Boston – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is recognizing the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the cities of Springfield and Somerville with its coveted “Doorknocker Award” for their outstanding work in producing affordable housing.
From creating a stable living environment for those with disabilities to providing rental assistance to homeless veterans, each community represents a model for developing innovative housing solutions to meet their specific needs.
Completed in February of 2011, the Gordon H. Mansfield Community Village is a limited equity cooperative designed to serve formerly homeless veterans who have completed transitional programs and are ready to move into permanent supportive housing. The residents will not only own a cooperative share, but will also participate in the policy development, management, and maintenance of the Village. Veteran residents will have Individual Development Accounts to accumulate assets over time.
The cooperative consists of 39 studio and one-bedroom apartments with both green and accessibility features. Located on a beautiful site near recreation and parks on the edge of downtown Pittsfield, the apartments are clustered village-style with a bus stop at the end of a drive and a Veterans Community Care Center nearby. Services provided to the veterans include health care, substance abuse aftercare, mental health counseling, and job training and placement assistance. The project has been made affordable by the elimination of permanent debt and the provision of rental assistance through the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program.
Worthington Commons is an acquisition and rehabilitation project of 12 masonry buildings constructed at the turn of the 20th century. The project involved moderate rehabilitation of nine buildings containing 111 units that had been foreclosed, and the production of 38 new units through the gut rehabilitation of three city-owned buildings that had been scheduled for demolition. The project focused both public and private resources to renew these buildings in the Summit Hill neighborhood, an area that had been plagued by crime and disinvestment.
Through the creative mixing of many funding sources, all 149 units are affordable to families below 60 percent of area median income, while 15 units are reserved for those below 30 percent of area median income. Eight units are accessible and three are equipped for those with hearing impairments.
The developer used green rehabilitation techniques, including new windows and roofs, insulation, and high efficiency gas boilers and plumbing fixtures. The project enjoys strong property management oversight, new security features, improved grounds and sidewalk treatments, a community center, and the availability of two major bus lines to the downtown. Since its completion in 2007, the project has sparked additional private investment, reduced crime significantly, and returned abandoned properties to the tax rolls. It has been a catalyst for neighborhood change and the preservation and improvement of affordable housing for the City of Springfield.
The St. Polycarp Village Apartments are located in the Winter Hill section of the city of Somerville in a neighborhood that has a mix of rental and owner-occupied houses, and public housing to the west and south of the site.
The project is completely energy efficient with such features as solar panels to generate electricity and hot water, an air filtration system, a green roof, medium density insulation, and energy efficient windows and appliances.
There was an emphasis in the design and construction of improvements to reduce energy costs. The project received a LEED Silver rating. All of the units are affordable, including six three-bedroom units and three accessible ones. The neighborhood is transit-oriented; located near green space and recreation facilities; and close to retail, grocery stores, a health center, a post office, and other services.