Lottery for affordable Harbor Place apartments
HAVERHILL: Haverhill is hoping existing city residents take advantage of an opportunity to move into the new Harbor Place apartments on Merrimack Street.
More than 50 units of affordable housing will be available through a lottery now taking place through Oct. 4, Andrew K. Herlihy, community development program director, announced at Tuesday’s Haverhill City Council meeting.
“We want to do a better job of getting local applicants,” Herlihy told councilors during a suspension of the rules to allow an item not previously posted on the agenda. He explained the lottery, conducted by Peabody Properties, just went live and he wanted to ensure local residents have ample time to apply. There is a preference for either existing Haverhill residents or people who work for Haverhill businesses.
The Massachusetts Housing Partnership—a quasi-public agency—requires more than half of Harbor Place’s apartments to be designated as affordable for 51 years as a condition of financing. Apartments available by lottery include 33 two-bedroom, 17 one-bedroom and six three-bedroom apartments, Herlihy said. He said the housing project is exciting since “no one lives on Merrimack Street right now.”
The apartments at 44 Merrimack St., divide affordable units between a “Merrimack Project” and a “Riverfront Project,” with six units. All other apartments will be rented at market rates.