ACT Seeking Support for New Affordable Home

The Andover Community Trust is once again looking to provide the town with more affordable housing and has already begun the process with a property on North Street.

The Andover Community Trust (ACT) has a mission of organizing charitable parties to create affordable housing in town. They have received land as donations many times as well as construction services from the Greater Lawrence Tehcnical High School. They have built four affordable homes in Andover.

"We rely on gifts and grants from local foundations and banks," said President Jon Pearson.

Pearson said that this project at 57 North Street will provide one family with the ability to purchase a home who would normally be priced out of the market.

He also said the new property will help the town increase their stock of affordable housing as the 2010 federal census stacks 1,200 more units on Andover's required level of affordable housing.

Pearson, and executive director Susan Garth Stott, went before the selectmen late last month to discuss the project and the board plans to vote on the issue this Monday. They briefly discussed their four previous homes on Heather Drive, Cheever Circle, River Road and Haverhill Street.

Pearson said this project will differ from the others because a developer plans to build on the land, already acquired by ACT, and then sell it to an eligible affordable housing buyer for the same price they would have sold it to ACT.

"Unlike all of the previous projects we've done, this will be a turnkey project, which makes my life and our lives much easier," said Pearson.

ACT provides homes for individuals or families that earn between 60 and 80 percent of the area mean income.

With selectmen's support, Pearson said that they hope construction will begin on the homes in the springtime and will be ready from occupancy by the start of the school year in 2011.

The home at 57 North Street will be, according to Pearson, a great improvement from the cottage that stood at that property previously. The home will be a three-story home with a garage and roughly 1,500 square feet.

Selectmen will take up the issue this coming Monday at 6 p.m. at the School Committee meeting room at the on Bartlet Street.