The ACT is pleased to have two houses under construction this summer of 2011:
Andover Street
Andover Community Trust purchased a half-acre lot on Andover Street from the Town of Andover at a tax title auction in April 2010. John Pearson, ACT president and architect, has designed the permanently affordable three-bedroom home to be built on this lot by students from the Greater Lawrence Technical School (GLTS). This will be the third ACT home built by GLTS. This project came before the Andover Zoning Board of Appeals on April 7. It was approved under section 7.8, Dimensional Special Permit - Affordable Housing, of the Town's zoning bylaw. Site work began this summer, and the students will begin construction in September. John Pearson also designed the ACT homes on Cheever Circle and Heather Drive. ACT is excited to be able to partner with GLTS because these projects provide a learning experience, as well as a community service opportunity, for students. This home will be completed in 2013.
North Street
The second home is on North Street and will be built by the developer of Northfield Commons on a lot purchased by ACT. ACT received a $165,000 grant award from the Andover Affordable Housing Trust Fund to assist in the purchase and construction of the North Street home. In addition, ACT applied for and received a grant award of $50,000 from the North Shore HOME Consortium competitive funds to assist in constructing this home.
This permanently affordable three-bedroom home is expected to be completed by December and will be sold for $167,500. The owner selection process will begin in September. Anyone interested in being selected to purchase this home must attend one of the following information sessions: 7 p.m. Wednesday, September 7; 2 p.m. Sunday, September 11; or 7 p.m. Monday, September 19. All sessions will be held on the third floor of Memorial Hall Library in Andover. Applications will be available at the end of each meeting.
Andover Community Trust gives preference to income-eligible, first-time home buyer households with one to four school-age children. Total household income must be less than 80 percent ($51,000 to $64,000, depending on family size) of the area median income, as established annually by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). In addition, family assets may not exceed $75,000. All applicants must complete a first-time home buyer’s class before being selected to purchase this home.
