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SCC Breaks Ground for Glen Street Affordable Condos

CEO Daniel LeBlanc, Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone, Lionel Romain of the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation, and Dan May, vice president, East Boston Savings Bank were joined by a crowd of neighbors, city officials and members of the SCC community on Saturday, September 9, 2017, to break ground for new construction of affordable condominiums at 163 Glen Street, East Somerville.

The project by SCC and co-developer Doug George is an adaptive reuse of an old American Legion Post in East Somerville and is the first purpose-built affordable homeownership condominium construction in Somerville in more than a decade. 

A Unique Project

A unique feature of the project is that, other than the traditional construction loan from East Boston Savings Bank, it is being financed exclusively from the City of Somerville with funds made available through the Community Preservation Act.

“Since the crash a decade ago, it’s been nearly impossible to build new condo developments where the majority of those condos are affordable,” states Danny LeBlanc, CEO of Somerville Community Corporation. “It’s a testimony to the commitment of the Mayor and his team at the City that we are able to break ground at 163 Glen Street, with eight of the 11 new condos dedicated as affordable, and with funds committed by the City itself.”

In addition to CPA monies, the City is providing funding through the Somerville Affordable Housing Trust Fund, the Somerville HOME allocation and the Community Challenge Grant. Both HOME and the Community Challenge Grant funds are provided to the City of Somerville through the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD).

Affordable Homeownership Opportunity

SCC acquired the property to create 11 condominiums and provide homeownership opportunities for Somerville residents of moderate income. Eight of the units will be designated as affordable, which will allow people at 80%, 100% and 110% Area Median Income (AMI) to purchase housing in Somerville’s very hot housing market. Three units will be market rate, which helps raise additional revenue to support the construction. Learn more about the project.

Community Preservation Act

The groundbreaking kicked-off the City of Somerville’s day-long Community Preservation Act 5th Anniversary Celebration. The Community Preservation Act (CPA) is a Massachusetts state law that enables municipalities to create a steady funding source for affordable housing, historic preservation, open space and recreation land projects.

Playing a pivotal role in bringing CPA to the City, SCC convened a broad base of partners, including Mayor Curtatone, through the Committee for a Stronger Somerville to oversee the campaign for a CPA. The campaign was successful, with the support of over three-quarters of Somerville voters in 2012. Learn more about the Community Preservation Act.

Photo by Van Hardy-caption: Left to Right –Jessica Palacios Yamakawa, Senator Pat Jehlen, Representative Mike Connolly, Uma Murugan (Community Preservation Committee) , Daniel LeBlanc (SCC), Jack Connolly (Alderman At Large), Bill White (Alderman at Large), Mary Joe Rossetti (Alderman at Large), Dick Bauer (Community Preservation Committee), Mayor Joe Curtatone, Lionel Romain (CEDAC), Dan May (East Boston Savings Bank).
Learn the story of SCC - watch the mini documentary:

Members of the community in Somerville, MA come together for an illuminated walk to bring attention to gentrification and housing affordability in East Somerville. Produced in collaboration with the Somerville Community Corporation and Mister Francis. Written, directed, and edited by Andrew Eldridge. Produced by Elizabeth Eldridge, Andrew Eldridge.

For tenants of the 100 Homes program, if you are in need of an urgent repair please call 1-617-410-9915. For life-threatening or other emergencies please call 911.

Somerville sits on the original homelands of the Massachusett, Wampanoag, Naumkeag, and Nipmuc tribal nations. We acknowledge the painful history of genocide and forced removal from this territory, and we honor and respect the many diverse Indigenous peoples still connected to this land on which we live and work.

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