Nonprofit organization Preservation of Affordable Housing held ribbon cuttings at two new developments in Massachusetts last week – a 20-unit building in Weymouth and a 173-unit complex in New Bedford.
Gov. Deval Patrick and local officials headlined the Oct. 28 celebration at Temple Landing (formerly United Front Homes), a family housing development in downtown New Bedford and Weymouth Mayor Susan Kay cut the ribbon at Torrey Woods in South Weymouth two days earlier.
Temple Landing was originally developed as an urban renewal project in the 1970s through a partnership between the local nonprofit organization United Front Development Corp. (UFDC) and National Housing Partnership (NHP). It struggled recently due to an inadequate capital structure and flaws in the project’s initial design. The units of low-income housing were concentrated on a "super-block" site in buildings which were out of scale and context with the surrounding architecture, did not facilitate emergency access, isolated the complex from the community, and typically had no "address" or street view, according to a statement.
By 2007, United Front Homes was at risk of failure due to massive debt, insufficient operating subsidy, exorbitant utility costs and poor property management. The property also suffered from a negative reputation in the community for crime, mounting deferred capital needs and a vacancy rate of 25 percent. UFDC approached Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) about partnering to save United Front Homes and the two nonprofit organizations joined forces to create an attractive, safe and supportive residential community in the heart of downtown New Bedford.
"Investing in affordable housing is critical to growing the Massachusetts economy and strengthening our communities," Patrick said at the ribbon cutting of the community building in the center of the complex. "This project is the result of an excellent public-private partnership that transforms this property into a safe, attractive and affordable housing location that will be a boon to the region."
Torrey Woods was developed as a collaboration between the South Suburban Affordable Housing Inc. (SSAHI) and the town to provide more affordable housing to the town of Weymouth and the greater community. The project incorporates numerous energy efficient strategies, including a solar thermal system that will generate a portion of the domestic hot water, a super insulated building envelope, and high efficiency mechanical systems.
"These are the kinds of projects that matter enormously at the community level," said Clark Ziegler, executive director of Mass Housing Partnership, which engaged the initial feasibility study and will serve as permanent lender. "This project, in a short amount of time, will become part of the fabric of the community, helping to meet housing needs. We’re very proud to be part of that."
