SWAMPSCOTT — A community forum on Thursday will present plans for the affordable senior housing redevelopment of the shuttered Machon Elementary School.
Town officials and B’nai B’rith Housing, the developers, will present the draft schematic plans for the project to residents at 7 p.m. at Swampscott High School, Room B129.
Before the developer enters into a permit submission and review process, the town and B’nai B’rith wanted to present the current plans to the community for feedback, town officials said.
“This is a perfect opportunity for the community to not only see what’s to come, but to take part in it early in the process,” Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald said in a statement.
Town Meeting approved the selection and redevelopment proposal from B’nai B’rith Housing, a nonprofit that builds affordable homes for seniors in Greater Boston, last May. The developer’s approved proposal is to build Senior Residences at the Machon, a complex at 35 Burpee Road that will include 38 one-bedroom units and 48 parking spaces. Each unit would have one parking space and 10 guest spaces would be available.
The town later entered into a land development agreement with B’nai B’rith. Under the terms of the deal, the nonprofit signed a 99-year ground lease for $500,000. The purchase includes an additional $50,000 for off-site improvements.
B’nai B’rith plans to reuse the original 1920 building and demolish the 1963 addition.
https://newitemlive.wpengine.com/lifestyle/making-an-irish-dinner-last-and-last/
Schematic plans seen during the community forum will need to be approved by the Board of Selectmen. If approved by the selectmen, the developer will be able to finalize plans and submit them for the permit review process. Town officials said in December that B’nai B’rith will also be applying for tax credits and other subsidies associated with a low-income project.
Eight units are reserved for households at or below 30 percent of the average median income and 30 units are for those at or below 60 percent. Preference will be given to residents over age 62. The maximum local preference allowed by the state is 70 percent.
“We held a community forum in February 2015 that had residents work together to come up with reuse ideas for our vacant town-owned buildings,” said Peter Kane, director of community development, in a statement. “The resounding feedback regarding the Machon School was to convert it into affordable senior housing.”
Machon School was closed down in 2007 and was later turned over to the town.
