Zoning Board Gives Approval For Former School to Become Senior Housing

SALEM—The Zoning Board of Appeals voted to grant a permit request for the development of the shuttered Machon Elementary School to B'nai B'rith Housing at their hearing on Tues., August 22.

The building, which has been vacant since 2007, will become renevated and added on to in order to create 38 one-bedroom units of affordable housing for seniors and older adults. The proposal is to repurpose the school, originally built in 1920, demolish the 1960s addition, and build a new residential wing on the building.

The building includes about 31,000 square feet of interior space across two floors and a basement. The property (1.03 acres) fronts on Burpee Road. There will be 48 off-street parking spaces incorporated onto the site.

According to the Zoning Board of Appeals and Town Selectment, "The resulting development will create affordable multifamily housing for seniors and older adults, including shared common area amenity space and parking."

S. Peter Kane, Director of Community Development for the Town of Swampscott, confirmed with Patch that B'nai B'rith Housing has a 99-year ground lease for $500,000.

He said, "The development is for 55 years or older with a preference of 62 years or older. They will also include a local preference for up to 70% for Swampscott residents." Local MGL Chapter 40B sets a requirement that each community have 10% of all its housing stock dedicated toward affordable housing.

The housing program is through 40B, which allows B’nai B’rith to override the local zoning bylaws for affordable housing. The funding will come through applications for tax credits. Nonprofit B’nai B’rith originally began the process of applying in May 2016. According to Kane, the Town has been evaluating the potential reuse of the Machon property for a few years.

A Request for Proposals (RFP) was released in February 2016. B’nai B’rith Housing’s proposal was chosen by the Selectmen in April 2016 and confirmed by a Town Meeting vote in May 2016.