Worcester launches program to assist triple decker developers
Photo/Grant Welker
Worcester City Hall
The City of Worcester has launched a new program to help triple decker owners and developers rehabilitate properties through funding and guidance.
The initiative, dubbed Worcester Housing Now, is aimed at existing properties throughout Worcester in an effort to shore up affordable housing. According to the city, deferred maintenance on many of these properties has led to resident health issues, blighted and vacant buildings and units, and disinvestment in neighborhoods.
“While there is great excitement for all the new development happening in our downtown, we must ensure all residents have safe and healthy living conditions,” said Mayor Joseph Petty in a press release announcing the new program. “Triple deckers are the soul of Worcester, and bringing back offline units will provide some immediate relief to the lack of affordable rental unit availability.”
Worcester Housing Now has eight resources designed to help both owner-occupied multi-family housing as well as provide responsible developers with streamlined access to capital for revitalizing troubled properties. Some of these resources have funding sources attached to them, while others are designed to provide guidance to those rehabilitating properties in the city.
The resources are:
- Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding will be available to developers looking to acquire or rehabilitate two to four unit properties.
- Lead abatement funding will be available to assist with the remediation of units that contain lead paint and other health related housing issues. Funding up to $10,000 per unit will be available for properties built before 1978.
- The Affordable Housing Now Loan Fund will be established by the city. This $10-million loan fund has been established through a partnership between a consortium of local banks and lending institutions and the city. This fund can be utilized for both acquisition, and or rehabilitation of two to four unit buildings.
- The city will provide access to owner-occupied rehabilitation funding through the Department of Housing and Community Development Gateway Cities Rehabilitation Program. This program will be available to homeowners who own two to four unit structures that have building or sanitary code issues, or are at risk of losing insurance.
- Monthly Sanitary/Building Code classes for owners with violations will be targeted to owners who have received violation notices on their property. Class sessions will review owner responsibilities under various codes and ordinances, and offer guidance on available resources to resolve those issues.
- The city will release the Multifamily Rehabilitation and Maintenance Guide for preferred methods of rehabilitation and maintenance for two to four unit buildings. This guide has been developed in coordination with local, state and federal officials.
- The Housing Development Advisory Committee will tackle various housing issues including affordable housing, market rate housing, fair housing, zoning and other relevant issues, and report out to the City Manager.
- Monthly housing topic videos will be posted on the city’s website, cable channel and YouTube channel.
An informational meeting on the Worcester Housing Now program will be held from 3-5 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 12 at Worcester City Hall.
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