MARBLEHEAD — The town’s Housing Authority is moving forward with its redevelopment plans for its properties on Broughton Road.
According to a statement from the authority, a qualified bid proposal has been received from WinnCompanies for potential “improvements and opportunities to add additional affordable-housing units,” pending the proposal’s approval from Housing Authority members.
The proposal was received by the March 15 deadline set by the authority. According to the statement, Housing Authority Executive Director Cathy Hoog and consultant Emily Achtenberg “reviewed and scored the proposal from WinnCompanies based on experience, references, and the design ideas/concepts submitted.”
In December 2023, the authority issued a request for proposal for “qualified and experienced developers to partner with the agency to explore improvements to its Broughton Road development.”
Originally built for veterans’ housing after World War ll, the condition of the properties has deteriorated over time.
The board unanimously approved a request to proceed to “refine the proposal” after a presentation by Hoog and Achtenberg at a meeting in April.
“The board is excited to begin this process to improve and expand our affordable-housing opportunities at Broughton Road, to help the Town of Marblehead address our unmet housing needs, and to move towards meeting the state target for affordable-housing stock with expanded, updated, and newly constructed homes for families and seniors,” Housing Authority Board Chair Jenn Schaeffner said in the statement.
If the final proposal is approved, it would designate WinnCompanies as the developer and partner in a memorandum of understanding.
The statement added that WinnCompanies’ initial proposal would keep the properties’ 62 affordable-housing units while adding 35 new units for low- to moderate-income residents. The proposal could include “extensive rehabilitation” of the existing units as well as the construction of a new three-story building.
Hoog, in a statement, said that WinnCompanies’ proposal “is solid” and added that the company is a “well-qualified” candidate to work with the authority.
“The initial design presented is conceptual. If we move forward with Winn, the feedback from residents, the abutters, and the community will drive a final design concept that makes the most sense for this community,” Hoog added.
The authority said there will be opportunities for community input during the process, and people are encouraged to contact Hoog with questions at 781-631-2580 or [email protected].
