SALEM — Salem Heights, the city’s largest affordable housing complex, will undergo a major rehabilitation of its Pope Street residential building this summer.
The $40 million improvement plan will include both interior and exterior upgrades to the 48-year-old, 283-unit building that houses seniors and working families, including more than 170 children.
“(The remodeling) is long overdue and we’re grateful to have it happening,” Mayor Kimberley Driscoll said. “We’ve had challenges in this building, from elevators breaking down to mechanical units not working properly, and so this is going to be a significant upgrade in the mechanicals and ventilation and some of the interior buildout.”
Salem Heights was built during a time when the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) was emphasizing the construction of large-scale affordable housing complexes, Driscoll said.
National nonprofit organization Preservation of Affordable Housing, Inc. (POAH) acquired Salem Heights in 2003 to preserve its affordability.
According to information provided by the organization’s Portfolio Analytics Manager, Carolyn Tilney, POAH acquired Salem Heights in 2003 to preserve its affordability, and a modest rehabilitation of $3 million was completed at that time.
Ahead of this year’s renovations, Tilney said POAH applied for and received an award of federal low-income housing tax credits and an allocation of tax exempt bonds from the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services and is working toward closing on that new financing in the coming weeks.
“Throughout their ownership, POAH has continually invested in the property with both physical improvements and community impact resources, but despite the investments, there is a very pressing need to undertake the next recap and rehab at the high rise, which will require outside capital and funding sources,” Tilney said.
Residents will be moved to temporary living spaces within the building while improvements are completed between June 2021 and December 2022.
This week, representatives from POAH also announced they’re seeking to hire a resident construction liaison to help coordinate activities with residents and keep people informed about the upcoming remodeling work.
“They’re looking for somebody who’s really good with people, of course,” Ward 3 City Councilor Patti Morsillo said. “It’s not going to be an easy transition on either side, but it’s also an exciting time because they’ll get nice upgrades in the apartments.”
Those interested in applying for the position should visit poah.org for an application.
“We’ve done a number of renovations to the green spaces and parks in close proximity to this property, so having the building upgraded will be a nice coordinated effort for the neighborhood as well,” Driscoll said.
