Worcester Common Ground - Success Stories

Worcester Common Ground, Inc. - Success Stories

Jason Feifer
CORRESPONDENT
November 25, 2003

WORCESTER - A once-abandoned and ramshackle brick shell on Chandler Street has returned to life as a cradle of homes and commerce.

City officials and business owners gathered yesterday for the unveiling of Worcester Common Ground's latest project, a three-story building at 133 Chandler St. The building now contains five affordable housing units and one storefront, and is part of a series of revitalization projects in the Piedmont neighborhood.

The project included tearing down an adjacent building and replacing it with a parking lot for tenants and customers. The tenants will move in Nov. 1; the storefront space has not been rented yet.

Officials praised the project for its contribution to the city's affordable housing stock. "For people to live productive lives, they need to have a home. They need a stable home," Mayor Timothy P. Murray said. "This is why we're so excited to have groups like Worcester Common Ground. This is what it's all about."

The city has contributed $1.4 million to WCG's projects, according to City Manager Thomas R. Hoover. "If you have a blighted building, the surroundings suffer greatly," said Scott M. Hayman, the city's director of housing. "If you do the opposite, there is evidence that this stimulates more investing and development. That is why the city is willing to devote money to these projects," he said. "There is no negative impact in providing good, safe, stable homes," he said. "People invest, emotionally and financially, in something they can be proud of."

	WGC bought the property from the city in 2001; it secured all necessary funds last April. Construction was finished recently. Before the renovation, the roof was heavily damaged and a skylight was missing. Now, the building holds four two-bedroom apartments and one one-bedroom apartment, each of which is equipped with a washer and dryer. The storefront is 1,000 square feet. The renovation cost $500,000, according to WCG Executive Director and City Councilor Stephen T. Patton. He said the apartments will be rented for around $500 a month. Other WGC projects include the renovation of three houses on Austin Street, which will be sold to first-time homeowners, and renovations of houses on Bancroft and Bluff streets.

Making homeownership possible in the nation's
"least affordable" state

September 17, 2001

José Nieves and Beverly Grandmaison are recent purchasers of a Worcester Common Ground (WCG) community land trust property in the Piedmont section of the city of Worcester, Massachusetts. They couldn't be more excited about being first-time homeowners -- something they never thought would be possible. Through the Institute for Community Economic's (ICE's) work with community land trusts (CLTs) like Worcester Common Ground, lower-income families gain a foothold into homeownership and its many benefits.

The citywide homeownership rate in Worcester is 43%, yet in José and Beverly's Piedmont neighborhood, only 11% of the residents own their own homes. WCG, one of ICE's many Massachusetts partners, is creating a ray of hope for families that are otherwise being priced out of their own neighborhoods. Roughly one third of the city's residents are considered at risk of losing their current housing.

	In addition, nearly half of Worcester's elderly are disabled and lack access to adequate and affordable independent living situations. As community-driven, resident-controlled organizations, CLT's quickly identify and accommodate such special community needs and take them into account in the affordable-housing development process -- which in this case enabled Jose's grandmother to remain at home, making a great difference in the quality of life for the entire family. Through the CLT, José is finding his voice as a homeowner and community member. Today his interest extends far beyond just "getting a house," to broader neighborhood concerns. José is hosting meetings with his new neighbors for an Earth Day cleanup and contacting city officials to repair a stop sign on the corner of his street. Instead of being displaced, Jose is emerging as a leader in his community. ICE receives calls daily from people who want to create CLTs in their communities. The experience of being home -- feeling grounded, safe, and part of a larger community -- is one that far too few people in our country have the opportunity to enjoy. CLTs make this dream a reality. We urgently need your support to meet this growing demand. ICE's partnership with Worcester Common Ground began in 1988 when ICE provided technical assistance to help WCG form, and that assistance continues today: ICE is currently financing two WCG housing projects through its Revolving Loan Fund. WCG has created permanently affordable homes and rentals throughout the city of Worcester. "Without Worcester Common Ground...we would never have been able to afford a home, never mind having a house with a handicapped-accessible apartment that allows José's grandmother to remain at home." -- Beverly Grandmaison, CLT Homeowner