Two projects POUA is taking part in recently received allocations in the competitive process for Massachusetts Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits: Kennedy Building Apartments in Hanover, MA, in which we are the developer, and 48 Boylston Street in Boston, MA, where we will be providing support to St. Francis House.
Not to be dampened by the rainy weather, POUA came together with the town of Brookline, neighbors and elected officials to celebrate the installation of the plaque at The. St. Aidan, which memorializes the history of the Parish. The ceremony included a welcome from Neil Wishinsky, Chair of the Board of Selectmen; POUA President Lisa Alberghini; Fr. Jack Ahern, pastor of St. Mary’s in Brookline during St. Aidan’s redevelopment; Robert Allen, Chair of Brookline’s Board of Selectmen during the redevelopment; and Stephanie Noguera, Outreach Director for Congressman Joseph Kennedy’s Office. Stephanie read a letter from the Congressman, whose family members were baptized at St. Aidan’s parish, expressing his gratitude that the site was converted into affordable housing, and continues to serve the community.
Uphams Crossing, a new 80-unit affordable housing community developed by the Planning Office for Urban Affairs of the Archdiocese of Boston, has won the 2016 Affordable Housing Finance Magazine Readers’ Choice Award for Best Family Housing in the United States. The development was built on a former parish property and includes 20 units for previously homeless families. Read the announcement of awards here and read more about the project here.
POUA President Lisa Alberghini and Project Manager Dave Aiken were grateful to accept the award at the AHF Live! conference from November 15th-17th in Chicago. (Photo by Sheri Whitko Photography)
(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.
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.