SANDWICH – Selectmen in Sandwich are backing a proposed low-income housing complex on George Fernandez Way.
The Boston-based Women’s Institute for Housing and Economic Development presented plans and artist renderings for the 30-unit complex to the board last month.
The board voted unanimously to pen a letter of support to help the developer secure funding and regulatory authorization.
Almost $1.4 million dollars in town Community Preservation Act funding is available to help fund the development, according to Town Manager Bud Dunham.
“It was something that town meeting voted for quite a while ago and we are really happy to see it moving forward,” Dunham said. “The whole team has been great to work with and I’ve heard nothing but positive things from all of our department heads.”
The institute, which was founded in 1974, has developed and preserved dozens of affordable housing complexes across the southern section of New England.
“This is our first foray on Cape Cod and we are really excited about it,” said Gabrielle Geller, the development director for the Women’s Institute.
The development would be located behind the existing 12-unit Sandwich Housing Authority project.
The complex would be a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. Twenty of the units will be two-bedroom apartments, along with six one-bedroom units and four three-bedroom units.
“We will be targeting our units to families and individuals between 30 and 60 percent of the area median income, which to give some context for a family of four is about $77,000 per year,” Geller said.
The proposed development, which would include an open outdoor common area with a playground, would also connect to the current 12-unit development already in the area.
“Those families and individuals would be able to use our community room. They’d be able to utilize the playground,” she said. “I think that really is an advantage for the existing residents there.”
By BRIAN MERCHANT, CapeCod.com NewsCenter
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