The Louis H. Garfield House in Newton, the first project developed by the Citizens for Affordable Housing in Newton Development Organization, opened its doors in 1996. It provides transitional housing for survivors of domestic violence and their children.
With home prices in Newton surging over the last decade, one community-based organization has been helping individuals from single teen mothers to developmentally disabled adults keep a roof over their heads.
The Citizens for Affordable Housing in Newton Development Organization, or CAN-DO, was formed by the city’s Planning Department a decade ago in order to utilize and tap into additional federal funding for affordable housing projects.
In the past 10 years, CAN-DO has hired an executive director and developed 20 housing units – some of which are affordable to people earning very low incomes – and plan to create even more housing.
Less than a month ago, the group spent $1.59 million to purchase three properties in the city. CAN-DO wants to build 13 condominiums on the sites.
“It was always the intent of the organization to grow, and we knew the need [for affordable housing] was there,” said Josephine McNeil, the executive director of CAN-DO.
‘Great Diversity’
With the median selling price for a single-family home exceeding $630,000 last year, Newton quickly has become unaffordable for many working families. Even longtime residents are having trouble remaining in the Boston suburb. But CAN-DO has stepped in to help Newton retain its economic and social diversity, according to some observers.
“Newton historically has been a city of great diversity in our population. We are at serious risk of losing that diversity and, therefore, CAN-DO’s mission to provide housing for low- and moderate-income people is important,” said Brooke Lipsitt, the former president of the Board of Aldermen.
Lipsitt praised CAN-DO for working with other local groups to develop affordable housing for needy populations. “We are lucky to have them. I wish there was an organization like this in every community in Greater Boston. We need dozens of them because agencies like CAN-DO provide housing, three or four or 10 at a time, but we have a need for thousands of units of similar housing,” she said.
In future years, the organization’s efforts may reach neighborhoods beyond Newton’s borders. “I think given the scarcity of development opportunities – especially in terms of new construction – that as an organization if we’re going to continue to grow we’re going to have to look at other communities to work in [areas] beyond Newton,” said McNeil, who is CAN-DO’s only paid staff person.
Even though the board hasn’t discussed which communities to expand into, McNeil said one possibility might be nearby Wellesley.
In the immediate future, however, CAN-DO will focus on its Newton projects and on building its coffers. The organization is holding an anniversary fund-raiser on Feb. 10 from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Newton Marriott.
“Our development pro formas are always tight,” said McNeil. Raising additional funds could help CAN-DO with the pre-development costs associated with projects and to pay for some support staff for the organization.
CAN-DO opened its first property – the Louis H. Garfield House – in 1996. Located at Newton Corner, the three-unit rental property provides transitional housing for abused women and their children who have graduated from a battered women’s program in Newton called Second Step Program. Since the housing is temporary, residents are assisted in finding more permanent housing.
The group’s next project was the renovation of a single-family home at 228 Webster St. The house, which opened in November 2002, currently houses six developmentally disabled adults who receive supportive services from the Newton Wellesley Weston Committee for Community Living. In both the Garfield House and Webster Street housing, residents use 30 percent of their income for rent and a government subsidy pays the rest.
Last year, CAN-DO completed construction of four condominiums at Christina Street. Three of the condos were sold at market rate – ranging in price from $457,000 to $485,000. The fourth condo was sold to a first-time buyer for $265,000. On the same site of the condos, CAN-DO developed Kayla’s House, which offers transitional housing five young mothers and their children. The residents participate in a parenting program run by the Newton Community Service Center and can live in the house for up to two years.
Recently, CAN-DO finished rehabbing a two-family home on Cambria Road that it purchased last December. The units in the home will be rented to people with Section 8 rental assistance vouchers.
Last month, CAN-DO purchased two two-family homes at 1093 and 1101 Chestnut St. for more than $1 million. The group also bought a historic two-family house at 248 Elliot St. for $535,000.
CAN-DO wants to develop eight condominiums at the Chestnut Street sites, four of which will be affordable to people earning up to 80 percent of the area median income. McNeil said CAN-DO will see a comprehensive permit to build the condos and may file an application by April.
The Elliott Street house, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and located in Newton’s Upper Falls historic district, will be the site of five condos. McNeil said CAN-DO wants to expand the house to create three units and to construct a duplex on the site. Three of the condos will be affordable to people earning up to 80 percent of the median income, and the rest will be sold at market rate.
Two weeks ago, CAN-DO presented some of its plans to the Upper Falls Historic Commission and will meet again with the commission to provide further details.
As with the Chestnut Street condos, CAN-DO will apply for a comprehensive permit for the Elliott Street project.
Aglaia Pikounis may be reached at apikounis@thewarrengroup.com.
