercial space. Eight of these units will be reserved for extremely low income families with special needs, including homeless families. SCC has partnered with Somerville Homeless Coalition to provide supportive services for the formerly homeless families.
CEDAC has also approved $1.4 million in acquisition and predevelopment lending for SCC’s second project, 163 Glen St., a property formerly used as an American Legion Post. The project is a mixed-income residential development that will create 11 units in its first phase by adaptively reusing the building. Approximately one third of the units created will be restricted to moderate income households, one third will be restricted to middle income households and one third targeted to households at market rate.
“The city of Somerville is witnessing a tremendous amount of change, especially with the expansion of transit opportunities there,” Roger Herzog, CEDAC’s executive director, said in a statement. “It is encouraging to see that the SCC is not only continuing its commitment to provide quality affordable rental housing but is looking to develop affordable housing for ownership, as well.”
Both of the Somerville units will near the proposed Washington Street stop on the MBTA’s Green Line Extension project, which will expand service to Medford.
In Lawrence, LCW received $400,000 in predevelopment lending for its Duck Mill project. The project is a redevelopment of the former cloth mill building and is across from another affordable housing project developed by LCW. Construction is expected to begin in October of this year, creating 73 affordable rental units, and 16,000 square feet of commercial space.
“Lawrence Community Works is providing tremendous leadership to the city of Lawrence in developing the city’s historic mill buildings into affordable housing,” Herzog said in a statement. “Both the additional housing units and the commercial space this project will provide will help that community significantly.
Soldier On in Northampton gets $280,000 to help house veterans
The Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation has approved a total of $280,000 in financing to the non-profit Soldier On, Inc. for veteran housing in Northampton.
With this funding, the organization will develop two supportive housing projects on the campus of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in the Leeds section of Northampton to aid formerly homeless veterans, according to a press release from the corporation.
The $140,000 Front Money Loan will go to developing the Gordon H. Mansfield Veterans Cooperative Housing project. The four-building permanent housing project will consisting of 44 one-bedroom units and provide supportive services to formerly homeless veterans in the area.
Several local organizations will partner with Soldier On to provide many of these services, which will include case management, education and vocational training, substance abuse treatment, and life skills development.
“For years, Soldier On has been a leader in providing permanent supportive housing and services to veterans in need,” said Roger Herzog, the corporation’s executive director.
“This project’s design – which has been pioneered by Soldier On – will serve as a model for the Department of Veterans Affairs so that it can be replicated on similar sites across the country. This is just one of the many examples of how this effective organization is going above and beyond for servicemen and women in need.”
Also located on the VA Medical Center Campus, the Leeds Transitional Veterans Housing project received $140,000 in funding from the corporation.
The facility will provide transitional housing to 16 formerly homeless individuals, many of which are expected to be single women or mothers with children. The project will include 16 bedrooms, four communal kitchens, and eight shared bathrooms. Of the 16 bedrooms, 12 will be handicap accessible and 3 will have sleeping lofts to accommodate mothers with children. Additional supportive services will be offered using an integrative treatment program for those battling post traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, and trauma.
“Over the past several years, organizations like Soldier On have learned a great deal about providing effective housing and services to homeless women,” said Herzog. “The organization has identified a need to develop a program specifically targeted to the growing number of homeless female veterans and we are pleased to be partnering with them on this important and innovative project.