Harbor Place Receives MassWorks Funding

(photo L to R: Sally Cerasuolo-O'Rorke of GHF, Governor Baker, Lisa Alberghini and Bill Grogan of POUA, Mayor Fiorentini, Chairman Demspey)

On November 2nd we were joined by Governor Baker at the site of Harbor Place in Haverhill, where he announced that the city will receive $9 million from the state through the MassWorks grant program, $6.9 million of which is for Harbor Place. The grant will help fund Phase 2 of Harbor Place, including adjusting the grades in the downtown to create a development platform, 35 units of new housing, and public space and amenities. The development has been made possible in particular by the work of Chairman Brian Dempsey, and also with the support of Mayor Fiorentini. POUA is working in partnership with the Greater Haverhill Foundation.
 

Harbor Place Holds Lottery

A standing room only crowd witnessed the lottery for the 56 affordable workforce rental units at Harbor Place, which was held on Wednesday, October 19th. Over 1,150 applications were received for the 56 units, which are available for households earning from 30% to 110% of area median income. The incredible response to these units demonstrates the continued need for high quality affordable workforce housing in the area, and the team at POUA is excited that people will be able to call Harbor Place “home” within the next two months.

Check out the Eagle-Tribune’s article on how Harbor Place has inspired the city of Haverhill’s industrial growth.

Haverhill Gets First Look at Harbor Place Boardwalk

On September 23rd POUA and the Greater Haverhill Foundation held a tour of the Harbor Place boardwalk and a ribbon cutting ceremony with Rep. Brian Dempsey, Mayor James Fiorentini, Chancellor Jacquie Moloney of UMass Lowell, and local elected officials. The boardwalk along the Merrimack River off Merrimack Street was open to the public for the afternoon, and will remain closed until the project’s completion at the end of the year. About 200 people, along with the state reps and city councilors, participated in the walk along the boardwalk, showcasing the progress of the Harbor Place development and the connection between new and old pieces of the boardwalk. Harbor Place will house HC Media, a satellite campus for UMass Lowell and Pentucket Bank’s corporate headquarters in its commercial building. The second building includes 80 units of mixed-income housing, and first-floor restaurants and retail spaces.

(Video by HC Media)

Kennedy Apartments in Hanover Receive Funding

As part of Governor Baker’s announcement of awards on August 15th, the Planning Office for Urban Affairs received funding for Kennedy Apartments, its project submitted for funding in the 2016 rental housing round. Located in Hanover, this development will convert an existing building on the Cardinal Cushing campus in Hanover into 37 affordable units, 4 of which will be for DMH clients. With this long awaited last funding, POUA can now proceed to close on the financing and begin construction of this important project.

Rental Housing Award Announcement

(photo L to R: Representative Aaron Michlewitz, Senator Linda Dorcena Forry, POUA President Lisa Alberghini, St. Francis House ED Karen LaFrazia, Governor Charlie Baker, Undersecretary Chrystal Kornegay)

On August 15th Governor Charlie Baker announced that 26 projects will receive funding to create affordable housing, including 48 Boylston where the event took place. St. Francis House (SFH), the largest day shelter in Boston for the homeless, is Sponsor of the 48 Boylston project and the Planning Office for Urban Affairs is happy to be providing support to SFH as they work to convert the property. The development involves the rehabilitation of the Boston Young Men’s Christian Union into 46 units of affordable housing, 26 of which will be for people who have experienced homelessness or are extremely low-income.
 

Information on the Governor’s announcement can be found here, as well as in the below video:

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