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Update

In November, 2008, CHI held an open community meeting. Almost 300 abutters and neighbors were invited to attend; about 100 came and expressed their concerns, and their support. CHI has used the time since that meeting to revisit and revise our plans. In this revised plan, CHI has taken seriously the suggestions from neighbors at the public meetings. We believe the modifications made not only take into consideration neighbor's feedback but also enhance the entire scope of the initiative.

The results of our deliberations are presented below.

1. Our purpose:

   We plan to provide a mix of 1-3 bedroom affordable rental housing units for the people of Groveland and neighboring towns; and
   to build a daycare center (with a community center/church hall) to provide affordable, quality daycare for Groveland and neighboring towns.

   We continue to research the current need for elder housing and services.

   Our intention is to renovate existing buildings where possible, the criteria being the suitability of the existing buildings to accommodate the affordable units at a reasonable cost.

   We further intend to build 3 new units.

2. Affordable housing is housing with rents set so that families with income at 50%-80% of the median family income in the Groveland area will spend no more than 30% of the family income on housing expenses
   (for a 4 person family: a 50% income level is $40,300, so their rent would be no more than $12, 090 per year;
   for a 4 person family: an 80% income level is $61,500, so their rent would be no more than $18, 450 per year.)
3. The location of CHI's development is three parcels of real estate in South Groveland:
   
   • St. James Church parcel;
   • former St. Patrick's rectory and parish hall parcel;
   • former Richdale property.
4. Four existing buildings are intended to be part of the development:
   • the existing Parish Hall of St. James church;
     it is our intention to rehab and convert this structure to three affordable housing units
   • The former Richdale convenience store at the corner of Washington and Salem Streets;
     it is our intention to rehab and convert this structure to three affordable housing units;
   • the former St. Patrick's rectory on Salem Street;
     it is our intention to rehab and convert to two affordable housing units;
   • the former St. Patrick's parish hall and chapel on Salem Street;
     it is our intention to rehab and convert to two affordable housing units;
5. We intend three new units and one new daycare/community center/church hall building to be part of the development:
   • Construct a townhouse with three affordable units on the 1.6 acre parcel which was the location of St. Patrick's rectory and parish hall.
   • Construct a community center/ St. James Parish Hall on existing St. James property and former St. Patrick's property, abutting St. James Church
6. Local preference: it is our intention to get a 50% preference for occupancy of affordable rental housing by Groveland families and use of quality affordable daycare by Groveland families.
7. The exterior appearance of the affordable units will, for the most part, be an improved and rehabilitated version of the existing structures, namely former St. Patrick's Rectory, former St. Patrick's Parish Hall, former Richdale store, and former St. James Parish Hall.

   Rehabilitation of these structures means where necessary re-roofing, repairing and replacing and repainting worn exterior surfaces, repairing and replacing windows, landscaping; also, there will be some limited exterior structural changes or limited expansion.

   The rehabbed Richdale store will look similar to this elevation sketch by our architect.

   The 3 new units will look similar to this elevation sketch by our architect.

8. Our Timetable is currently estimated as follows:
   • Make filings with Groveland Board by February 27, 2009;
   • Break ground in Spring 2010
   • Occupy new community center/church hall January 2011
   • Complete development and rent units, beginning Spring 2011
9. These pictures help to illustrate our current plans:
   • our plot plan, showing the spacing and location of all housing
   • an elevation sketch of the townhouse, the only new housing unit
   • an elevation sketch of the former Richdale store
10. A Summary of Changes:
    • We have reduced the number of units from 15 to 13.
    • We have reduced the number of new units by 12 from 15 to 3.
    • We have minimized visual changes on the neighborhood by rehabbing existing structures instead of building new units.
    • We have reduced the number of curb cuts along Salem Street from 4 to 2 to alleviate traffic concerns.
    • We are still researching the feasibility of moving the Richdale property back for better sight lines.

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