Affordable-housing plans return in Dracut

DRACUT — In the wake of a failed affordable-housing plan for seniors, some town officials are quietly lining up support behind a new proposal.

About a month after the Dracut Housing Authority called off plans to buy the 38 units at 1476 Mammoth Road known as Louisburg Square as affordable housing for seniors, Brian Bond, vice chairman of the Community Preservation Committee, is looking at a proposal to buy 17 acres of farmland on Greenmont Avenue and build 64 one-bedroom homes for seniors.

Bond said he’s hoping the project, which could take at least three years to complete, could be brought before Town Meeting in June 2010.

The new proposal is still in its infancy but Ken Cunha, a Housing Authority member, imagines walk-in showers, washers and dryers in the units, environmentally friendly buildings and green space built on farmland at 144 Greenmont Ave. Cunha, Bond and Selectman John Zimini said they began working on the plan several months ago.

Cunha, a fierce opponent of the Louisburg Square project, said he hasn’t reached out yet to gain support from his political opponents, Selectmen Joe DiRocco and Robert Cox. Cox and DiRocco had accused Cunha of working to sabotage the Louisburg Square project to exact political revenge and punish their political adversaries.

“I certainly didn’t like that project but you know what, it’s time to move on from Louisburg Square,” said Cunha.

Cunha and those behind the plan sought help and support from other town officials, including Community Preservation Committee member Ken Lania. Lania, a civil engineer, assessed the land to come up with a proposed number of housing units. Phil Thibault, chairman of the Planning Board and an architect, provided floor plans for cottage-style elderly housing.

Bond is confident town leaders and the Housing Authority can work together on a new housing plan for seniors.

“I don’t know if it has a better chance (of succeeding than the Louisburg Square project), but it’s a chance to add more senior housing,” said Bond. “I think the town can work with the Housing Authority. I don’t see a problem with that.”

John Hassan, chairman of the Community Preservation Committee, cautioned that it’s too early to discuss the new proposal publicly. The committee needs to find out how much of the land is wetlands, figure out whether 64 units would fit on the land and appraise the property.

“To get people’s hopes up that we’re building something only to have it squashed again — it’s just way too early,” said Hassan.

Hassan said the CPC looked into preserving the Richardson land as farm space about two years ago. That deal fell apart after the town, the Richardson family and the group that farmed the land couldn’t agree on a sale price.

James Richardson, whose family controls the farmland in a trust, said Bond and other officials first approached his family in the early fall. The land is behind the Richardson’s Dairy stand at 1480 Bridge St. and Richardson said there are no plans to sell the farm store at the moment.

Bond said the new Greenmont Avenue proposal will hinge on whether the town can obtain state funding.

The state Department of Housing and Community Development would have paid $2.9 million toward renovations for Louisburg Square, but that money isn’t transferable to new projects. Housing advocates have told The Sun there is a long waiting list for funding.

Zimini said he wants to work with neighbors near the proposed site and would also need to see a new appraisal.

“It’s in a great area. It’s on a bus line, so I think it’s just a real good place to put in elderly housing,” said Zimini.

Bond estimates the Greenmont Avenue plan could cost about $6.3 million with about $3.84 million — or about $60,000 per unit — going toward building costs. That would leave about $2.46 million available to buy the land, roadwork, landscaping and build a community center at the site.

Town records show the one-story home owned by James Richardson at 1530 Bridge St. is assessed at $231,200. The 17 acres owned by the Richardson family at 144 Greenmont Ave. are worth $252,000, according to town records. Dracut assessing officials said the farmland was last assessed in February 2003 and a field review was last done in spring 2008.

About 5.5 percent of the town’s housing stock is considered affordable. Because that figure is less than 10 percent, developers may be allowed to bypass local zoning laws. Seniors pay reduced rent at Louisburg Square but the state does not count that as affordable housing because those rents are higher than what state considers affordable.