Category: Housing

Mayor Walsh, Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation open Whittier Lyndhurst Washington homes

Solidifying his commitment to creating more affordable housing for residents in Boston, Mayor Martin J. Walsh today joined Codman Square NDC (CSNDC), City officials and neighborhood leaders to celebrate the grand opening of the Whittier Lyndhurst Washington homes. The $20.1 million redevelopment created 44 units of affordable rental housing and 1,000 square feet of commercial space on four sites in Dorchester’s Codman Square. The City of Boston reported in their Housing Boston Two Year Snapshot that the City of Boston is currently on track to reach 53,000 new units by 2030, with more than 12,000 units of housing now completed and on line.
“I’m proud the City of Boston’s investment in this project has helped create 44 new homes for families in Dorchester,” said Mayor Walsh. “This project shows us how effective we can be when we work together to preserve and create affordable housing, maintaining the special character of our neighborhoods. I am committed to making Boston a place for all families, and I want to thank our many partners who are helping us achieve our housing goals and brighter futures for Boston residents.”
Located in the heart of Codman Square, Whittier Lyndhurst Washington Homes includes the redevelopment of four sites and the renovation of 15 units of public housing at the Whittier School site; the creation of 13 new units of affordable rental housing and a community room adjacent to the School on Southern Avenue and Darlington Street; the renovation of eight units on Lyndhurst Street; and the creation of 1,000 square feet of commercial space with another eight new units at 472 Washington Street.
The redevelopment entailed reclaiming a former gas station site at 472 Washington and the historic preservation of the Lyndhurst site, for which CSNDC received federal and state historic tax credits.  The redevelopment utilized high efficiency heating and cooling systems and fixtures, as well as Energy Star rated appliances. Whittier Lyndhurst Washington employs environmentally-friendly design features throughout and will earn the distinction of being certified as LEED Homes Silver by the U.S. Green Building Council. The development will also meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star standards and Enterprise Green Communities standards.
“CSNDC is thrilled to see Whittier Lyndhurst Washington, with 44 sustainable and affordable homes and 1,000 square feet of quality commercial space, come to fruition in Codman Square,” said Gail Latimore, Executive Director of Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation. “We remain dedicated to anti-displacement and equity in our neighborhood and appreciate the past and continued support of our many funders.”
Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation and the Talbot Norfolk Triangle Neighbors United worked closely with the City of Boston to develop the homes in accordance with the goals and approaches of the Talbot-Norfolk Triangle Eco-Innovation District (TNT EID).  The TNT EID is a grassroots, neighborhood-led effort and is a first of its kind approach to neighborhood-scale planning in the City of Boston in that it uses sustainability as a guide for planning and development. The Talbot Norfolk Triangle was the first EcoDistrict to be established in Boston and in 2014 won a City of Boston Greenovate Award.
The City of Boston and the Boston Planning and Development Agency are working towards the establishment of more EcoDistricts in Boston as a step towards achieving Boston’s ambitious greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals.
Whittier Lyndhurst Washington has been made possible in part by the contribution of more than $1.6 million from the City of Boston, as well as funding from the State’s Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP), Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (CEDAC), Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), The Life Initiative, NeighborWorks America,RBC Capital Markets, and Bank of America.
http://sampan.org/2017/05/mayor-walsh-codman-square-neighborhood-development-corporation-open-whittier-lyndhurst-washington-homes/

SourceSampan

Fenway’s Burbank Gardens to Remain Affordable After Purchase By CDC

Much of the commonwealth’s stock of affordable housing, built in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, is at risk of losing affordability. Currently, there are more than 104,000 affordable housing units at risk of converting to market rate; while not all of those are at high risk, we still face the possibility of more than 14,000 converting before January 2020.

Until earlier this month, Burbank Gardens accounted for 52 of those units. The purchase of Burbank Gardens by Fenway Community Development Corporation (Fenway CDC) not only demonstrates the state and local government commitment to preserving affordable housing, but also its continued dedication to finding innovative ways to address the expiring use challenge.

As properties financed through subsidized mortgages issued almost 40 years ago reach maturity, the low income use restrictions accompanying these mortgages expire and long-

time residents face the threat of displacement. Project owners must decide whether to utilize new public financing resources to preserve long-term affordability or opt out of public programs and convert this housing to market rate.

The state legislature, which passed Chapter 40T in 2009 to tackle the expiring use housing challenge, provided the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and CEDAC tools to monitor and address it. Among the law’s most important provisions are purchase rights, which allow DHCD or its designated

agent to acquire and preserve these expiring affordable housing projects if an owner offers to sell a building. Burbank Gardens is an excellent example of the effective use of these 40T purchase rights, and Fenway CDC successfully acquired the property on April 10. CEDAC provided a $313,000 predevelopment loan and, with participation by Eastern Bank, an $8.2 million acquisition loan. Fenway CDC plans to rehabilitate Burbank Gardens and to ensure that 51 of the 52 apartments remain affordable for low- and moderate-income households.

Located next to Symphony Community Park in the Fenway neighborhood of Boston, the property consists of studio, and one- and two-bedroom apartments, as well as community space. It was one of many 13A properties financed by MassHousing whose 40 year mortgage term will reach maturity in March 2018. Because the project faced imminent risk of market conversion, its preservation became a priority for the state. When the previous owner put the property on the market in early 2016, Fenway CDC was designated by DHCD through Chapter 40T to purchase and preserve the 52-unit residence.

State Policy And Investments Make Significant Impact

Since Chapter 40T was enacted, the law has helped to preserve 24,380 units of privately- owned affordable housing across the commonwealth, ensuring that families are able to stay in their homes and neighborhoods. But still, thousands of units remain at risk. Preserving these affordable units requires a combination of resident and community initiative, technical expertise, and private and public investment.

In the case of Burbank Gardens, public investment has played a significant role. Though not all of the project’s long-term financing is committed, it is anticipated that the majority will come from state resources. This includes millions of dollars in resources from DHCD and MassHousing, along with equity raised from federal and state housing tax credits. In addition to state resources, the city of Boston, through the Department of Neighborhood Development, has shown its support for preservation by committing significant resources to this important preservation effort.

Assembling the right combination of resources to help preserve large-scale affordable housing developments can be a complex endeavor. But over the past several years, Massachusetts has learned how to do that well. Last year, the Urban Institute released data ranking the counties across the United States doing the best job of housing extremely low income families – of the top 10 counties, five were in Massachusetts, in part because of the commonwealth’s successful housing preservation efforts. Suffolk County was ranked first in the nation. CEDAC has supported and advised the city of Boston on preservation strategies – and worked with Boston-area nonprofits like Fenway CDC – for many years.

Burbank Gardens is a success story because, in a time of much uncertainty, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has maintained its commitment to producing and preserving affordable housing.  Beyond the state’s support of housing tax credits, Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito just last week unveiled their housing bond bill, which includes more than $1.3 billion for affordable housing production and preservation over the next five years.  With such support, we expect to see more such successful preservation efforts, like Burbank Gardens, going forward.

Roger Herzog is the executive director of the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (CEDAC). Bill Brauner is CEDAC’s director of housing preservation and policy.

http://www.bankerandtradesman.com/2017/04/fenways-burbank-gardens-remain-affordable-purchase-cdc/?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=socialnetwork

SourceBanker & Tradesman

Howland Mansion Restoration Project Starts at last in New Bedford

NEW BEDFORD — It’s been years in the making, and the Waterfront Historic Area League has officially launched a restoration project of the John Howland Jr. family home at 38 South Sixth St.

The $2.9 million renovation will convert the house to seven market-rate apartments.

It was already subdivided into apartments when fire struck in 2005. Following that, the rare red brick mansion was exposed to the elements for five years before WHALE and the city stepped in to buy the building and repair the roof to stop further deterioration.

The quest was complicated and time-consuming. It has taken five years to develop the plans and put together the financing maze, but now the project has actually begun, with chain link fence already surrounding the property and the plywood starting to be removed from the window openings.

WHALE Director Teri Bernert said that the project should be completed by November.

The Howland House was built in 1834, one of several homes in the neighborhood built by the Howland family.

The family is one of the best known in New Bedford, having made their fortune in the whaling business.

Howland mansion restoration project starts at last in New Bedford When the fire occurred, there was some question whether the building could be saved. But WHALE has taken on impossible projects for over a half century.

So a team was assembled consisting of WHALE, the nonprofit developer The Resource Inc. (TRI) and architect Christopher “Kit” Wise, and everyone worked on the plans and the financing.

Bernert called the financing “very difficult,” but eventually things fell into place with funds from many sources.

Funds were contributed by the City of New Bedford, The 1772 Foundation, Bristol County Savings Bank, the Community Economic Development Assistance Corp., the Mass. Department of Housing and Community Development, the Mass. Historical Commission, the Mass. Housing Investment Corp., and the National Park Service Historic Tax Credit Division.

Federal and state officials are aware of the house, and the contractor has begun examining and testing the brickwork to match its color as well as repointing the mortar to historic preservation standards.

The building was sold to TRI last week, said Bernert. The general contractor for the project is D.F. Pray.

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/news/20170428/howland-mansion-restoration-project-starts-at-last-in-new-bedford

SourceSouthCoast Today

CEDAC Commits $8.5M To Preserve Affordable Housing In Fenway

The Community Economic Development Assistance Corp. (CEDAC) recently committed over $8.5 million in financing to Fenway Community Development Corp. (Fenway CDC) to purchase and preserve Burbank Gardens, an existing affordable housing development located in the Fenway.

In 2009, the Massachusetts legislature passed Chapter 40T into law, giving the state’s Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and CEDAC tools to monitor and address the expiring use challenge.

When the seller of Burbank Gardens put the property on the market in early 2016, Fenway CDC was designated by DHCD through Chapter 40T to purchase and preserve the 52-unit residence. The seller accepted Fenway CDC’s offer in September 2016.

“Preserving Burbank Gardens is an important step in the Commonwealth’s ongoing efforts to maintaining affordable housing,” Roger Herzog, CEDAC’s executive director, said in a statement. “It demonstrates once again that the innovative Chapter 40T law remains an effective tool and is a national model for preserving quality affordable housing.”

CDC plans to ensure that 51 of the 52 apartments remain affordable for low and moderate income households. The property currently consists of 52 studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments. CEDAC provided a $313,000 predevelopment loan and, with participation by Eastern Bank, an $8,268,525 acquisition loan to Fenway CDC for this important preservation effort.

http://www.bankerandtradesman.com/2017/04/cedac-commits-8-5m-preserve-affordable-housing-fenway/

SourceBanker & Tradesman

French Club Project Gets State Funding, Looks Toward Summer Groundbreaking

The Neighborhood Developers (TND) hosted state and City leaders on Tuesday morning, March 28, to announce that they had received critical funding to allow the French Club affordable housing project to proceed to a groundbreaking.

“It’s an honor for TND to host an event like this,” said Aaron Wasserman of TND, stepping in for Director Ann Houston who is out of the country. “We were looking at that site for a long time because it’s close to Chelsea’s schools and parks and public transportation. We’re really just happy the state has chosen this project. We’ve been working on it two years. We want to thank the City Manager and the City Council for helping us work on this.”

TND will revitalize the vacant French Club building at 242 Spencer St. and create 34 new units of affordable rental housing for families. The project will include three units targeted to low income persons with disabilities and eight units for formerly homeless families who will receive supportive services from Housing Families, Inc. The state awarded $500,000 in Housing Trust Fund funding, $1.1 million in state and federal low-income housing tax credits, and $3.125 million in a state subsidy.

City Manager Tom Ambrosino said building affordable units like the French Club will help ease the squeeze on working people and people of modest means as rents continue to rise in Greater Boston.

“The City Council has just passed and inclusionary zoning ordinance and that policy is useful, but there’s nothing like building full affordable housing,” he said. “That’s why I’m so grateful. This funding is going to advance this project and we’re going to see a groundbreaking this summer probably.”

Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito was on hand with Housing Undersecretary Chrystal Kornegay to announce the award, along with a handful of other awards to project in other parts of the state.

“These seven projects will create housing that specifically targets our state’s at-risk populations, including veterans, the elderly, individuals with disabilities, and formerly homeless women and families,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “I’m incredibly proud of our commitment to ensuring all of our residents are not only able to access housing, but also the supportive services they need to succeed.”

Funding for these projects includes $3.1 million from the National Housing Trust Fund (HTF), a newly-authorized federal program that supports the development of affordable housing for low-income individuals and families that include supportive services. The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is supporting the awarded projects through $14.9 million in state affordable housing subsidies, and 100 project-based Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) vouchers. DHCD also allocated approximately $2 million in state and federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) to the awarded projects.

“Housing with wraparound supportive services gives residents the tools necessary to break the cycle of homelessness,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Jay Ash, the former Chelsea City Manager. “Putting our residents on the path towards stability by connecting them to education, job training, transportation assistance, childcare and more services, strengthens communities across Massachusetts.”

The French Club project went through a long and contentious planning process, where neighbors and some councillors opposed the original plan – which had more units, a bigger building and closed down the Spencer Avenue extension. Numerous Mill Hill neighbors spoke out against the project, which they felt was too big and wasn’t communicated well to those living nearby.

In the end, a compromise proposal with plenty of input was approved.

SourceChelsea Record

Baker-Polito Administration Announces $20 Million for Supportive Affordable Housing

BOSTON – Today the Baker-Polito Administration announced a total of $20 million in awards to seven affordable housing projects in Massachusetts, to support the creation and preservation of 177 supportive housing units for homeless families and individuals, veterans, the elderly and individuals with disabilities. The awarded projects will provide affordable rental housing to extremely low-income families and individuals, and provide wraparound services to residents.

Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito and Undersecretary of Housing and Community Development Chrystal Kornegay announced the funding today, alongside elected officials and officials from The Neighborhood Developers, at an event in Chelsea.

“These awards leverage state and federal funding to serve our most vulnerable communities,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Our administration strongly believes in the value of affordable housing, and as advocates for every Massachusetts resident we will continue to work with our federal, local and community partners to ensure housing is shared priority.”

“These seven projects will create housing that specifically targets our state’s at-risk populations, including veterans, the elderly, individuals with disabilities, and formerly homeless women and families,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “I’m incredibly proud of our commitment to ensuring all of our residents are not only able to access housing, but also the supportive services they need to succeed.”

Funding for these projects includes $3.1 million from the National Housing Trust Fund (HTF), a newly-authorized federal program that supports the development of affordable housing for low-income individuals and families that include supportive services. The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is supporting the awarded projects through $14.9 million in state affordable housing subsidies, and 100 project-based Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) vouchers. DHCD also allocated approximately $2 million in state and federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) to the awarded projects.

“Housing with wraparound supportive services gives residents the tools necessary to break the cycle of homelessness,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Jay Ash. “Putting our residents on the path towards stability by connecting them to education, job training, transportation assistance, childcare and more services, strengthens communities across Massachusetts.”

“The challenges presented by homelessness and housing instability to families and individuals are significant,” said Undersecretary of Housing and Community Development Undersecretary Chrystal Kornegay. “Supportive services allow us to meet families and individuals where they are, providing assistance in a holistic manner to tackle the issues that stand between residents and long-term stability.”

The Baker-Polito Administration has implemented a comprehensive approach to reducing homelessness through early intervention, diversion and wraparound services for homeless and at-risk populations, as well as through the creation of affordable rental housing for homeless and at-risk families and individuals. These efforts have resulted in a significant reduction in the number families residing in shelter across the state, reducing Emergency Assistance caseloads by over 23%. Since 2015, the administration has reduced the number of homeless families living in overflow shelter in hotels and motels from 1,500 families, to less than 70.

Last May, the Baker-Polito Administration unveiled a 5-year capital budget plan that includes a $1.1 billion commitment to increasing housing production, an 18 percent funding increase for mixed-income housing production, and affordable housing preservation. The administration and MassHousing also committed a separate $100 million to support the construction of 1,000 new workforce housing units. Since 2015 the Baker-Polito Administration has provided direct funding to create and preserve over 3,000 units of affordable housing across Massachusetts.

2017 Supportive Housing Awards:

Montello Welcome Home II, Brockton

Montello Welcome Home II, sponsored by Father Bill’s & MainSpring, will create 23 new supportive housing units for homeless veterans and other homeless individuals, and provide a comprehensive package of services to help residents retain their tenancies and prevent relapse into homelessness. DHCD awarded $500,000 in HTF funding, and $2.6 million in state subsidy.

242 Spencer, Chelsea

The Neighborhood Developers will revitalize a vacant building at 242 Spencer Street and create 34 new units of affordable rental housing for families. The project will include 3 units targeted to low income persons with disabilities and 8 units for formerly homeless families who will receive supportive services from Housing Families, Inc. DHCD awarded $500,000 in HTF funding, $1.1 million in state and federal low-income housing tax credits, and $3.125 million in state subsidy.

House of Hope 3, Lowell

House of Hope, Inc. will renovate a former assisted living facility to create 17 units of permanent supportive housing for formerly homeless families, and provide residents with comprehensive supportive services, including education, job training, and child care services. DHCD awarded $500,000 in HTF funding, and $3.7 million in state subsidy.

Under One Roof, New Bedford

Under One Roof, sponsored by the YWCA of Southeastern Massachusetts, will renovate a building that currently houses the YWCA’s existing office space to create 8 units of permanent supportive housing for formerly homeless or incarcerated women. Under One Roof will include a child-care facility. The project will consolidate and unify the YWCA’s administrative, program, and residential activities at one site in a state-of-the-art facility. DHCD awarded $451,000 in HTF funding, and $550,000 in state subsidy.

Hillside Residence, West Springfield

The non-profit Sisters of Providence will build a new, 36-unit supportive housing residence for elders who are homeless and at risk of institutionalization. The project will be sited on the campus of an existing elder service compound, and on-site services will be available through a federal Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) operated by MERCY Life. DHCD awarded $500,000 in HTF funding, and $2 million in state subsidy.

Abby’s House, Worcester

Abby Kelley Foster House, Inc. will undertake considerable renovations of the existing 53 units at Abby’s House and add two new apartments, for a total of 55 units. The project will provide housing for women who have been homeless due to domestic violence, eviction, economic crisis, or unemployment, and supportive services will be offered on-site to residents. DHCD awarded $500,000 in HTF funding, $989,000 in state and federal low-income housing tax credits, and $2.5 million in state subsidy.

21 Jaques Avenue, Worcester

21 Jaques Avenue is an abandoned property on a prominent corner in Worcester. Worcester Common Ground will substantially rehabilitate the building to create 4 units of affordable rental housing for families with very-low and extremely-low incomes. Two units will be targeted to households with disabilities. DHCD awarded $130,000 in HTF funding, and $422,000 in state subsidy.

SourceMass.gov

State funding paves way for homeless veterans housing in Brockton

The state approved $3.1 million in funding Tuesday for the second phase of Father Bill’s & MainSpring’s Montello Welcome Home project.

BROCKTON – The state provided funding Tuesday that paves the way for permanent housing for homeless individuals in the city. Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito announced $3.1 million in funding to support a Father Bills & MainSpring project on North Main Street. The project, known as Montello Welcome Home II, will be at 682 North Main St., the site of the former Phaneuf Hospital and Catholic Charities South, which was demolished two weeks ago. “We’re very grateful to the state for making another generous commitment to a project that will assist some of our community’s most vulnerable residents, including individuals who have fallen on hard times after proudly serving their country,” said John Yazwinski, the president and chief executive officer of Father Bill’s. State funding paves way for homeless veterans housing in Brockton Tuesday Posted Mar 28, 2017 at 3:12 PM Updated Mar 28, 2017 at 3:19 PM The organization unveiled Jack’s Place, across the street at 695 North Main St., last year. That property has 20 efficiency-style apartments designated for homeless veterans, families and disabled individuals. The next phase will create 23 permanent supportive housing units for individuals experiencing homeless, including 12 apartments specifically for military veterans. “We’re eager to build off of the momentum created by Jack’s Place and Patti’s House by rejuvenating a property that has sat unused for a long time and, more importantly, by bringing hope and stability to the lives of residents who are on a path to self-sufficiency,” Yazwinski said. The state funding includes $2,605,000 in affordable housing subsidies and $500,000 from the National Housing Trust Fund. The remainder of the project cost will be paid for by public grants, private donations and a low-interest mortgage. Some of the partners will be the city of Brockton, Federal Home Loan Bank, HarborOne Bank, Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation and The Property and Casualty Initiative. Father Bill’s purchased the two properties in 2013. Yazwinski said construction could begin late this summer or in the early fall. The goal would be to get people into the apartments in the fall of 2018. “We’re excited,” Yazwinski told The Enterprise two weeks ago when the Phaneuf Hospital was being demolished. “Between that property sitting there vacant for over a decade and the one across the street, we’ve brought many supportive housing units to the neighborhood. We’re going to take another distressed property and make it a beautiful building.”

SourceThe Enterprise

Boston strives to preserve affordable housing

Although Boston has demonstrated a strong commitment to affordable housing, with 52,800 subsidized units to help house its low- and moderate-income residents, these critically important assets can become at risk. Boston’s strong real estate market makes it extremely attractive for landlords with expiring affordability restrictions to convert their property to market-rate housing.

There are 30,477 affordable units in Boston that are privately-owned that were funded from the state and federal programs over the last 50 years. These units are potentially at risk because most have reached the end of their initial affordability requirements and owners may convert to market rate. While many units are at low risk because of non-profit ownership or already-executed affordability extensions, there more than 4,100 units considered to be at moderate or elevated risk.

 

Boston 2030 Goals

  • Retain at least 97 percent of privately-owned affordable rental housing.

Retaining at least 97 percent of the City’s 30,435-unit portfolio may be difficult, given the twin challenges of the 13A issue and declining Federal support. Attaining this goal will require a commitment of significant resources from the City and State. To this end, the City understands that to best use our scarce housing preservation resources, the preservation of at-risk units, especially 13A units, must take precedence over upgrading affordable units that are not at risk.

 

  • Seek to preserve all of the 13A developments; where preservation is not an option, ensure that 100 percent of tenants in those developments have access to alternative housing options.

Unlike other affordable housing opt-outs, in 13A developments there are no tenant protection vouchers available to low income residents if that development converts to market-rate housing. Working with our partners at the State and in the non-profit community, we will execute strategies to provide assistance to tenants of units that, despite best efforts, may not be preserved.

 

How we’re doing: Results to date

  • The 97 percent retention target means that no more than 161 units can be lost by the end of 2016. With only 61 units lost to date, the City is well ahead of target.
  • Of the 4,100 units identified as at moderate or elevated risk, 1,013 have been preserved and only 61 units lost.
  • Nine preservation projects, compromising 376 affordable units, were funded by the City between 2014 and 2016. The City contributed $6.5 million to these projects, which in turn leveraged $123 million in State, Federal and private funds.
  • There are 600 units in nine 13A developments across the city that are at risk of loss of affordability. Department of Neighborhood Development (DND) staff continues to meet with tenant groups, owners and potential developers in hopes of preserving many of these units as affordable and where that is not possible, to protect the current tenants from excessive rent increases and eviction.

 

How we’ve done it: Our strategies

  • Working with partners at the State, City staff are prioritizing projects most at risk for loss of affordability due to market pressures, financial feasibility, or physical condition. With Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation and Mass Housing, DND is providing owners with financing options that would allow them to take advantage of programs such as Rental Assistance Demonstration, tax-exempt bond financing and other resources and tools as encouragement for them to make a decision to preserve tenancies and secure the long-term affordability of the development.
  • The City and the State have been reaching out to the owners of the 13A developments, to encourage preservation of the tenancies of low- to moderate-income residents, beyond the protections offered under 40T.
  • The City expects to close on the first acquisition of a Boston 13A development by the end of March 2017.

 

This article is from the “Housing a Changing City: Boston 2030” report.

http://sampan.org/2017/03/boston-strives-to-preserve-affordable-housing/

SourceSAMPAN News

Jackson Square’s Master Plan Comes To Life

Since the beginning of the new year, the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (CEDAC) has invested more than $1.1 million in efforts by the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation (JPNDC) to revitalize Jackson Square and the surrounding community. On March 2, CEDAC approved a $400,000 loan to JPNDC for the development of General Heath Square Apartments, a 47-unit affordable rental property located a quarter mile from Jackson Square. A few weeks earlier, CEDAC approved $750,000 for the nonprofit’s new development at 25 Amory St. The project, which shares a parcel with a proposed mixed-income building by The Community Builders (TCB), is the latest in a series of affordable and market-rate housing developments making up the Jackson Square Redevelopment Master Plan.

Sara Barcan Head Shot

Sara Barcan

The Jackson Square Redevelopment, led by Jackson Square Partners (JSP) – a collaboration among JPNDC, Urban Edge, TCB and Hyde Square Task Force – is one of the largest community-driven developments in the country and will create over 300 new homes, and community and commercial space. JSP received a $3.4 million MassWorks grant in September, which will promote the development of infrastructure and greenspace. This current grant, along with the $4.7 million previously committed by the commonwealth for infrastructure improvements, reinforces the strong support for such revitalization.

The Jackson Square story goes back more than five decades. When the commonwealth proposed building a commuter highway to run through the heart of Roxbury and Jamaica Plain, residents of the adjoining communities organized against it. They succeeded in halting the construction, but not before public agencies had acquired acres of land and demolished homes. In Jackson Square, 12 parcels of land comprising almost 9 acres and a total of 793,000 square feet lay empty for decades.

The then-Boston Redevelopment Authority appointed a Jackson Coordinating Group with representatives from local organizations in 1999. A comprehensive planning process over the next five years culminated in developer designation of JSP. JSP’s vision to redevelop and give new life to Jackson Square has made a tremendous difference in ensuring that the revived neighborhood is meeting the needs of current residents, including improved access to the MBTA, rather than contributing to their displacement.

CEDAC joined a consortium of local lenders to provide the Jackson Square Partners a $1.5 million predevelopment loan for master planning in 2006. Since then, the neighborhood has blossomed with new affordable housing developments focused on helping those who would be most at risk of displacement from gentrification, and CEDAC has made additional predevelopment and permanent loans to advance these projects.

Construction’s Ripples Felt Beyond JP’s Borders

Jackson Square saw the first of the affordable housing sub-projects built in 2010. Although not technically part of the master plan, JPNDC’s 270 Centre St., which provides 30 new units of affordable housing as well as street-level commercial space, now acts as a gateway for the new neighborhood. A second critical affordable housing project, Urban Edge’s Jackson Commons, was completed in 2015. Located on Columbus Avenue, Jackson Commons includes 37 new units of affordable housing, with six set aside for formerly homeless families, and office space in a newly renovated century-old building. That same year, JPNDC broke ground at 75 Amory Ave., which will bring 39 units of affordable housing to the neighborhood.

These projects, along with The Community Builders’ completed mixed-use, mixed-income 225 Centre St. project adjacent to the Jackson Square MBTA station, now form a ring of redevelopment around Jackson Square. They have spurred other community-based construction projects near Jackson Square, like the General Heath Square project and the construction of Nurtury Learning Lab, a state-of-the-art nonprofit child care center that opened in 2014. Urban Edge is at the beginning stages of developing a new affordable housing complex at a parcel on Columbus Avenue that is outside the master plan area, but still a part of the neighborhood, and the CDC continues to work on creating the Jackson Square Recreation Center. Most recently, the Boston Housing Authority announced that it will be soliciting proposals to rebuild a portion of the nearby Mildred C. Hailey public housing complex, formerly known as Bromley-Heath, and has recently approved the JP/ROX rezoning plan, which will encourage mixed-income housing for the neighborhood adjacent to Jackson Square.

The success of Jackson Square in creating new homes for residents across a range of incomes not only shows that local and state governments can work with nonprofit partners to help spur neighborhood and economic development in healthy ways, but that they can also create an ongoing and positive ripple effect beyond neighborhood borders. It’s a model worth following.

Roger Herzog is the executive director of the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation. Sara Barcan is CEDAC’s director of housing development.

http://www.bankerandtradesman.com/2017/03/jackson-squares-master-plan-comes-life/?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=socialnetwork

SourceBanker & Tradesman

Northampton receives funding for affordable housing project

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) – The Baker administration announced on Tuesday millions of dollars in funding for an affordable housing complex in Northampton. The project is planned for the former Northampton Lumber Yard property on Pleasant Street.

The Governor’s office said funding will come from low-income housing tax credits, rental housing subsidies and other state funds. The plan includes developing 55 units of affordable family housing and retail space in the downtown area

“We are strengthening cities and towns across the Commonwealth, by partnering with local stakeholders to deliver on their unique visions for community development,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “The tools we are bringing to bear in Northampton, in public infrastructure and affordable housing funding, will allow this city to create a dynamic new entrance to its downtown, while opening up new housing options for families.”

“Northampton has displayed a remarkable level of collaboration and partnership to craft its Pleasant Street corridor master plan, and we are pleased to partner with the city to help deliver on that plan’s promise,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “We are growing strong regional economies, by empowering communities to pursue long-term planning, and then providing them with the necessary resources to reach their goals for economic growth and new housing development.”

Some local business owners told 22News they’re worried parking will be a problem. The owner of Harold’s Garage, Michael Willard, said, “Well it’s going to affect everybody. All these store fronts across the street. People aren’t gonna spend how long looking for a parking place, they’ll just go back to the malls like they always do.”

According to the Governor’s office, the Department of Housing and Community Development awarded the project $1.79 million in state and federal low-income housing tax credits and $3.3 million in direct rental housing subsidies.

Construction could start as soon as September of 2017.

http://wwlp.com/2017/01/10/northampton-receives-funding-for-affordable-housing-project/