Officials gathered recently to celebrate the groundbreaking of Barstow Village, a residential development that will provide affordable elderly housing in Hanover.

Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley, Archbishop of Boston; Lisa Alberghini, president of the Planning Office for Urban Affairs; and Matthew Mittelstadt, managing director of EA Fish Development, joined representatives from the town of Hanover and federal and state officials to celebrate the commencement of construction.

"The Planning Office, in partnership with Braintree’s EA Fish Development, has once again demonstrated its commitment to providing affordable housing for all of our neighbors, including our seniors," said Cardinal O’Malley. "Developments like Barstow Village help build strong, healthy and inclusive communities which fulfill the social mission of the church and our partners by upholding and respecting the dignity of all people."

Located on a wooded 6.6 acre parcel owned by the Hanover Housing Authority, the new residential development will feature 66 units of elderly housing with 77 parking spaces. The development will include support services and programs for residents that promote independent living and offer amenities such as air conditioning, a community room with a kitchen, laundry facilities, and outdoor patio and community space.

"The success and expedience with which the Barstow Village project was developed from a concept to a community under construction speaks to our strong partnership with the Planning Office, our financing sources, as well as the town of Hanover," said Mittelstadt.

The development will be ENERGYSTAR compliant and will incorporate green building design and healthy housing components, with the goal of achieving a LEED Home Silver designation.

The Planning Office and EA Fish Development expect construction of Barstow Village to be complete by April 2012.