LAWRENCE, Mass. /MASSACHUSETTS NEWSWIRE/ — Today, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll and Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus announced $27 million in Housing Development Incentive Program (HDIP) awards to create 709 total new units in 9 Gateway Cities across the state. This funding is in addition to the $27 million in HDIP funding awarded earlier this year. Together, HDIP awards made by the Healey-Driscoll Administration in 2024 will support the creation of 1,256 new housing units.
As part of a $1 billion tax package signed by the Governor in October 2023, the annual HDIP program cap was raised to $30 million annually with a one-time increase of $57 million. That increase allowed the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities to fund 25 projects in 15 Gateway Cities this year.
The announcement was made at theJAV in Lawrence, a 24-unit development by Jowamar Companies LLC now under construction after receiving an HDIP award from the Healey-Driscoll Administration earlier this year. The award helped enable the transformation of the formerly blighted property into housing, commercial spaces and a food hall.
“We want people to be able to afford to live and work in our Gateway Cities, which have so much to offer in business, industry, arts and culture,” said Governor Healey. “The HDIP program has a proven record of supporting the creation of new housing, like theJav development, which can lower the cost of housing in these communities. We were proud to expand this program in our tax cuts package, which has enabled us to award the largest amount of funding to date.”
“These funds make a sizable impact to cities across the state as we work to increase housing of all kinds across Massachusetts to make rent and home prices more affordable,” said Lieutenant Governor Driscoll. “This is the largest funding year in program history and really underscores our administration’s commitment to building more housing and building it faster to meet the demand.”
HDIP is a tool for the state’s Gateway Cities to create more market rate housing to support economic development, expand the diversity of the housing stock and create more vibrant neighborhoods. Half of the 12 projects awarded today will support the revitalization of old mills or commercial properties into housing.
“Our Gateway Cities are resilient communities that continue to adapt and evolve with every generation,” said Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Augustus. “These developments awarded today not only create much needed housing, they revitalize neighborhoods, revive long-vacant buildings and strengthen our communities.”
The HDIP awards are one part of the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s comprehensive approach to housing, which includes the $5.12 billion Affordable Homes Act, implementation of the MBTA Communities Law, increases to the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and the work of both the Housing Advisory Council and the Unlocking Housing Production Commission.
“Housing is not just about building structures; it’s about creating stability, opportunity, and a sense of community for families here in Lawrence and across the Commonwealth,” said Lawrence Mayor Brian DePeña. “With Governor Healey’s leadership and initiatives to increase housing affordability and accessibility, we can work together to deliver real solutions that make a lasting difference.”
Below are the 12 awardees:
Iver Mills – Fitchburg
Sponsor: Rich Darche and Aldo Mazzaferro
HDIP award: $2,500,000
Total units: 96
347-355 Main Street – Fitchburg
Sponsor: Paul Tocci
HDIP award: $479,081
Total units: 8
Essex Street Lofts – Haverhill
Sponsor: RISE
HDIP award: $2,500,000
Total units: 42
Open Square – Holyoke
Sponsor: Open Square Realty
HDIP award: $2,500,000
Total units: 84
Flats on Barnstable Road – Hyannis
Sponsor: Tim Telman/Brad Sprinkle
HDIP award: $2,500,000
Total units: 45
ICONO – Lawrence
Sponsor: Johan Lopez
HDIP award: $2,500,000
Total units: 60
193-197 Union – New Bedford
Sponsor: OneCircle
HDIP award: $2,500,000
Total units: 45
ElmWater Landing – New Bedford
Sponsor: LaFrance Hospitality
HDIP award: $2,500,000
Total units: 18
266 Canal Street – Salem
Sponsor: Criterion Development Partners
HDIP award: $2,500,000
Total units: 250
Bay View – Salem
Sponsor: Juniper Point
HDIP award: $2,000,000
Total units: 13
12 Porter Street – Taunton
Sponsor: 12 Porter Street Development
HDIP award: $2,000,000
Total units: 28
204 Main – Worcester
Sponsor: Menkiti Group
HDIP award: $2,500,000
Total units: 20
