Templeton’s first multi-family housing project in decades adds $750K in funding from MassDevelopment

December 18, 2023 : Worcester Business Journal, Eric Casey

The Baldwinville School Apartments, a multi-family housing project bringing 54 rental units to the former site of a Templeton elementary school, has received $750,000 in funding from the MassDevelopment’s Underutilized Properties Program.

The project, which is being led by Milton-based MPZ Development and Newton-based  Capstone Communities, has now received a cumulative total of $1.92 million, according to a press release issued by Boston-based public relations firm Benchmark Strategies on Tuesday.

“The Underutilized Properties Program helps developers, nonprofit partners, and municipalities advance important projects that address housing shortages, eliminate blight, and stimulate local economies,” Yvonne Hao, Massachusetts economic development secretary, said in the release. “We’re thrilled this grant will unlock the economic potential of the historic Baldwinville Elementary School and boost housing production in Templeton.”

The Baldwinville School Apartments will be the first multi-family housing project permitted in Templeton in the last 25 years and is expected to be completed in 2025. Of the 54 rental units, 49 will be designated as affordable housing, according to the project’s website.

MassDevelopment’s Underutilized Properties Program seeks to support the development of underutilized, vacant, or abandoned properties to increase housing production and support economic development.

“This partnership between Templeton and MPZ Development with Capstone Communities is already generating excitement and hope in our small community,” Michael Currie, chair of the Templeton Select Board, said in the release. “It has already proven to be successful in revitalization of our municipal structures for re-use; this affordable housing project strengthens our pursuit of wisely using tax-payer resources for maximum effort.”

The Baldwinville School Apartments were one of several area projects to receive UPP funding in 2023; Boston-based WinnDevlopment’s redevelopment of the former Boys Club property in Worcester received $900,000 from MassDevelopment this year, while the redevelopment of the former site of Table Talk Pies’ Worcester factory into apartments received $400,000.