Haverhill’s ‘Friendly 40B’ Project Receives State Funding

EXCLUSIVE: Ground will be broken early next year for 144 low-income apartments on West Lowell Avenue in Haverhill now that state funding is in place. The development will be known as Tenney Place.

Dakota Partners of Waltham plans 72 affordable units for families, 56 affordable units and eight units for households earning less than 30 percent of area median income. There will be four, three- to four-story apartment buildings, a freestanding community building with fitness center, community spaces and tot lot. Apartments contain a mix of one, two and three bedroom units.

“Affordable housing helps to generate jobs, grow local businesses and strengthen our communities,” said Governor Deval Patrick earlier this month when announcing $83.6 million for housing projects. “Government’s role is to help people help themselves, and sustainable affordable housing will create growth and opportunity in our communities that will last for generations to come.”

Developer Marc Daigle told WHAV, “We are honored that the governor and DHCD chose this project to provide much needed workforce housing to the city of Haverhill.” He said the project previously was granted a comprehensive permit from the city’s Zoning Board of Appeals.

Patrick said the state supports Dakota’s project with federal and state low Income housing tax credits, federal Home Investment Partnerships Program money and state bond subsidies. His office said the city of Haverhill also supports the project.

The city called the project a “friendly 40B” project in a March report to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Chapter 40B is a state law allowing streamlined comprehensive permitting for low-income housing.