MassHousing has closed $11.8 million in loans to acquire and convert the Sitkowski School in Webster into 66 affordable apartments for residents age 55 and over.

The Sitkowski School Apartments is being developed by Neighborhood of Affordable Housing of East Boston. Built in the early 1900s and expanded in 1920, the three- and four-story brick building is located in downtown Webster adjacent to the Webster Town Hall and Webster Public Library. The building previously functioned as both a high school and middle school and has been vacant since 2005.

The 66 apartments will remain affordable in perpetuity. Additionally, Webster’s Community Senior Center will be relocated to the gymnasium area of the former school building. The unit mix will include 59 one-bedroom apartments and 7 two-bedroom apartments.

The MassHousing financing involves a $1.75 million permanent loan, an $8.1 million bridge loan and a $2 million deferred payment loan. The project is also receiving $1 million from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, which MassHousing manages on behalf of the state Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). Additional financing for the $19.6 million project is being provided through the sale of state and federal historic and Low Income Housing Tax Credits and financing from DHCD.

The project is expected to be completed in May 2015. The contractor is Dellbrook Construction of Braintree and the architect is DiMella Shaffer Architects of Boston. The management agent is WinnResidential of Boston.