DANVERS, MA — A new mixed-income senior housing community for Deaf, Deafblind and Hard of Hearing residents is moving ahead in Danvers after WinnDevelopment announced it has secured financing for The Waterhouse, a 116-apartment development on the campus of New England Homes for the Deaf.
Funding for the $48 million construction effort closed Oct. 20, following what WinnDevelopment described as six years of design, planning and entitlement work with NEHD.
Construction is underway, and the project is scheduled for completion in spring 2028. The three-story community will include 79 one-bedroom apartments, 21 two-bedroom units and 16 studios.
According to WinnDevelopment, 72 apartments will be leased for adults age 55 or older with incomes at or below 60 percent of Area Median Income. Of those units, 21 will be deeply affordable at or below 30 percent of AMI, and 23 apartments will be rent-restricted at or below 165 percent of AMI.
"The Waterhouse will be a first of its kind community for WinnDevelopment, thoughtfully designed to serve a unique resident population in partnership with an organization that shares our commitment to creating lasting, positive impact," said WinnDevelopment President Adam Stein. "We're excited to partner with NEHD to bring our shared goals and NEHD's mission to life, and thankful for the support of our public and private sector partners."
The development will be built on the Danvers campus of NEHD, a life plan community that has served the Deaf, Deafblind and Hard of Hearing community for 125 years.
Apartments and common spaces are being designed to support independent living for seniors with hearing and other disabilities. Planned features include wide, gently curved corridors, open sightlines, continuous hallway handrails, step-free entries, power-operated doors, tactile flooring transitions and distinct elevator-lobby finishes.
Apartments will also include visual alerts, strobes and bed-shaker systems as part of enhanced life safety systems.
"Over the years, NEHD has explored a variety of options for the undeveloped land on our campus, but none aligned as closely with our mission as the opportunity we found through our partnership with WinnDevelopment," said NEHD CEO and Executive Director Daniel Burns. "This project represents a significant step toward securing NEHD's future while expanding housing opportunities for the Deaf and Deafblind community."
State, local and private financing supported the project. The Massachusetts Executive Office for Housing and Livable Communities awarded state and federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and other funding.
MassHousing provided a tax-exempt bridge loan, a first mortgage and Affordable Housing Trust Fund support.
The town of Danvers awarded funds through its Affordable Housing Trust, and Bank of America purchased the tax credits and provided the construction loan.
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