SPRINGFIELD — The Healey-Driscoll administration has been tackling the state’s housing crisis with construction and renovation grants for apartment complexes, including at least two in the South End neighborhood of Springfield.
Northern Heights, a group of 148 affordable and deeply affordable apartments at 769 Main St. is the focus of an Affordable Housing Development Grant. The grant’s funding is administered through tax credits and state subsidies.
The Affordable Housing Development Grants will provide $227 million to build or renovate 1,874 rental units statewide.
“These awards are one of the most effective tools our administration has to increase the development of housing that is affordable for people across the state,” Gov. Maura Healey said in a press release. “Along with our Affordable Homes Act, we’re working to lower the cost of housing across Massachusetts to benefit our families, businesses and economy.”
Winn Companies, the owner of the complex, operates six properties in Springfield and 125 nationally. Winn Development project leader Lauren Canepari described the state subsidies as “soft loans, so basically mortgages.” Aside from the federal and state funding, she said the city also contributed $1.15 million toward the $15 million project.
Winn Companies has owned and operated Northern Heights for just over 20 years. Renovations of the complex’s 42 buildings were last completed in 2004. Two decades later, they need new roofs, bathrooms, kitchens and doors. The renovations will include accessible code upgrades to some units.
“After 20 years, codes have changed,” Canepari said.
The units are a mixture of studios and one-, two-, three and four-bedroom apartments. Of those, 19 units are categorized as deeply affordable, for tenants whose income is at or below 30% of the area’s median income of $76,650 for an individual or $109,500 for a family of four. The remaining 129 units are considered affordable housing, with income that is a maximum of 60% of the area’s median income.
Nearly all the units are occupied, and 191 families are on a waitlist for apartments there. “There is such high demand right now,” Canepari said. She explained that it is vital to the residents that they can stay in their homes during renovation. To accomplish this, she said a “dayroom” space will be created in the building for tenants while work is being done in their unit. “No one will be displaced,” she assured. The 15-month construction period is expected to begin in early spring 2025.
Winn Development owns buildings in more than 20 states. In Springfield, the company recently finished work on 31 Elm St., a “workforce housing” building, with rental eligibility requirements of 80% or less of the area’s median income. Future work is planned for the affordable housing at Museum Park Apartments at 70 Chestnut St.
Parsons Apartments
Close by, on the corner of Central and Main streets, a very different apartment building will also be undergoing renovations, thanks to funding from the Healey-Driscoll administration’s Housing Development Incentive Program. The program is directing $27 million in awards to create 547 total new units in 11 Gateway Cities.
The Parsons Apartments at 169 Maple St. were built in 1916 and recognized in that year in an issue of The Architectural Record, which pointed out the building’s large rooms and arrangement that made the apartments feel more like a single-family home. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Buildings, as part of the Ridgewood State Register and Local Historic District.
The property is now owned by the city, and the apartments are vacant and abandoned. After putting out a request for proposals from developers, the city contracted with Davenport Advisors to purchase and redevelop the property.
Juan Prieto of Davenport Advisors said, “The goal is to renovate it into 11 market-rate apartments,” he said. The three-bedroom, two-bathroom “family oriented” units will have washers and dryers, restored millwork, cabinetry, solid oak and maple floors, bicycle storage and secure basement storage.
Davenport Advisors have committed to preserving or recreating many of the building’s original features. New windows will be manufactured to match the original design and the historic brickwork and cornices will be re-pointed, restored and preserved. The Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, a semi-governmental entity that aids in planning, has been brought onto the project as historical consultants.
The Housing Development Incentive Program awarded $630,000 toward the $4 million renovation of the property. The remainder of the project will be funded through two grants from the city, equity from investors and a construction bond. It is expected to take 18 months for the design, permitting, construction and resell of the building.
Davenport Advisors recently finished a historical reconstruction of 16 market-rate apartments at 151 Chestnut St. And is working on Square One’s new facility at 947 Main St.
Work on the firm’s other properties is planned but has not yet begun.
“This funding boost helps us do even more to address our housing needs now,” Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll said in a press release. “In approving all of these projects, we’re able to make a big impact to cities across the state as we work to make Massachusetts more affordable for everyone.”
