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Issue: # 16 Specialized Solutions For  Housing™

Janaury 2013
IN THIS ISSUE
Sunderland Chapter 40B Comprehensive Permit
Project Udates
forecast the supply and demand for the development of 72 units of affordable housing to be located at 118-27 and 118-47 Farmers Boulevard, St. Albans, New York
Boxford Senior Study
LDS. Updates
Other
QUICK LINKS
Greetings!
 

2013 is off to an exciting start with stakeholder interviews being conducted in Rhode Island for the Veterans Home and survey work winding down in Boxford.   

Congratulations to Peter L, Freeman, Freeman Law Group LLC who prevailed in a recent SJC decision for a proposed 40B multi-family rental development in Sunderland, MA. 

For our affordable housing developers in Massachusetts, the proposed 2013 Qualified Allocation Plan is available at DHCD's website.  A hearing will be held at 10:00 a.m. on January 18, 2013, in the community room of Loft Five Fifty, 550 Broadway, Lawrence, MA, 01841.

The tentative deadline for pre-application submssions is May 15, 2013 and an actual applicaton date of July 2013. Please let us know as soon as you know if you will need our services for the 2013 DHDC funding round.

In early 2013, LDS completed a study for Trinity Financial and St. Albans Lifecyle to forecast the supply and demand for the development of 72 units of affordable housing to be located in St. Albans (Queens), New York. The New York State funding round was delayed 1.5 months in response to Superstorm Sandy.
Sunderland Chapter 40B Comprehensive Permit Case Decided 
 
Lynne Sweet was first contacted by Freeman Law Group LLC in April 2009 to be an expert  witness for the developer of Sugerbush Meadows in Sunderland, MA in connection with a case filed at the Housing Appeals Committee.  Lynne was asked to review the testimony of other experts on regional need and other matters.  Fast forward almost four years, and the matter has finally been put to rest, please see the attached SJC decision.   The SJC case was focused on the definition of regional need, and Lynne was able to point to NCAHMA standards as well as driving distances and patterns to aide in the analysis.  While LDS prefers to stay out of court and work with municipalities rather than on the other side of the fence, we are proud of our contributions to this precedent setting case and pleased with the expertise and  professionalism provided by Freeman Law Group LLC.

Project Udates 

Boxford Senior Study

In order to acquire insight on interest level and preferences regarding the potential building of a new senior housing facility on the Haynes Land Site, LDS Consulting Group conducted a survey of the over sixty-five population currently living in Boxford, MA.  We mailed approximately 866 cover letters and surveys  and received 237 surveys, over a 28% response rate which is considered statistically significant. 

  
Thank you to Alexandra Kantor, our Babson College intern who has worked tirelessly over her winter break to enter and analyze the survey responses.  In addition to the survey, LDS examined community demographics homeownership pricing and an existing senior community in Boxford.  We look forward to the next step and working with Harborlight Community Partners on the project planning phase. 

 

RI Veterans Home 

The study team led by Durkee, Brown, Viveiros & Werenfels Architects is working furiously towards an April 2013 federal funding deadline.  The first phase of our work will be to create the program
and master plan, and the second phase will be number crunching, program refinement and application.  The architects along with their experts, are currently examining existing building conditions and getting ready to start programming efforts. LDS is working on stakeholder interviews, a focus group for family members, demographics, and existing supply such as other veterans homes, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, adult day health programs, and transitional housing programs. Given the short time frame, Lynne has recruited her niece Ariel Sweet who graduated from UNH this past summer, to assist with outreach to providers of housing and services to veterans.
  
We are enjoying our work immensely as we learn from all generations about their service to the country and to their fellow veterans here at home in Rhode Island and are humbled on a daily basis.

LIHTC and Other Studies

   
In late 2012.  LDS completed a study for Winn Development in connection with their financing applications for  refinancing of and capital improvements for North Village Apartments, a 134 unit multi-family rental housing development located in Webster, Massachusetts.
  
LDS is about to begin a study for Harborlight Community Partners in connection with the refinancing of and capital improvements for its 110 unit Turtle Creek senior rental development in Beverly, Massachusetts.
  
LDS is providing business planning advice to Trinity Financial in connection with their potential investment in a multi-family housing development in Connecticut.  The project would be part of a historic rehabilitation with the first phase icreating 116 units.  As part of its work, LDS has been asked to review the market study and financial pro-formas in order to provide a reality check. It is refreshing to wear the reviewers hat rather than the creators hat on occasion!

 

Affordable Housing Unit for Re-Sale - Berlin, MA
Living room 
Two bedroom, two and one half bathroom duplex unit with garage and basement.  Great location, minutes off route 495/62.  Newly constructed and occupied in October 2012, this spacious affordable unit is available to first time homebuyers for immediate occupancy.  The first floor has been upgraded with all hardwood floors and an open floor plan in warm and welcoming tones. Counrty feel with modern amenities. Homeowners qualification includes income at or below the following:  One person:$45,100, Two persons: $51,550, Three persons:$58,000 and Four persons:$64,400.
 
 
 Please note that we have been authorized to pay a $1,000 referral fee to the party that brings a qualified first time home buyer.

LDS Updates

40B Monitoring

LDS is the monitoring agent for the 20 units Dover Farms in Dover that will provide 5 affordable homeownership units.

 

Brokerage

We have a client who is a 40B builder developer who is looking to acquire projects that are 'for sale' and nearly ready to go. If you know of a project that could use some help or resurrection, please contact us.  

 

Personnel

Carsten Snow has been promoted to a full time researcher/planner at LDS and we are currently looking for a part time research associate with an undergaduate college degree to support her efforts.  The job has been posted on the chapa website at http://www.chapa.org/jobboard_browse?page=1.

 

LDS in the News

Lynne Sweet was quoted in a recent article in the January 2013 Tax Credit Advisor on trends in senior housing.  The story starts on page 16.

As always, LDS is looking to partner with clients and consultants on new projects.  Please feel free to contact us at [email protected] or 617-454-1144.

    
Sincerely,
  
Lynne D. Sweet
Managing Member

LDS Consulting Group, LLC  
233 Needham Street, Newton, MA 02464