State finally approves Noquochoke funding

Housing credits enable Westport to push ahead with affordable housing

Posted 8/25/16

The third time was the charm for Westport’s effort to get the state to approve tax credits needed to help pay for Noquochoke Village affordable housing.

The Westport Affordable Housing Trust …

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State finally approves Noquochoke funding

Housing credits enable Westport to push ahead with affordable housing

Posted

The third time was the charm for Westport’s effort to get the state to approve tax credits needed to help pay for Noquochoke Village affordable housing.

The Westport Affordable Housing Trust Fund reported last week that the state Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has approved The Community Builders Inc.'s application for funding, including state and federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits vital to Noquochoke Village planned for town-owned land off American Legion Highway.

Obtaining the credits was essential for the project, said Leonardi Aray, housing specialist for the town.

“The Total Development Costs for Noquochoke Village are estimated at $17.5 million. Federal and state Low-income Housing Tax Credits represent about 75 percent of the funding sources … Other state funds, including the Massachusetts Affordable Housing Trust Fund, Community Based Housing, HOME and Housing Stabilization Fund (HSF) will support the project as well. In addition, there will be a loan with Massachusetts Housing Partnership.

“As you can imagine, there are limited public funds available for this kind of developments and it is a very competitive process. Many developments from all across the state have been waiting in line to secure those funds before Noquochoke Village.,” Mr. Aray said. He said recommendations made in the wake of the two earlier unsuccessful applications were incorporated into this third try.

“I surely believe that the continuous support shown by Westport’s state elective officials, Representative Paul Schmid and Senator Michael Rodrigues, local residents and town’s boards, including the Board of Selectmen, helped tremendously.”

The plans reflect the town's most ambitious effort to create affordable housing for the elderly, veterans, single-parent families, young professionals, and other eligible low and moderate income households seeking to live in or remain living in Westport.

The proposed development plans call for the construction of 50 affordable apartments in six townhouse style buildings and a community center, with a portion of the site -- woodlands bordering the Noquochoke River – to be preserved as open space for the public to enjoy.

The buildings will be clustered on the front portion of the site, on the approximately eight acres of land known as the Perry Farm, with about 22 acres near the river known as the Quinn property to remain undeveloped for passive recreation.

Previous milestones for the development plans have included Town Meeting votes to support the Trust's request for Community Preservation Act (CPA) housing funds to maximize the greatest possible mix of income levels among future residents of the apartment village, and to transfer custody of the town-owned land to the Trust.

The development also aims to be environmentally friendly, according to Affordable Housing Trust Fund Chair Liz Collins. 

In an effort to reduce pollution and further protect the Westport River, the project will include the installation of a state of the art nitrogen reducing septic system that will eliminate virtually all nitrogen output from the development.

Recently, the Westport Planning Board approved the special permit application needed to move the development forward, including the installation of a state-of-the-art nitrogen reducing septic system that will eliminate virtually all nitrogen output from the development.

“Seventy percent of the units will be reserved for ‘Westporters’,” said State Representative Schmid (D-Westport) who joined members of the Westport Affordable Housing Trust in Boston for the announcement last week.  “This means those young folks who have grown up in town and want to stay here, as well as the seniors who wish to downsize but remain part of our community.”

“The Trust appreciates the input provided by abutters, various town departments, and the Planning Board during the planning and permitting process to date, and hopes that constructive conversations about affordable housing in Westport continues,” the Trust said in a press release. “While not an extremely large project in terms of size, progress on Noquochoke Village has gone slowly due to the complexity of the proposal, the need to secure outside funding, and the unique nature of the housing type being proposed for this site.”

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