A $31 million, 71-unit mixed-income rental property, which opened late last month in Lynn, Mass., is the first development funded by MassHousing’s $100 million Workforce Housing Initiative, through which the administration of Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker has pledged to build 1,000 workforce housing units.
This program targets individuals and families with incomes of 61% to 120% of the Area Median Income (AMI), who don’t qualify for other affordable housing programs. MassHousing confirms that the Initiative provided $1.6 million in subsidies for the 10 workforce housing units in the abovementioned apartment building, known as Gateway North Residences.
Lynn is a working-class, minority-majority town of 92,000 people whose average age is around 34. Its median household income is just under $51,000, but the town also has a 20% poverty rate, according to statistics compiled by Data USA.
Eight of the units in the five-floor Gateway North went to homeless people whose incomes were less than 30% of AMI. Forty-five of the units are reserved for lower-income households up to 61% of AMI. Each of these renter groups will pay lower rents as a result of tax credits and subsidies provided by state and local authorities.
The rents for eight of the units are market rate.
According to Gateway’s website, the 18 one-bedroom apartments range from 627 to 777 sf; the 46 two bedrooms from 865 to 900 sf; and the seven three-bedroom units from 1,238 to 1,300 sf. Market-rate rents range from $1,700 to $2,950 per month. Mixed-income gross rents, prior to subsidies, run from $1,200 for a one bedroom to $1,963 for three bedrooms.
The apartment building is located across from North Shore Community College and a short walk to the Central Square commuter rail station. The project was created in response to the Washington District Master Plan, initiated by Lynn Housing and Neighborhood Development, funded by the state Department of Housing and Community Development, and executed by Sasaki Associates.
Washington Gateway Associates LP is owned by partners Neighborhood Development Associates and Hub Holdings LLC. Lynn Housing and Neighborhood Development is managing the building.
The Building Team on this project included The Architectural Team (design architect), Bilt Rite Construction (GC), Wakefield Beasley & Associates (MEP), and Veitas and Veitas Engineering (SE).
Michael Lui, AIA, NCARB, Vice President and Principal with The Architectural Team, notes that this project dates back to 2013, when the developers acquired 2.5 acres of vacant land in the heart of Lynn’s Central Square.
Lui says that what was different about Gateway North, from other workforce projects his firm has worked on, was the collaboration between the state and local housing authorities., which he says made the design and construction processes somewhat easier “because both sides had the same goal.”
MassHousing so far has committed $57.5 million in workforce housing funds to 25 projects located in 14 cities and towns in Massachusetts. The funds will help to build 2,309 housing units, including 616 new workforce housing units.
Related Stories
Multifamily Housing | May 27, 2015
‘European’ living comes to The Woodlands with its first condo tower
Treviso at Waterway Square will offer a dynamic downtown setting with numerous live/work/play options.
Multifamily Housing | May 19, 2015
Zaha Hadid unveils 'interlocking lattice' design for luxury apartments in Monterrey, Mexico
Hadid's scheme was inspired by the Mexican tradition of interlocking lattice geometries.
Multifamily Housing | May 19, 2015
Study: Urban land use policies costs U.S. economy $1.6 trillion a year
The research contends that more affordable housing options can help cities generate significantly more income.
Multifamily Housing | May 17, 2015
New York City runs into affordable housing dilemma
New York City’s affordable housing policy has created attractive low-cost housing, but the price of success has been high.
Sponsored | Coatings | May 14, 2015
Prismatic coatings accent the new Altara Center
This multi-use campus will contain a university, sports facilities, medical center, and world-class shopping
High-rise Construction | May 6, 2015
Two new designs submitted for New York City Riverside Center
Both designs reference the cantilevers and other elements featured in architect Christian de Portzamparc’s original masterplan for the complex, which has now been scrapped.
High-rise Construction | May 6, 2015
Parks in the sky? Subterranean bike paths? Meet the livable city, designed in 3D
Today’s great cities must be resilient—and open—to many things, including the influx of humanity, writes Gensler co-CEO Andy Cohen.
Mixed-Use | May 5, 2015
Miami ‘innovation district’ will have 6.5 million sf of dense, walkable space
Designing a neighborhood from the ground-up, developers aim to create a dense, walkable district that fulfills what is lacking from Miami’s current auto-dependent layout.
Codes and Standards | May 1, 2015
Colorado House kills construction defects bill
The legislation would have made it harder for condo owners to sue builders.
Multifamily Housing | May 1, 2015
Trade groups extend campaign to promote apartment living
The groups claim that there are more than 37 million Americans—12% of the population—living in just under 20 million apartment units nationwide. Apartments and their residents contribute $1.3 trillion annually to the economy.
