Swampscott Eyes Veterans Affordable Housing With Property Purchase

SWAMPSCOTT, MA — A Swampscott town plan to purchase property on Pine Street and use primarily American Rescue Plan Act funds to redevelop the property into 30 to 40 units of veterans affordable housing, as well as redevelop the VFW Post 1240 on the adjacent town-owned parcel, will come before members of the annual town meeting in May.

The Select Board announced during Wednesday night's meeting that it had agreed in principle to purchase the commercial property at 12-24 Pine Street, which is zoned for commercial development, and that it has been working with the VFW leadership on plans for a new post building, canteen and area for veterans services.

While a price tag was not announced for the purchase, the Pine Street lot has recently been put on the market with an asking price of $1.75 million.

Select Board member David Grishman said the project will fulfill a long-forgotten and overdue obligation to the veterans of the town and the North Shore.

"We've played ostrich with our veterans and our words of support for our veterans over the years have really rung hollow," Grishman said. "We've done the same thing when it comes to affordable housing.

"While I've given up all hope for a better past we can hope for a better future. Tonight we can start to rectify these two situations. Here's how."

Grishman said the property includes about 15,700 square feet as well as the VFW that is on town land following an old agreement that has long been contentious between the town and the veterans.

"I hope that relationship has been reset and will continue to be reset," Grishman said.

Select Board member Peter Spellios noted that the town spends annually about $50,000 of a $79 million budget on its veterans, which he allowed is in line with most Massachusetts communities.

"The problem is not just in Swampscott but the problem is everywhere," Spellios said. "How do we deal with these things?"

The hope is that the affordable housing units will help. Spellios said the plan to fund the project will come significantly from the town's remaining ARPA funds — about $4 million of which is available — as well as money available from the affordable housing trust. He said a nonprofit developer will be chosen to develop the property.

"This is exactly the kind of project that (is possible) under the combination of the housing, specialized housing, affordable housing, community services and supportive services to serve a vulnerable group of people who needs the housing," Housing Trust Board Member Kimberly Martin-Epstein said. "We will be able to finance this in a way to make the project happen by a combination of subsidy and low-income housing credits.

"This is going to be a really shining example of what we can do here. ... It's going to be a really excellent project to be a part of."

While Spellios said he hopes the purchase-and-sale will be available to be signed by the next Select Board meeting, that the project is contingent on town meeting approval with the specific intention of it being affordable housing for veterans.

Spellios added that having the town in control of the redevelopment will prevent potential development in a way that is not friendly to the neighborhood.

"This is the largest investment in veterans and veterans services that we have made in the history of the town," Grishman said.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)