NeighborWorks Southern Mass. yesterday unveiled a new fundraising initiative to support construction of new homes for returning veterans and their families.
The Home Sweet Home for Veterans campaign will help fund the construction of 12 new homes the organization has begun building on East Howard St. in Quincy. The homes will be rented to returning veterans and their families.
The announcement was made at a Veterans’ Day-themed breakfast at the Inn at Bay Pointe.
“No one that has ever worn the uniform of this great nation should struggle to find a roof over their head … By maximizing our state, local and private resources we are able to conceive projects like this that will ensure Massachusetts continues to lead the way and becomes the first state in the nation to end veterans’ homelessness,” State Secretary of Veterans’ Services Coleman Nee said in a statement.
Forty percent of all homeless men are veterans, and during any given year, 400,000 veterans experience homelessness, according to the National Coalition for the Homeless.
“Today’s returning veterans have different needs than previous generations,” NeighborWorks Southern Mass. Executive Director Robert Corley said in a statement. “Many are older and have families, making it even harder to find a safe, affordable place to call home.”
NeighborWorks Southern Mass. plans to leverage $80,000 in state tax credits the agency received through the state Community Investment Tax Credit Program to jumpstart the campaign. Through that program, individuals or businesses that contribute $1,000 or more to the organization will receive a 50 percent state income tax credit plus an additional charitable deduction on their federal tax return.
NeighborWorks Southern Mass.’s work on veterans housing issues dates back to 1996. Since 2012, the agency has built or renovated four homes on the South Shore for veterans’ and their families
Tag: affordable housing
Details emerge in two projects that will change the face of Pleasant Street; Planning Board to take
The first of two significant projects that will change the look of Pleasant Street is set to come before the Planning Board Thursday night, an estimated $20 million development that will involve razing Northampton Lodging and building a 72-unit apartment complex in its place.
HAPHousing expects to close on a deal early next year to buy Northampton Lodging at 129 Pleasant St., a longtime single-room-occupancy building consisting of 58 units. The Springfield organization that develops and manages affordable housing complexes throughout the region is floating plans to construct a five-story, 65,000-square-foot apartment building at the site.
The building will include a combination of studio and one-bedroom apartments, with 48 designated as affordable and 24 as market rate. Another 3,500 square feet of space on the ground floor facing Pleasant Street will be leased for retail purposes.
“We’re excited about the property. It’s a significant project for us,” said Victoria DellaSperanza, HAP’s chief resource development officer.
HAP will formally present its plans Thursday at 7:35 p.m. before a joint public hearing of the Planning Board and Central Business Architecture Committee in the council chambers of the Puchalski Municipal Building.
The project needs a special permit and site plan approval to move ahead, though construction is not expected to begin until financing can be secured from multiple sources sometime next year, DellaSperanza said. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2016 and will take slightly more than a year to complete, she said.
Meantime, another affordable housing project is in the works for the old Northampton Lumber site to the south and on the other side of Pleasant Street. Valley Community Development Corp. is buying the 1.23-acre site at 256 Pleasant St. and intends to build an apartment building with between 50 and 60 one-, two- or three-bedroom units, with retail space on the first level. All of the units will be affordable, with the majority being earmarked for people earning $30,000 a year for an individual and $50,000 annually for families.
Both projects are expected to advance the city’s long-term desire to add to its affordable housing stock, especially for people in the middle income levels. Several housing studies in recent years, starting with the Sustainable Northampton Plan (2008-2028), a 2011 Housing Strategic Plan and a 2013 Market Assessment, have pointed to the low rental vacancy rates and called for more rental housing and the development of smaller homes.
“This project will help the existing population and fit in with the city’s larger residential goals,” said Peter Serafino, HAP’s project manager.
HAP project
Once complete, HAP’s so-called Live 155 project on Pleasant Street will be among the organization’s largest, though a similar-sized development is in the works for Holyoke. The building’s address will be 155 Pleasant St.
After it purchases Northampton Lodging, HAP intends to manage it until financing is secured and enough time is given to relocate residents now living there before beginning work, according to DellaSperanza and Serafino.
Tenants will be temporarily relocated to similar-sized apartments in Northampton and nearby communities, with HAP paying for moving expenses, rent differential and more. Tenants who qualify will be offered apartments in the new building at the same rent they paid at the time of their relocation. Those who move in after HAP acquires the property, however, will not be eligible to receive relocation benefits.
“We will help the folks who are there now move to other, appropriate housing,” DellaSperanza said. “They will pay an equal amount to what they are paying now.”
DellaSperanza said HAP’s mission is to make housing accessible and affordable for as many people as possible, but also to run a number of programs designed to get people into permanent housing. To that end, tenants in the new building will have access to a number of HAP programs such as job training, counseling and assistance with outside programs.
The organization intends to hire a full-time property manager for at least the first year and a part-time residence services coordinator after that. Serafino said HAP will work with local social service providers to understand the needs of current Northampton Lodging tenants, half of whom have lived there for a number of years while the rest tend to come and go.
“Whatever the needs, we’re going to try and access the services so when they do come back, we want to be able to provide those services,” Serafino said.
HAP intends to finance the project through a combination of sources, including low-income tax credits from the state and bank loans. The organization intends to submit an application to the state Department of Housing and Community Development for the tax credits early next year.
HAP plans to tear down the existing three-story, 11,700-square-foot building, which was built in 1967 as a dormitory for the now-defunct Northampton Commercial College. The new building will include five floors fronting Pleasant Street, including retail space on the main floor with room for between one and three businesses, depending on the tenant secured, and apartments on the upper four floors. The studio apartments will have about 480 square feet of space, while the one-bedroom units will have 600 square feet, Serafino said.
The building will also include flexible spaces on each floor that tenants can use for meetings, parties and other gatherings of between two and eight people.
The site is next to the Manhan Rail Trail, across the street from the new platform for Amtrak’s high-speed passenger rail service, and a Pioneer Valley Transit Authority bus stop.
“The location itself is a real amenity,” Serafino said.
Plans also call for a public-private “pocket” plaza to be constructed at the back of the property next to the rail trail that will provide access to the apartments but also allow for public use. Another area of open space toward the front is envisioned as a “artlet,” or space where art can be displayed.
Meanwhile, about a year ago, the Valley CDC received a $1.1 million loan from the Community Economic Development Assistance Corp., a state development finance institution, to help it acquire the former lumberyard that closed last year.
If successful in its plans, the organization would add to its recent development of affordable rental and ownership housing in its four-community territory of Northampton, Amherst, Easthampton and Hadley. Since its inception, the organization has produced 180 such units and is currently building a 38-unit family rental housing project in Easthampton called Parsons Village.
Ludlow selectmen pleased that Stevens Memorial Senior Housing is now open
Selectmen say they are pleased that the newly renovated HAPHousing’s Sevens Memorial Housing project for senior citizens is now open.
“This is a welcome addition to the town,” said Selectman William Rooney.
Located in the center of Ludlow, the Stevens Memorial Senior Housing offers 28 affordable rental apartments for senior citizens, ages 62 and older, in the newly-renovated historic building.
The Stevens Memorial Building was built in 1906 by the Ludlow Manufacturing Co. as a recreation facility for its employees. It was acquired by the town of Ludlow in 1949 and operated as the Ludlow Boys & Girls Club until 2005.
Stevens Memorial Senior Housing was made possible by funds provided by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development, MassHousing and the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation.
Rooney said selectmen were frustrated with the slow pace of the building, but are very happy that it is now open.
“The building is impressive and the integrity of the building has been maintained,” Rooney said.
Cape’s Largest Affordable Housing Community Receives $12M From MassHousing
Mashpee Village, an affordable housing community on Cape Cod, is undergoing a final phase of renovations after receiving $12.1 million in MassHousing loans.
Mashpee Village is owned by The Community Builders (TCB) of Boston. TCB is using the MassHousing financing to complete a second and final phase of renovations to the property, including the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant to replace the original septic systems installed nearly 40 years ago.
“Mashpee Village is the largest affordable housing community on the Cape, and this financing is going to restore the property to prime conditions for the families that live there,” MassHousing Executive Director Thomas R. Gleason said in a statement. “We’re pleased to be a partner with The Community Builders in renovating this very valuable affordable housing resource on Cape Cod.”
Mashpee Village was built in 1974 and is comprised of 35 single family apartment homes and 110 apartments in 14 garden-style, wood-frame buildings located at 1 Wampanoag Drive. In 2009, TCB completed renovations to the 35 single-family units and to the exterior of the multifamily buildings.
The recent MassHousing loan closings will finance the final phase of renovations to the 14 multifamily buildings containing the 110 apartments and for the construction of the wastewater treatment plant. Planned renovations include replacement of kitchens and bathrooms, unit accessibility upgrades, installation of new roofs and sprinkler systems, enhanced landscaping and walkways and street and parking lot repaving.
The contractor is Delphi Construction. The architect is Winslow Architects Inc. and the management agent is TCB.
Ribbon Cutting this morning for HAPHousing’s Stevens Memoiral Senior Housing on Chestnut Street in L
A ribbon cutting and grand opening will be held this morning at 10 a.m. at the newly renovated HAPHousing’s Stevens Memorial Senior Housing at 12 Chestnut Street.
Located in the center of Ludlow, the Stevens Memorial Senior Housing offers 28 affordable rental apartments for seniors citizens, ages 62 and older, in the newly-renovated historic building.
The facility now includes community and activity rooms, a laundry room and four fully handicapped-accessible apartments. HAPHousing has made all apartments energy efficient, including the replacement of original windows with energy efficient windows.
A tenant selection lottery was held in July, and initial occupancy is scheduled for October.
HAPHousing served as developer for the $7.4 million conversion of the historic brick building and is managing the 28-rental apartment community for senior citizens. The nonprofit organization acquired the Stevens Memorial Building from the town of Ludlow in August 2013 and began construction in September 2013.
The Stevens Memorial Building was built in 1906 by the Ludlow Manufacturing Co. as a recreation facility for its employees. It was acquired by the town of Ludlow in 1949 and operated as the Ludlow Boys & Girls Club until 2005.
HAPHousing Executive Director Peter Gagliardi said, “It is gratifying to see this historic building come to life while providing the much needed additional affordable housing to serve seniors in this community.”
Stevens Memorial Senior Housing was made possible by funds provided by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development, MassHousing and the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation.
Studio One of Springfield served as architect for the project. Lupachino & Salvatore Inc. of Bloomfield, Conn., served as general contractor.
HAPHousing provides a broad range of housing services to meet the needs of low and moderate-income households and is the region’s largest nonprofit developer of affordable housing.
Speakers this morning will include U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, state Sen. Gale Candaras, D-Wilbraham, and state Rep. Thomas Petrolati, C-Ludlow, as well as Manuel Silva, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, Maurice Barry, director of project management for the U.?S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and Thomas Gleason, executive director of MassHousing
Tremont Village Undergoes Renovation
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”
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
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.
$3.9 million from state to fund affordable housing upgrade, construction in Berkshires
A regional housing agency has received nearly $3.9 million in state funding toward the purchase – and eventual upgrade – of an affordable housing complex in Pittsfield and the construction of senior housing in Wlliamstown.
Berkshire Housing Development Corp. has secured a $3.6 million loan from the Community Economic Development Assistance Corp. to buy the Dalton Apartments on April Lane in the city.
Once the funds are in hand, BHDC plans a $5 million upgrade of the 44-year-old, 100-unit housing complex, according to Executive Director Elton Ogden.
“In partnership with Rees-Larkin, we plan significant capital investment,” Ogden said. Rees-Larkin was the Boston development firm that created the 45-unit Rice Silk Mill Apartments that opened in Pittsfield in September 2012.
Rees-Larkin’s principal developer, Jon Rudzinski, looks forward to the joint venture with BHDC, which manages the Rice Silk Mill Apartments.
“I came back to Pittsfield because of the great working relationship with [BHDC] and, personally, I like the fact of having another project in the city,” he said. “It’s also a win-win situation when you show up with resources for rehab.”
The $3.6 million loan is actually a bridge to allow the development team to obtain $6.2 million in federal and state low-income housing tax credits, with the balance of the financing coming from permanent loans.
The 11-building Dalton Apartments complex, currently owned by the Dalton Apartments Limited Partnership of Eastern Massachusetts, was built in 1970 and currently has 15 vacancies, according Ogden. He noted of the 100 apartments, 20 are set aside for tenants who qualify for state housing subsidies known as Section 8. BHDC plans to seek permission to increase the number of Section 8 units among the 100 apartments.
The remaining $305,500 from CEDAC is a pre-development loan for the design of a 40-unit senior housing project on land being donated by Williams College, near the Williamstown Elementary School.
Highland Woods is primarily aimed to help residents being forced to leave the Spruces Mobile Home Park, which was heavily damaged by Tropical Storm Irene in August 2011.
“This brings us one step closer for people who haven’t left the park or others who want to return to Williamstown,” said Catherine Yamamoto, chairwoman of the local Affordable Housing Committee.
Yamamoto noted the remaining 90 tenants have until early 2016 to vacate the complex, which catered to people 55 and older. In all, 300 residents occupied Spruces prior to Irene, with some already moved into housing elsewhere in town or outside the community.
BHDC’s development of Highland Woods is being assisted by a pair of nonprofits: Williamstown Elder Housing Corp. and Higher Ground Inc. Ogden says the planning has been well underway since October – and if construction money is secured this spring – work can begin this summer.
VietAID housing project receives financial boost
A VietAID led housing development on Washington Street, recently received a financial boost from the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation.
The private-public community development finance institution provided VietAID, a Fields Corner-based community development non-profit, with a $600,000 predevelopment loan to support its Upper Washington/Four Corners Project.
“The Boston neighborhoods of Jamaica Plain and Dorchester each have a range of very distinct affordable housing challenges,” Roger Herzog, executive director of Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation, said in a statement. “Given the growing needs of each of these communities, CEDAC is proud to partner with organizations with proven track records to improve and create more high quality housing options for lower income residents and those in need.”
The $10-million project, which is expected to break ground in late-2014, will construct two buildings for commercial space and 35 residential units.
The first building, located at 331 Washington St., will be three stories and house 13 of the units, in addition to 675-square-feet of ground floor retail space.
The second building, located at 324 Washington St., will be four stories and house 22 units and 2,000-square-feet of ground floor retail space.
The units will include four one-bedroom residences, 21 two-bedroom residences, and 10 three-bedroom residences. Nine of the units are expected to be set aside for formerly homeless families.
The project will also include 15 parking spaces at 331 Washington St. and 10 spaces at 324 Washington St.
Overall 10 separate parcels will be used for the project, with a total project area of approximately 30,400 square-feet. The project will also utilize a former auto body site, which was purchased by VietAID with a $450,000 acquisition loan provided by the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation.
The project was approved by the Boston Redevelopment Authority in October and wasapproved by the Zoning Board of Appeals in December.
For a copy of the Project Notification Form click here