CDC, Monty Tech ready to build another home together

Ground breaking at Cleveland St. Friday

By Owen Boss

GARDNER — The latest collaborative project between the Community Development Corp. and Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School to develop homeownership opportunities for income-qualified families will kick off Friday with a ground breaking ceremony at 84 Cleveland St. Representatives from the corporation, the city of Gardner, Montachusett Regional Vocation Technical School and Colonial Co-operative Bank will be on-site to hand over the currently vacant lot to two teams of building instructors and students of Monty Tech, who are ready to construct the duplex during the 2008-2009 school year. The latest development marks the sixth collaborative effort between the CDC and the school, and the fourth collaborative project to be based within the city of Gardner. According to James Cruickshank, executive director of the CDC, the condominium units will be sold to income-eligible, first-time buyers who have completed the CDC’s first-time homebuyer education course or an approved substitute. “The properties will carry deed riders, restricting its resale, so they remain income-eligible for first-time homebuyers in the event the original buyers must sell at some point in the future,” said Mr. Cruickshank. In order to qualify as a first-time homebuyer, residents must fit certain requirements, including not having owned a house for three years, having previously owned a house but are buying on their own for the first time or those whose household includes at least one member 55 or older. According to Monty Tech Superintendent James Culkeen, the collaboration between institutions is a win-win situation for both the city and the programs because the transformation of vacant, unproductive lots into safe, quality ownership opportunities positively impacts the surrounding neighborhoods and increases municipal revenues. “This provides not only an opportunity to apply the skills and knowledge gained in the classrooms in a real-life construction project, but for students to contribute to the development of the very communities and neighborhoods where they live,” said Mr. Culkeen. Anyone interested in houses the CDC is building should contact the CDC immediately. Free first-time homebuyer orientations are scheduled throughout this month and in November followed by a certified courses beginning in early November and December. For more information, call the homebuyer counselor, Patricia Connors, at 978-630-2975. oboss@thegardnernews.com

Appeared on Page 1 on 10/14/2008 (Vol. 206 No. 243)