December 12, 2003
ROMNEY JOINS ARCHBISHOP O'MALLEY FOR NEW LYNN HOUSING
Redevelopment at former St. Jean Baptiste site to result in 38 new affordable homes
LYNN – Governor Mitt Romney today joined Archbishop Sean Patrick O’Malley and local officials at a groundbreaking ceremony for nearly 40 new homes at the now vacant St. Jean Baptiste parish and school.
“Since my Administration’s inception nearly one year ago, I have focused on the need to create more housing and smart growth policies that will allow us to expand housing without contributing to sprawl,” Romney said.
He added, “This project is a perfect example of the type of new housing we should create in our developed urban centers close to all the services that make possible a desirable quality of life.”
“The neighborhood revitalization made possible by this development at St. Jean Baptiste builds on a rich history and is a good example of how former parish property is being used to help those in need,” said Archbishop Sean O’Malley. “With deep respect for those who established and sustained this parish in the past, we look forward to offering new hope and a renewed sense of community for generations to come. We are very grateful to Governor Romney and Mayor Clancy for their vision and commitment to making this possible.”
The St. Jean Baptiste site is currently comprised of four existing buildings, all of which are no longer used by the Archdiocese and will be demolished for the new, two phase construction of 14 ownership and 24 rental homes. Also included in the rental development will be 2,300 square feet of community space for tenant and supportive services including after school programs, job training services and homebuyer counseling.
Of the 24 new rental apartments, 18 will be reserved for families earning less than 60 percent of the area median income; one for those who make less than 50 percent of the area median income; and five for those who earn less than 20 percent of the area median income. Of the 14 single-family homes, three will be available to those earning less than 110 percent of the area median income; and 11 will be for those earning less than 80 percent of the area median income. The Archdiocese will work closely with the Lynn Housing Authority’s homebuyer program to ensure that the homes are accessible to families from a broad range of social and economic backgrounds.
Last year, the state Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) announced a total of $4.2 million in financing for the St. Jean Baptiste project, including $800,000 from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and $1 million from the HOME program as well as federal low-income housing tax credits, which generated an estimated $2.4 million in private funds. Also, the Massachusetts Housing Partnership, a quasi-public state agency, is providing a $1.1 million long-term loan for the rental phase of the development.
“We were proud to maximize our resources through the use of federal and state funds and join them with resources from other state housing agencies to help finance the St. Jean Baptiste project,” said DHCD Director Jane Wallis Gumble. “In doing so, we are not only increasing the state’s housing supply, but we are also continuing in our core mission to serve the housing needs of low- and moderate-income families in the Commonwealth.”
In addition to the funds awarded by DHCD, the City of Lynn contributed more than $900,000 to the St. Jean Baptiste development. “In the past, St. Jean’s Baptiste Church was a bastion of hope and stability for this great West Lynn neighborhood,” said Lynn Mayor, Edward J. “Chip” Clancy, Jr.
He added, “Soon we will see a redevelopment at this location that will do the same for future generations. This success is the result of an innovative partnership between the Archdiocese, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the City of Lynn and the Lynn Housing Authority and Neighborhood Development. It is a great example of what can be done when all involved operate with the single goal in mind of revitalizing a neighborhood.”
“The high cost of housing is the main barrier to economic growth and vitality in Massachusetts,” Romney said. “By creating more of it, we lower prices and make the Bay State more attractive to employers and the people who work for them.”
Tags: Housing, Smart Growth, Affordable Housing
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