Posted on July 12, 2011
WEST BOYLSTON, July 12, 2011 --- In an era when communities worry how new housing will impact municipal and school costs, a small town of just over 7,000 people just north of Worcester realized that it did not have enough affordable homes for families and took all necessary steps to do something about it.
Five years after those first discussions, local leaders from West Boylston joined with investors and state officials to celebrate the grand opening of Freedom Village, a new development of 26 rental homes just a quarter-mile from the town center and a bus stop to Worcester.
"We don't have anything like this in town," said Kevin McCormick, chairman of the board of selectmen, at grand opening ceremonies held on May 13. "Housing is so expensive and we've been losing young people who want to live here but can't afford it."
Freedom Village addresses this need by offering eight two-bedroom and 18 three-bedroom rental homes, all affordable to families making up to 60 percent of area median income, or no more than $61,800 for a household of four.
"It's unusual to see such a high number of two- and three-bedroomapartments and we're thrilled to be involved with a development like this," said David Rockwell, director of lending for the Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP), which provided a $955,000 long-term, fixed-rate loan commitment. "Freedom Village will be a tremendous asset for the working families of this area,"
Speakers at the grand opening praised the Freedom Worship Center, the town and the South Middlesex Opportunity Council (SMOC). In the early 2000's, parishioners at the Freedom Worship Center identified affordable housing as a need and Pastor William McKinnon began discussions with the town on how to provide it. These discussions led to the church acquiring a site near downtown, with support from the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (CEDAC).
"The Freedom Worship Center deserves a lot of credit," said Roger Herzog, executive director of CEDAC. "Their parishioners saw a need, the town identified this need as well and together they got this development going."
During the process of securing financing and seeking a Ch. 40B comprehensive permit from the town, the church realized it needed an experienced partner and joined forces with SMOC, a regional non-profit with extensive experience in affordable housing. Under SMOC's direction, the development received its Ch. 40B permit, allowing the property to be developed at greater densities than what local zoning allowed.
"The town has been fantastic," said Charles Gagnon, SMOC's chief operating officer. "They gave us a lot of support and were involved in working with us to make this development what it is."
"We worked with them and they worked with us," added Selectman Kevin McCormick of the town's relationship with SMOC.
SMOC secured financing primarily through federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits and $4.6 million in federal subsidy funds from the Tax Credit Exchange Program, awarded by the state Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). Freedom Village also received financing support from the state's Affordable Housing Trust Fund loan, and a loan of over $1 million from the state Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) from their Community Based Housing (CBH) and HOME programs.
Freedom Village features two handicapped units and a play yard/recreation space for children. The project complies with energy-efficiency guidelines set by Energy Star, the government program that supports business and individual efforts to protect the environment. The five buildings on the site are of modular construction and have double walls and added insulation where modular pieces connect.
For more information about this development and MHP's financing options, contact Senior Loan Officer Megan Mulcahy at 617-330-9944 x269.