Untitled Document

CTI subsidiary makes move into affordable-housing market

By MICHAEL LAFLEUR, Sun StaffLowell Sun

LOWELL -- There is a new player on the region's affordable-housing development scene. Common Ground Development Corp., the affordable-housing development arm of the Lowell-based social-service agency Community Teamwork Inc., completed its first major residential project in February in Westford and now is in midst of projects in Acton and Lowell.

CTI Executive Director Karen Frederick, president of Common Ground's board of directors, said the organization was incorporated in 2002 to create and preserve affordable housing in northeastern Massachusetts.

The idea, Frederick said, is to encourage the development of affordable housing "that fits in the community and that's something they like." Overseeing that mission is Common Ground CEO Steven Joncas, a Lowell-based development consultant. Joncas, who was paid about $63,000 in the fiscal year that ended June 30, and Tom Galligani, the city's former economic-development director, work part time as consultants for Common Ground. They identify projects and, if they're feasible, secure construction financing and see the endeavor through to completion.

CTI officials handle apartment leasing or property sales. The William D. Coakley Residences at Stony Brook -- a 15-apartment, three-building project at 3-7 Farmer Way in Westford, across from the new Stony Brook Middle School -- involved a $1 million federal grant awarded by the state Department of Housing and Community Development. Common Ground also received more than $2 million in low-interest financing from the Massachusetts Housing Investment Corp. (for the construction loan) and the Massachusetts Housing Partnership, which refinanced the construction loan and is carrying the long-term debt. Westford officials also used $250,000 in town Community Preservation Act funds to prepare the town-owned site for development. Common Ground has a 99-year lease for the land.

An independent subsidiary of CTI with its own private, nonprofit status, Common Ground often works closely with its parent agency. Joncas has served as a development consultant to CTI in its project at 767 Merrimack St., where it is building a homeless shelter. He also is helping with the renovation of an existing CTI homeless shelter at 360 Pawtucket St. Common Ground has three projects of its own now going in the Mill City. One is at 205 Worthen St., a former rooming house now being converted into three, three-bedroom, first-time homebuyer condominiums, Joncas said. The organization also has purchased two vacant city-owned lots -- at 344 Pawtucket St. and 9 Sagamore St. -- and plans to build a two-family home on each lot. The Acton project involves a nearly 21,000-square-foot former school building, Joncas said. He is now negotiating with town officials on a long-term lease for the site, which is eyed for conversion into 17 apartments. "We're trying to do this throughout the Merrimack Valley," Joncas said.

Common also has expressed interest in redeveloping the current site of the Soucy Industries ironworks at 252 Mount Vernon St., which the city is slated to take by eminent domain. The city's Acre neighborhood urban-renewal plan calls for the 1.8-acre site to be redeveloped as affordable housing. Joncas also has had preliminary discussions about a joint development with the Lowell Community Health Center, which is in search of a location to consolidate several of its satellite clinical and administrative offices.

Michael Lafleur's e-mail address is mlafleur@lowellsun.com.