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New veteran affordable housing coming to Swampscott

The Daily Item - 3/2/2023

Mar. 2—SWAMPSCOTT — The Select Board announced at a meeting Wednesday evening that they have reached an agreement to purchase the property at 12-24 Pine Street. The 15,700-square foot property is adjacent to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1240 building, which sits on town-owned land.

A press release from Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald said the plan is to use the land to "address the acute needs of veterans services and affordable housing within the Town of Swampscott."

"In recent months, 12-24 Pine St has been on the market for sale and the Select Board has been in discussions to acquire this property," the press release said.

Board Members David Grishman and Peter Spellios have been in discussion with leaders at VFW Post 1240 about building around 30 to 40 units of veteran affordable housing. They have also discussed creating "space for a new VFW Post 1240 and additional areas to provide services for veterans living at the property, as well as other veterans in the Swampscott area."

"No community in Massachusetts does enough for our veterans, especially when it comes to providing much-needed affordable housing and essential veteran-specific services," Grishman said.

He added that the board is excited to continue discussions with VFW Post 1240 to establish an important housing and service resource for veterans in the area.

"Our interest in acquiring the Pine Street property is solely dependent on the project becoming affordable housing for our veterans," Grishman added.

VFW Post 1240 Commander Patrick Burke said they are excited for the "prospect" of the project.

"We are early in the process, and look forward to continuing the discussions with the Select Board to ensure that the needs of the VFW and local veterans are fulfilled," Burke said.

After further talks with VFW Post 1240, the Select Board will ask for approval to purchase the land and work with "a housing non-profit to create the veteran housing and services" at Town Meeting in May.

"We have worked very hard over the years to provide veteran support," said Malcom Maloon, a former commander at VFW Post 1240. "I want our VFW Post 1240 to be the envy of all other VFWs operating within Massachusetts. There is much more discussion and action to undertake here, but we have a real chance to make this dream a reality."

The Select Board has proposed that this project be financed using a combination of funding from the American Rescue Protection Act, support from the Swampscott Affordable Housing Trust, and a land payment from a housing non-profit.

"The success of the redevelopment of the Machon Elementary School into 38 units of senior affordable housing was just Swampscott's first act in supporting affordable housing in Swampscott," said Spellios. "The potential collaboration of the Town of Swampscott, VFW Post 1240, and affiliated veteran groups will create a new model that perhaps can be replicated across Massachusetts and beyond."

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