Posted on May 14, 2012
QUINCY,May 14, 2012 --- The City of Quincy marked Community Development Weeklast monthby celebrating the progress of Winter Gardens, a new apartment building being developed by Neighborhood Housing Services of the South Shore (NHS).
Expected to be completed this fall, Winter Gardens is notable for its inclusion of affordable rental homes for families. Of the 24 apartments, 18 will havetwo bedrooms and three will havethree bedrooms. All 24 apartments will be affordable to households earning below 60 percent of area median income, which in Quincy is no more than $58,680 for a family of four.
Winter Gardens is located on "Goat Hill" in the working class neighborhood known as the Point, which is the location of the city's famous Fore River Shipyard. The three-story building replaces a dilapidated single-family home on a lot that had been vacant for years.
"A lot of credit for this development has to go to NHS," said Quincy Mayor Thomas P. Koch during Community Development Week ceremonies on April 10. "NHS has evolved into an organization that is helping the city provide affordable housing for families and there's nothing more basic for the families of this city than having a job and a roof over their heads."
Funding for the project is being provided primarily through federal low-income housing tax credits awarded by the state Department for Housing and Community Development (DHCD). Winter Gardens also received state funding through the state's Community Based Housing (CBH) Program and the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. The Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP) has committed $997,000 in long-term fixed-rate permanent financing through its bank-funded loan pool. Bank of America is providing construction financing.
The City of Quincyhas supported the development witha total of $725,000 in federal funds and funding from its local housing trust. "This would not be possible without the support of the city," said Rob Corley, NHS' executive director.
The event was moderated by longtime city planning director Dennis Harrington. Other speakersincluded City Councilor Brad Croall, MHP Director of Lending David Rockwell andSara Barcan, housing development program manager at the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (CEDAC). CEDAC administers the state's CBH program, which funds housing for people with disabilities.
During the event, recognition was given to three people for their longtime support of affordable housing in the city. Receiving awards were Rev. Sheldon Burnett of the United First Parish Church, Cedric Kam of the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development and state Rep. Ron Mariano.
For more information about this development and MHP's funding programs, contact David Rockwell at 617-330-9944 x222 or drockwell@mhp.net.