Congressman William R. Keating (D-MA 9th) (center) joined local and state officials and affordable housing supporters to celebrate the groundbreaking of Canal Bluffs III, a mix of affordable, workforce and market-rate apartment homes for families and seniors in a residential community off Rt. 28 in Bourne.
Nonprofit Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH), in partnership with Housing Assistance Corporation of Cape Cod (HAC), will develop the newly constructed 44-unit building representing the third and final phase of a project that began in 2009 with the development of 28 affordable apartments in Canal Bluffs I. The second phase, Clay Pond Cove, added another 45 individual, family, and senior apartments on the same site in 2012.
When finished next year, the project will have resulted in a blend of 117 new affordable and market rate apartments for individuals, families and seniors on this Cape Cod site. POAH also owns affordable housing in Dennis, Hyannis, Orleans and Brewster.
The site was once slated to be used as an office building for a dot com company which ultimately decided not to develop the site. Businessman William Zammer of Mashpee purchased the property, eventually agreeing to sell the 19 acres of land to HAC to develop as rental housing. HAC partnered with POAH to create the phased-in housing.
“These types of partnerships between HAC and POAH are critical to addressing the region’s housing issues,” HAC CEO Alisa Galazzi said. “By combining our strengths and expertise, our two agencies are able to make projects like Canal Bluffs a reality which is vitally important because there is such a shortage of affordable apartments on Cape Cod for year-round residents.”
“Canal Bluffs III serves as a prime example of local, state, and federal governments working together to relieve the high housing costs we are seeing throughout Cape Cod,” said Congressman Keating. “This project will help to ease some of the burden on families struggling to find affordable housing in our area – a responsibility we all share. I commend Preservation of Affordable Housing and HAC for the time and dedication they have dedicated to these projects in order to ensure their success.”
“Like many of our seasonal communities, Bourne faces the acute challenge of providing affordable housing to their year-round population,” said Housing and Community Development Undersecretary Chrystal Kornegay. “The completion of Canal Bluffs will add 44 units of mixed-income rental housing, increasing Bourne’s housing options for the diverse needs of their community.”
“We’re very pleased to be part of this third phase of development at Canal Bluffs that is going to add 44 new units of mixed-income housing for low-, moderate-, and middle-income residents and working families in Bourne,’’ said MassHousing Executive Director Tim Sullivan. “POAH and HAC have worked collaboratively for a decade to provide quality affordable housing for seniors and families and MassHousing has been happy to be part of that partnership, which is providing greatly needed affordable housing on Cape Cod.”
“We could not have made this vision a reality without the strong working relationship with HAC and the support of the Town of Bourne and the Barnstable County partners and agencies that worked with us to make this such a success,” said POAH President/CEO Aaron Gornstein.
We are pleased to support Canal Bluffs and developments like it throughout the Commonwealth, to provide affordable rental and homeownership opportunities to families in Bourne, the region and across the state.” - Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker
Project Description:
The new units will be equipped with Energy Star appliances including: a refrigerator, oven, and dishwasher. All units will have vinyl plank flooring, ample closet space, central air conditioning, and washer/dryer hook-ups. The site will contain 64 outdoor parking spaces (approximately 1.5 per unit) on-site laundry, and out-of-unit storage.
After purchasing the site, HAC was faced with an environmental hurdle - the parcel of land was deemed an environmentally sensitive area due to its proximity to the Phinney Harbor watershed. The completion of Canal Bluffs I paved the way for a second phase, Clay Pond Cove, which included the completion of the wastewater treatment plant that serves the whole Canal Bluffs residential community and the abutting retail shopping center.
View photos from the event:
Canal Bluffs III Groundbreaking Ceremony - Photobucket
Read more:
Canal Bluffs project to be done by next fall - The Bourne Courier
Work On Final Phase Of 117-Unit Affordable Housing Complex Underway - The Bourne Courier
Groundbreaking Held for Phase III of Canal Bluffs Development in Bourne - CapeCod.com
Building on a good thing - Cape Cod Times
Housing and Community Development Undersecretary Kornegay and Congressman Keating Celebrate Ground Breaking at Canal Bluffs (Press Release) - Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development