Originally published at https://www.wbjournal.com/article/auburn-and-medway-get-state-subsidies-to-build-housing
By Thomas Grillo
Auburn and Medway were among 11 communities to share in more than $60 million in subsidies and state and federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits announced Tuesday.
In Auburn, the Mary D. Stone Elementary School adjacent to Town Hall will be renovated into 55 housing units. Pennrose Properties LLC, the Philadelphia real estate developer and project sponsor, was selected to redevelop the vacant school building. The development will include 55 units for seniors, including 51 with affordability restrictions. The Department of Housing & Community Development will support the project with federal and state low-income housing tax credit and subsidy funds. The completed project will also offer supportive services to tenants.
Glen Brook Way Apartments, a new construction project for families in Medway, will include 63 affordable apartments. The sponsor is the non-profit Metro West Collaborative Inc. The Department of Housing & Community Development will support Glen Brook Way with federal and state low-income tax credits and subsidies. The town of Medway provided $1 million in Community Preservation Act funds.
Gov. Charlie Baker said he has shown a commitment to increase the production of housing across income levels. Since 2015, the administration has invested more than $1 billion in affordable housing, resulting in the production and preservation of more than 18,000 housing units, including 16,000 affordable units.
In 2018, Baker signed the largest housing bond bill in Massachusetts history, committing more than $1.8 billion to the future of affordable housing production and preservation, which included more than $600 million to address capital needs in state-aided public housing.
In addition, Baker said his administration has also advanced the development of more than 14,000 mixed-income housing units through the successful MassWorks Infrastructure Program, reformed the Housing Development Incentive Program, and worked with communities to implement smart-growth development and planning efforts.
