The Essex Zoning Commission has unanimously approved the site plan application for HOPE Partnership’s Lofts at Spencer’s Corner, a project that will turn 15 existing condo units into 17 units of 100 percent affordable housing under State Statute 8-30g.

“It was a unanimous approval, so we’re really excited about that,” said HOPE Executive Director Lauren Ashe.

HOPE is a non-profit organization with a goal of providing affordable housing options in the shoreline towns of Middlesex County. It’s working with affordable housing consultant Larry Kleutsch of Point One Architects and Indigo Land Designs on this project.

“[We] want to meet the need of the people in the community, that’s really our focus,” said Ashe. “We’re really trying to keep this close to home. We really want to make sure we’re not only meeting the needs, but that we’re bringing in people that will best meet that need and keep it close to home.”

First Selectman Norman Needleman approved of HOPE’s choice to use local architects and lawyers on the project.

“It’s better when these types of projects are proposed by local people,” said Needleman. “I think it’s so important to call out that HOPE, as an organization, is operated and managed by local people, so when there’s an affordable housing proposed…here you have a locally based entity with board members and people active within it who are local.”

Spencer’s Corner is an existing commercial building in Centerbook that was first built in 1988. There are currently 29 commercial condos, including doctor’s offices, a bakery, two cafés, the Community Music School, and more, at the location.

Since the buildings are individually owned, there are association fees that Ashe said “begin to creep up because of vacancies.”

Since the condominium association first reached out in 2016, HOPE has been working to create a plan that best uses the space.

“I think that it was really wonderful that HOPE opted to look into this possibility and see it through,” said Needleman. “They’ve worked hard for a couple years…A board member approached me a couple years ago and I thought it was a really good idea.”

There will be one three-bedroom, nine two-bedroom, and seven one-bedroom units. The first floor will remain a mix of retail spaces and offices. HOPE will own all of the residential units.

As for the affordable aspect, the maximum allowable family income for this housing will range from $25,000 and $89,000. Rent estimates for 2020 range from $500 to $1,250.

“Affordable in Essex is not necessarily affordable anywhere else,” Needleman observed.

Using 8-30g, a developer is only required to have 30 percent of affordable housing in the project, but HOPE chose to go all in.

“We felt, that as our mission as a nonprofit is really to get as many affordable units as we can, we’re going to be 100 percent affordable,” said Ashe.

Ashe said septic, environmental, and marketing studies have all been completed on site with favorable results. There are construction documents to finish, and HOPE’s engineers have a lot of work to do, but Ashe is hopeful to receive more good news in months to come.

HOPE is funded by Middlesex United Way in part, but it also received a pre-development grant and a loan from the Housing Ministries of New England, an organization that promotes the housing and social needs of low- and moderate-income individuals and families. HOPE has applied to the State Department of Housing funding as well as pre-development funding from Local Initiative Support Corporation, an organization that supports projects that revitalize communities and bring greater economic opportunity to residents.

“Obviously we’re not in a city and we don’t rank that high when it comes to getting a lot of funding, because not everyone sees the need for it,” said Ashe. “We’re fortunate to have these different pockets of funding that believe in our mission and want to see us succeed.”

There was some pushback from Essex residents when the project was first proposed. Ashe said four or five people spoke against the project and wanted to know who was going to be living there, which is something Ashe said HOPE can’t predict. Ashe noted that the tenants will all be people who have an income and are certified and qualified and are able to pay the rent.

After a few meetings support expressed in letters from the Zoning Commission, State Representative Robert Siegrist, and State Senator Art Linares, who all endorsed the project, Ashe said Essex residents began to come around.

“[The] project really struggled to be successful, but the use of top floors for residential versus retail and office down on the first floor is an ideal scenario,” said Needleman. “The whole Spencer’s Corner design has not been successful, but the mixed use is perfect.”

At the second and third Zoning Commission meetings, Ashe said they received no opposition at all from the town.

“We were so, so happy that the town of Essex really understood the need for affordable housing,” said Ashe.

HOPE is looking at breaking ground next summer.