SWAMPSCOTT — The town hosted a neighborhood meeting at the former ReachArts building on Wednesday evening to discuss the ongoing 10 New Ocean Street and 12-24 Pine Street redevelopment project.
Community members were encouraged to rally at 89 Burrill Street — the site that the VFW Post is slated to be moved into — at 6 p.m. sharp to share their visions, concerns and hopes for the ongoing project.
Interim Town Administrator and Director of the Department of Public Works (DPW) Gino Cresta explained the meeting, saying it was the town’s goal to provide more information about the town’s plans for the project, so that residents get a clearer picture of what’s in store for the former ReachArts building.
The meeting started with introductions from Cresta, MaryEllen Fletcher from the Select Board, Community and Economic Development Director Marzie Galaz, Senior Project Manager Yara Vergucht of B’nai Brith, and Senior Project Manager Holly Grace, who was also in attendance.
“The reason for this meeting is that in order for the developer to start the process in constructing affordable housing units, they needed to receive approval from the Department of Housing and Livable Communities, stating the site is eligible to build affordable housing,” Galazka explained.
She said that in April, the town received notification that a formal request was submitted from B’nai Brith, requesting permission from the state to construct forty-one units of affordable housing, with an age of 55-plus, along with a Swampscott and veterans preference.
The first rendering showed what the structure would look like, see the entrance will be on pine street and the parking lot will be adjacent to it, as well as three floors with amenities, according to the renderings showed at the meeting.
Aside from residences, there will be a fitness center, a trash room, library media room, common rooms, management space, and a mail room. Second and third floors will be residential.
When the project is approved, there will be additional process. Such as the Select Board reviewing renderings and comment on their perspectives. Once that’s completed, the developer will submit a 40B application to the zoning board of appeals, who will review the project and see what the siting is like, traffic patterns.
“This will be a 40B process, you probably already know the Select Board voted to support a Land Disposition Agreement (LDA) in place to allow the 41 units of housing,” Galazka said.
Residents concerned about various aspects of the project raised their hands to ask questions.
“Are these rooms or apartments?” A resident asked.
It was confirmed they will be apartments rather than just rooms.
“Is the project approved, or process of approval?” Another asked.
“The Select Board voted to enter LDA to support an application of developer to submit application, to seek funding and for the state to approve the site for affordable housing,” Galazka said.
“After construction is done, will the developer also manage property as well?” One asked.
“We use a property management company, Peabody Management, they’ve managed our other project here in Swampscott,” Vergucht said.
Galazka reiterated that the agreement is a 99-year, long-term lease, and that the land will be leased.
“If tax incentives run out, and you want to sell the building, is that in the contract?” One community asked.
“I can’t speak too much on this, but the contract with the town is that it’s a 99-year lease. They pay us rent, they pay the town rent, a lump sum payment, and responsible for paying all taxes, like water bills or any improvements to site or building,” Galazka said.
“With peoples rent, do veterans pay rent or is it based on something else?” A resident asked.
“We’re in the preliminary sources, and we have different tiers, people pay based on percent of their income, based on state regulations of affordability. It’s generally based on their income, yes,” Vergucht said.
“Is there enough parking for the units?” One person asked.
“Based on projects and population, it appears that there is enough ample parking,” Galazka confirmed.
“Was the VFW already acquired through this?” Another question was asked by a resident.
“The VFW is a complex issue, that the town will work with the VFW membership to address, because the land its on is town land, but that’s something that needs work, and the town is committed to working with VFW leadership to address it,” Galazka said.
It will be first-come, first-serve basis for visitor parking according to Vergucht.
All units will be assigned through a lottery system, but it will all be selection through a lottery process. There will be safeguards in place so that residents meet the requirements of background checks.
“Is there any situation where you see a veteran not making enough money to be considered a resident?”
The point was raised that while sometimes it does happen, it’s a weakness in the funding sources available, and that the developer is proposing to fund this dev using low-income tax credits.
Galazka added that a meeting will hopefully happen in the next coming weeks to discuss how the VFW can fit in the former Reach Arts building.
“By this Friday, the town needs to submit comments to the state, so it’s unknown how long the state might take to review the process,” Galazka said. “Afterwards, once the site is approved, the developer will submit an application for funding.”
Once funding is secured, construction will take approximately 18 months.
Galazka said the steps of the process will be vetted by the Select Board as the project continues to develop.
