Housing Trust OK’s $150K For West Harwich Project

HARWICH – The affordable housing trust has approved $150,000 for pre-development and permitting for developer John Carey’s West Harwich project, which is slated to include 40 housing units on 1.5 acres at 48 and 52 Route 28 in West Harwich.

The development will be known as West Harwich Square. Its focus is on community enhancement as well as providing much-needed housing, said Carey. 

 “West Harwich Square will revitalize the gateway to Harwich, which currently could use a little love,” Carey told the trust.

Carey presented his request for funding to the trust on Feb. 11. He is seeking a total of $1.8 million in affordable housing funds to support the project’s 10 units of affordable housing. He said that because 25 percent of the units will be affordable, all 40 units will be added to the state’s subsidized housing inventory, which requires that 10 percent of a community’s housing units be affordable. 

The project will be done in two phases, according to Carey. The first phase will include the relocation of the historic Captain Baker house, which will be placed to the rear of the lot and converted into two housing units. A 12-unit structure, slightly larger and similar in appearance to the historic schoolhouse he is presently renovating for housing at 5 Bell’s Neck Rd, would also be constructed then.

The second phase, Carey said, would focus on a separate building that would recreate the Exchange Building, once the cornerstone of Harwich Center, which was torn down in 1964. The building will host 26 apartments and would also have commercial space on the first floor. He estimated the cost of the structure at between $5 million and $7 million. 

Carey received $605,000 from the trust for the schoolhouse project, which includes seven housing units in the historic structure and three additional affordable housing units in a second structure on the property. 

 “The town investment is a home run, about $45,000 per unit,” Carey said of the per unit cost to the trust. “I don’t know any towns in Massachusetts that wouldn’t pay $45,000 for a year-round apartment when you are dealing with a housing crisis like we are.”

 Affordable Housing Trust Chair Larry Ballantine said that $1.8 million is a lot of money, but the trust paid $200,000 a unit for the three affordable units at 5 Bell’s Neck Rd. The trust’s investment in the three units at the former fire station on Bank Street was more than $150,000 per unit, Ballantine said.

 The response to the projects has been very positive, Ballantine said, noting the public’s response when Carey was before the historic district and historical commission for permission to relocate the Captain Baker house.

 Planning Board Chair J. Duncan Berry said he has never seen the kind of positive response made when Carey came before the board to make a presentation. The Captain Baker property was the lightning rod that established a District of Critical Planning Concern in West Harwich, when there was interest in putting a Dollar Store on the property.

 “The intention and preamble of the DCPC is clear: It is set up to foster this kind of mixed use, commercial and housing, the whole package,” Berry said. “So this village could contribute to revenue and vitality to the town of Harwich.” 

 Trust members wanted to know how the DCPC would impact the project. Carey had said he would need variances for the Exchange Building proposal. He made it clear he wanted to work first with the town, and should issues arise, he could file a friendly Local Initiative Plan 40B, which could compel the town to approve the project. 

 Ballantine said he did not want to commit money to the project just to have it get hung up. Carey said he is prepared to make necessary adjustments to satisfy the community. He also said there are no issues with phase one of the plan.

 Carey said $150,000 would get him through the site planning stages for the project.

 “I think it’s a wonderful project,” said trust member Julie Kavanagh. “I love the idea of the Exchange Building. The $1.8 million is a big commitment from the select board side, but from the housing side I’d agree. The $150,000 is a no-brainer.”

 Carey said he would be beginning the engineering and permitting process and planned to have permits in place in August. He also said he will need to have plans to present to state highway engineers by September for entrance cuts and utilities as the state prepares for an $8 million Route 28 improvement project in the area. 

 Trust member Bob Spencer said he would like to see a security measure for the protection of the $150,000. Carey said he could use one unit in the schoolhouse development, which he valued at $158,000, to cover such a security. 

 Spencer offered a motion for $150,000 to cover pre-development costs for Carey, which was approved. As for the $1.8 million request, the trust would consider that in phases as the project moves forward, Ballantine said.