MVOC Awarded Bid to Rehab Former Poland and Streeter Schools for Veterans' Housing
Architectural rendering of Veterans Housing site proposed by MVOC
Two groups, the Massachusetts Veterans Outreach Center and Cougar Capital, submitted bids to buy the Poland and Streeter school buildings and convert them into housing for veterans in response to the Town Manager's Request For Proposals, which was approved at Fall Town Meeting last October. Both bidders came before the Board of Selectmen on February 25.
Town Manager Keith Hickey explained the process and gave an overview of the two proposals. The bid was published locally and on state procurement websites with a deadline in early February. Both bidders had an opportunity to do a walk-through of the Streeter School building; the Poland School building was deemed unsafe to walk through. Mr. Hickey, Winchendon Planning Agent Tracy Murphy and Selectman Rick Ward interviewed representatives from each group. Both bidders put down a $5000 deposit and both understand that the buildings are to be dedicated housing for veterans.
Cougar Capital proposes to renovate the two buildings while leaving their footprint unchanged, without constructing any additions. A total of about twenty-four one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments would be created. If accessible apartments are needed, ADA-compliant units can be modified on the ground floors of the buildings. No elevators will be added and access to the upper floors will be via stairs. The budget for the project is $2,500,000, to be raised from grants and owners' equity. The timeline to completion is approximately two years.
Montachusett Veterans Outreach Center (MVOC) provided architectural renderings of both the finished buildings and the landscaping proposed for the property. MVOC proposes renovating both buildings and constructing an addition connecting them, forming a single U-shaped facility. A total of forty-four one-bedroom units would be created. Both buildings would have elevators, and all three floors would be accessible and ADA-compliant. The new connecting section includes common areas. The budget for the project is just over $21,000,000. Funding will be through federal grants, including historical preservation grants. Time to completion is approximately three years.
Mr. Hickey stated that he, Mr. Ward and Ms. Murphy agreed to recommend MVOC's proposal to the Board of Selectmen. He explained that MVOC's proposal to manage the property on an ongoing basis, providing transportation services and other programs to the residents, "was more in the spirit of the Town Meeting vote last fall."
Ryan Fleming, Dan Botwinik from Cougar Capital and Robert Batchelder came forward to answer questions from the Board of Selectmen. Mr. Botwinik told the Board that "attractive" landscaping of green space would be designed for the property. He clarified that they propose to have habitable units in one year, not two.
Board of Selectmen Chair Audrey LaBrie asked how the proposed rental fees included with Cougar Capital's bid conformed to desigated low income rents. Mr. Hickey replied that Cougar Capital planned to have a mix of low income and market-rate rents for their units. Mr. Batchelder stated that Cougar Capital was in the planning stages with Disabled American Veterans (DAV) to lease the properties when they are completed, keeping them at 100 percent occupancy for the foreseeable future. Mr. Fleming explained that the facility would be a continuation of Northeast Veteran Training and Rehabilitation in Gardner. DAV has acquired Veteran Homestead which runs that program. NVTRC offers veterans and their families rental fees based on their income. The current program runs for two years in Gardner while veterans go to school at Mount Wachusett Community College. Once the program finishes, veterans have no peer support or services going forward. The proposed DAV housing in Winchendon would provide housing, peer support and programs for veterans who had completed the two-year training. Mr. Batchelder owns a sprinkler company with an apprenticeship program for veterans.
Charlie Murphy, Executive Director of MVOC, and Dorrie Brooks of Jones Whitsett Architects in Greenfield came forward to answer questions about their proposal. Mr. Murphy explained that the major demand they see is for one bedroom apartments. "A lot of the Vietnam veteran age veterans we see quite a few of, a lot of those folks are single and like to be by themselves in an apartment," Mr. Murphy said.
Asked for their success rate in obtaining grants, Ms. Brooks said, "We have done hundreds of units utilizing low income tax credit financing and also historic tax credit equity which is included in the capital stack which we included in our presentation. We've always had an excellent track record of obtaining those funds. We have assembled a team of designers and historic consultants to ensure that the design meets the standard of those funders."
Mr. Murphy said that MVOC will manage the facility, and will have case managers on site working with the veterans, as well as transportation to off-site services. The housing will accommodate both male and female veterans, with the smaller building currently planned to house women. MVOC's plan includes fewer parking spaces because they've found that many of the veterans they work with do not own vehicles. The facility is designed for long-term residency, so that the veterans can "age in place" and stay in their homes as long as possible.
Selectman Barbara Anderson raised a concern about lack of units for younger veterans with families, and asked whether some two-bedroom units might be added to the plan. Mr. Murphy stated that MVOC has some apartments in other locations which accommodate families, and the biggest need they're seeing is housing for single people. Ms. Brooks explained that because the two school buildings are old, they don't allow as much flexiblity in utilizing space. There would be more potential for larger units in the connecting addition, if they seem needed as the project develops.
Winchendon resident Tina Santos rose to ask if the MVOC proposal would allow use of the ball field adjacent to the buildings. Ms. Brooks explained that the ball field was outside the boundaries specified in the RFP and would be available for use. She added that their landscaping plan included paths for town residents to pass through the property to the park.
Two residents rose to speak in support of the programs offered by MVOC and by DAV and affirm that either program will benefit from the new housing.
The Board of Selectmen voted to approve sale of the former Poland and Streeter Schools to the MVOC, by a vote of 4-1.
