Danvers Housing Project Included in State-Funded Construction Initiative

The Patrick-Murray Administration announced $64.5 million in affordable housing resources and tax credits directed to support the construction of 25 rental developments in 15 communities across Massachusetts, including Danvers, on Monday.

In town, Kavanagh Advisory Group will use $813,176 federal low-income housing tax credits and $1,550,000 in DHCD housing subsidies to create 48 affordable housing units as phase one of the the Conifer Hill Commons, a housing project that has been in the works for over a year. Five of the units will be reserved for extremely low income families. 

The Conifer Hill Commons housing project was first proposed to the Board of Selectmen in June 2010, the Salem News reported. At the time, Cindy Dunn, the executive director of the Danvers Housing Authority, said the plan was to have the first phase involving 78 units, some of which would replace 36 units at Rand Circle, an affordable-housing development from 1982.

In May of this year, the Planning Board held a public hearing to discuss the application for the housing-development, presented by Kavanagh Advisory Group. The plan was later approved at the Aug. 22 Planning Board meeting, to  construct 90 affordable units of rental housing at the undeveloped property, adjacent to the Conifer Hill office park.

"I am proud to support public-private partnerships that advance construction projects across Massachusetts, put people to work and contribute to the economic vitality of our communities," said Governor Deval Patrick in a press release. "We want Massachusetts to be a place where people put down roots, raise their families and do business, and that's why expanding affordable housing opportunities remains a top priority."

The project will also create a potential 1500 jobs for Massachusetts workers. In Danvers, the Conifer Hills Commons Phase I is expected to create about 75 jobs.

“These investments will help get people working – particularly those feeling the effects of what has been called the ‘Blue Collar Depression,’ ” Massachusetts House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo said in a press release. “This represents another step forward for the Massachusetts economy and will help families find needed-housing.”

The developments across Massachusetts will create or preserve 1,071 rental units, 977 of which will be affordable to low and moderate income working families and individuals -- including approximately 190 for families and individuals transitioning from homelessness.

The funding will also support projects in: Acton, Arlington, Beverly, Boston, Cambridge, Chicopee, Gloucester, Lee, Lunenburg, Mashpee, New Bedford, Somerville, Springfield and Worcester.