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Celebrating Funding Awards!
St. Joseph's Redevelopment in Salem recently received over $6 million in loans and tax credits from the Commonwealth to develop family housing and retail space at a key parcel that serves as the gateway to the Point Neighborhood, a largely Latino immigrant community, and the downtown Salem business district. The 51-unit building awarded funding is the first phase in the revitalization of this 2-acre former church property. Undersecretary Tina Brooks joined Mayor Kim Driscoll, POUA's President Lisa Alberghini and local leaders to celebrate this major step forward. Following the ceremony they took a stroll down Lafayette Street and along Salem's new Harborwalk to tour neighborhood. POUA withstood four lawsuits in getting the project to this point, and looks forward to breaking ground in the late summer.
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Barstow Village, Hanover: POUA was designated developer of this Housing Authority-owned property in partnership with EA Fish Associates in 2009, and proceeded quickly to obtain a Comprehensive Permit under Chapter 40B through a collaborative process with the Town. This 66-unit elderly housing development recently received its final funding from the Commonwealth, and is also preparing to start construction this summer.
Read Articles about the funding awards on the POUA News page.
Upton Street Construction Underway
Construction began last month for 18 units of permanent supportive housing for homeless men and women in two rehabilitated brownstones on Upton Street in Boston's South End Neighborhood. Upton will provide critical housing for some of the City's most vulnerable residents, and we are thrilled to have construction underway!
We are very grateful to Mayor Menino, Governor Patrick, the Pine Street Inn, the South End Welcoming Committee, Bank of America and countless other partners who have made this development possible, as well as to Davis Square Architects and general contractor Northeast Interiors, Inc.
Cardinal Sean O'Malley's annual Christmas Eve visit with residents at the Pine Street Inn was particularly meaningful this year because of the Upton Street project. The Cardinal wrote about the visit in his Christmas blog, "It is always a pleasure to talk to the residents and to listen to their stories and hopes for the future." To read his reflections and see photos from this year's visit, go to: http://www.bostoncatholic.org/Cardinals-Corner/Blog/Cardinal-Sean-Blog.aspx?bLink=http://www.cardinalseansblog.org/2010/12/31/merry-christmas-3/
Rose Hill Manor Also Under Construction
In October, Just one week after celebrating the opening of the Hayes at Railroad Square, the Planning Office joined St. Theresa of Lisieux Parish, Cardinal Sean O'Malley and our many partners to break ground on Rose Hill Manor, a 41-unit development for seniors of modest means funded by the HUD 202 program with support from the Town of Billerica and the Commonwealth.
The Parish has been working to develop this housing on land adjacent to their church for several years and named the development in honor of St. Therese, whose nickname was the "Little Flower". The phone at the parish office already rang off the hook for months with calls from interested residents. Interested residents can now call Maloney Properties (617-209-5229) for information about the waiting list. General contractor Vertec Corporation is making rapid progress on the 34,000 square-foot building, and construction will be completed in the fall of 2011.
Click here to see photos from the event
Read Articles about the event on the POUA News page.
Celebrating the Hayes at Railroad Square
Over a hundred and fifty people gathered at the newly opened Hayes at Railroad Square on a blustery October afternoon to celebrate the opening of the Hayes at Railroad Square. Cardinal Sean O'Malley, U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas, and Mayor James Fiorentini were among those recognizing the many partners who have worked to make this 57-unit development a reality. One of the new residents, who just started a cake decorating business, made an amazing cake for the event! Another young man was quietly moving in amidst the hustle and bustle of the ceremony; left disabled by an accident as a teenager and living in a nursing home for years, the man arrived via medical transport to settle into his first independent apartment. Dellbrook Construction did terrific work as the general contractor.
The residential units were 100% rented in under four months and two of the three commercial spaces are leased, continuing the trend of reinvestment and revitalization in downtown Haverhill. Prior to the project the two adjoining mill buildings that comprise the development, built for production of boxes for the shoe industry in Haverhill, had been vacant for decades. Peabody Properties is the management agent and can be reached at 888-744-2787.
Click here to see photos from the event
Read Articles about the event on the POUA News page.
St. Kevin's Plan Moves Forward
The Planning Office received its 121A approval from the Boston Redevelopment Authority this spring and is now working to assemble financing for the redevelopment of the former St. Kevin's Parish property in Dorchester's Upham's Corner. The Planning Office, St. Mary's Center for Women & Children, Holy Family Parish, a local design committee and dozens of stakeholders have worked together since April 2010 to study various aspects of site and building design. The design builds upon a plan undertaken by the St. Kevin's Area Planning Collaborative in 2009, which envisioned a vibrant campus that will help revitalize the commercial district. St. Kevin's will include 80 affordable apartments, with 25% of the units set aside for homeless and vulnerable families.
The St. Aidan Receives National Award
Planning Office President Lisa B. Alberghini traveled to the Multi-Family Executive Conference in October to accept the Multi-Family Executive Magazine's Mixed-Income Project of the Year Award for The St. Aidan. The St. Aidan was chosen from among 250 applications. This national industry award is a testament to the hard work of the many partners who made these 59 new homes a reality.
"It's definitely ridiculously nice here." POUA Mixed-Income Development Featured on HGTV
An episode of an HGTV program broadcast this fall features a young man who is looking to buy his first home. After a few twists and turns, the man decides to buy one of first-time homebuyer condominiums at Rollins Square, the Planning Office's 184-unit mixed income development in the South End. The young man is attracted to the diverse urban neighborhood and an affordable deed-restricted unit. We were tickled by the national attention, and one that presented Rollins Square as a development of choice, development where formerly homeless families live next to market-rate condominium buyers.
http://www.hgtv.com/video/road-weary-video/index.html
Drawing "Home"
POUA recently asked the youngest residents in its two newest developments to draw their new homes or a Christmas message for POUA's Christmas Card. We received dozens of entries, many reflecting the young people's views of their new homes. Congratulations to Jay & John on your winning designs and to all the young artists who participated!