On March 30
th, CREW Boston’s Housing and Community Development Committee (HCDC) hosted a virtual discussion about tenant selection preferences and compliance with DHCD requirements, specifically addressing how to comply with Affirmative Fair Housing marketing requirements while still serving special populations.
Joining us for the call was Karmen Cheung, Senior Developer at Pennrose, LLC, who, along with their nonprofit partner, LGBTQ Senior Housing Inc., are in the midst of the rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of the William Barton Rogers School in Hyde Park. They are transforming the school into a 74-unit senior housing property known as The Pryde, which will be the first LGBTQ-friendly affordable development in New England. Not only do the developers plan to select residents with a preference for seniors, but they also received approval from DHCD to provide a preference for LGBTQ households. Karmen discussed the project, what it means to be “LGBTQ-friendly” and how it will be implemented during lease-up and thereafter.
North Shore Community Development Coalition (CDC) Director of Real Estate Ilene Podgur Vogel also joined us to discuss the CDC's recently funded adaptive reuse of the historic St. James School on Federal Street in Salem into 32 affordable apartments for 62+ seniors and the historic St. Mary's School on Hawthorne Boulevard in Salem into 29 mixed income housing units with a preference for housing artists and an artist work space.
Lastly, Megan Stejskal from Peabody Properties, Inc., a professional affordable housing management company, spoke on writing and implementing affirmative fair housing and tenant selection plans.
To watch the recording, go to:
https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/share/hdNnXsNbl4P_N7L2WSmZ_yfDIEPxIxlS6mxy7MLbbTtgzZngtA1gQe6DqaBVQnMp.mcuZc5L4dZBxyrjC