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Issue: # 13 Specialized Solutions For Housing™ |
February 2012 |
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NEW YEAR, NEW CHALLENGES
Greetings!
2012 started off at a busy pace at LDS with work on studies for the Massachusetts Low Income Housing Tax Credit Round. LDS completed a total of eight study updates and one new study for the February submission. As many of you know, it is an extremely challenging funding environment and we wish all of clients the best results with their funding applications.
LDS has been re-approved by the Virginia Housing Development Authority as a qualified market study analyst and is working on a LIHTC study in South Dakota. We are enjoying working in other states. It has given us some perspective on how well Massachusetts is doing relative to other states.
LDS would like to welcome new clients:
- Natick Affordable Housing Trust Fund
- Charlton Manor Rest Home
And welcome back Caritas Communities and Hess Marketing. |
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Natick Affordable Housing Trust Fund
LDS is looking forward to working with the Natick Affordable Housing Trust fund on their Affordable Housing Needs Assessment and Affordable Housing Production Plan. While Natick is close to reaching the State of Massachusetts 10% affordable housing goal, it is interesting in working on preserving units, learning how to capitalize on its HOME Funds and working on its zoning by law to continue to encourage affordable housing development. |
LDS Works on Market Study for Charlton Manor Rest Home
Following a referral by Cutler Associates, LDS has been working on a senior housing campus study for the Charlton Manor Rest Home. The Home was acquired by a new owner in the past year who is making extensive renovations to freshen up the 32 unit rest home. LDS is studying the need for other types of senior housing on the campus including assisted living, independent living, adult day health and small cottages. Due to its location at eight major highway intersections, a top five regional high school rating, and relatively low home sale prices as compared to metro west, the population in Charlton has doubled in the past 15 years. |
Patriot Homes Veterans Housing
LDS was thrilled to hear from Caritas Communities and South Boston Development Corporation that they had acquired the development rights to the former Boston Police Station at at 273 D. Street and 244 Athens Street, South Boston, Massachusetts and to work on their LIHTC market study. They are proposing the new construction of 12 units of permanent affordable multi-family rental housing building and the renovation of the former police station building into 11 studio units and one 1 bedroom manager unit.
The veteran's population is increasing nationally and locally and will continue to increase as a result of the troop withdrawals from Iraq and Afghanistan. Veterans face bigger challenges than their predecessors due to more front line action, which now also includes women. Returning veterans are faced with the same economic uncertainty as civilians; however, they are also dealing with post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury and physical disabilities.
The number of homeless veterans increased nationally by 1% year over year. For example, homeless veterans accounted for 1 in 150 veterans nationwide and 38,000 veterans had returned home to Massachusetts since September 11, 2001 and there are approximately 18,789 veterans living in Boston.
There are currently 230 veterans on the wait list for VASH housing vouchers, even with the addition of 150 vouchers in 2010 from 2009. The highest priority is for chronically homeless, disabled veterans and veterans with children in custody. Homeless veterans in the Boston area ranked emergency shelter, transitional living and permanent housing as their fourth, fifth and six highest unmet need out of 42 categories. |
Holliston Development Opportunity
The Town of Holliston, acting through the Holliston Housing Trust ("Trust"), seeks proposals
from affordable housing development organizations/teams to (i) complete construction renovations and improvements and (ii) market and sell to a qualified buyer as an affordable housing unit a Trust owned residential condominium located at 44 Burnap Road, unit #3, in the Town of Holliston, MA. The RFP may be obtained from the Town Clerk, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. In addition, RFP's will be mailed or emailed to interested parties upon request directed to Bryan Clancy Chair, Holliston Housing Trust, at bclancy@crreal.com or 617-559-5063 and requesting a copy. All proposals must be received by the Town Clerk, 703 Washington Street, Holliston, MA 01746, on or before 4:30 p.m. on Friday, March 2, 2012.
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LDS Updates
Hingham
LDS continues to work with the Trust and the Trust is on track to issue a request for proposals from developers in March 2012. If you are interested in receiving the RFP, please let us know.
Georgetown
The Affordable Housing Production Plan was approved by the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development in late January 2012.
40B Monitoring
LDS is reviewing the lottery documents for Berlin Woods, which will include 8 affordable homeownership units. LDS is commenting on the print advertisement, the affirmative fair marketing plan and the lottery application package. We have created a custom set of documents for the lottery agent to include in their application packages to assist homebuyers with understanding their post purchase obligations.
Personnel
LDS welcomes our newest part time Planner/Research Associate, John Gelcich. John received a masters in urban and regional planning from Virginia Tech. He is a certified planner by the American Institute of Certified Planners. Prior to working with LDS, John spent four years in the Westchester County New York Office of Saccardi & Schiff/VHB working on projects going through the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) review process including research for and writing of all sections of Environmental Impact Statements (EIS), zoning regulations, consolidated plans, comprehensive plans and master plans. |
We are grateful for the outstanding professional support we receive from our bench:
Provider Insurance, Tankel and Rosenberg Accountants, human resources attorney Dana Gershon, intellectual property attorneys Kenney and Sams, PC and contract/real estate attorney Kim Rubin.
As always, LDS is looking to partner with clients and consultants on new projects. Please feel free to contact us at info@ldsconsultinggroup.com or 617-454-1144.
Wishing you much peace, joy and prosperity in 2012.
Sincerely,
Lynne D. Sweet
Managing Member
LDS Consulting Group, LLC
233 Needham Street, Newton, MA 02464 |
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