Property Donated To Town Will Become Affordable Housing

CHATHAM – A single-family home on George Ryder Road will be redeveloped as affordable housing as the late owner requested when donating the parcel to the town. 

 The 10,87-square-foot property at 63 George Ryder Rd. was bequeathed to the town by the late Patricia Ford, an advocate for housing and the disabled. It was accepted by town meeting last May. In her will, Mrs. Ford wanted the property dedicated for affordable housing at the direction of the select board.

 At its Sept. 29 meeting, the board heard three alternatives for fulfilling Mrs. Ford’s wishes. According to Housing and Sustainability Director Gloria McPherson, the options include retaining the property and either renovating the existing home or demolishing it and building a new house deed restricted as affordable; selling the property for redevelopment by another entity as a deed-restriction affordable home; or selling the property and using the proceeds for affordable housing purposes at another location.

 The town’s affordable housing trust and community housing partnership endorsed using the property itself for affordable housing rather than selling it.

 “I have zero interest in selling the property,” said board vice chair Cory Metters. Neither did any other member of the board. 

 McPherson said the existing house is not salvageable, so if the town kept the property it would either have to renovate the building or demolish it and build a new house. The property also has a $48,862 MassHealth lien on it, which would become its responsibility if it retains the land. 

The town overseeing such a project would be costly, since it has to follow state prevailing wage laws, McPherson said. Member Stuart Smith suggested that staff look into donating the property to Habitat for Humanity. The town can’t do that directly, McPherson said, due to procurement laws, and would have to put out a request for developers or builders to submit proposals to construct an affordable house on the property. But she added that Habitat for Humanity is likely to respond to such a request.

“This is the perfect lot for a Habitat house,” she said.

Board members agreed that a proposal should seek construction of one single-family, three-bedroom house rather than multiple units so as “not to overwhelm” the neighborhood, Smith said.

Board members also supported putting the property under the jurisdiction of the affordable housing trust, which has funds available to pay the lien. The trust could also oversee the process of finding a developer for the parcel. 

The board voted unanimously to assign the property to the trust and to issue a request for proposals to develop it as an affordable home.