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Oriole Landing in Lincoln: CPA Allowing Investment into Community Housing

Posted on: April 15, 2021 - 5:29pm
Oriole Landing in Lincoln: CPA Allowing Investment into Community Housing

Written by Chase Mack

For many CPA communities, especially those in suburban or rural areas, affordable housing can be a difficult CPA category to fund. But in the town of Lincoln, a public-private partnership has resulted in a huge win in both the community housing and historic preservation categories of CPA. And the development was structured with an unusual approach - a loan of CPA housing funds to the developer, all facilitated by the Lincoln Affordable Housing Trust.

Ribbon Cutting - Photo by Allen Vander MeulenLincoln established their Affordable Housing Trust in 2005 and was among the first CPA communities to recommended transfers of CPA funding to a Trust, subject to a grant agreement. So when the mixed-income 60-unit Oriole Landing complex was proposed to Town Meeting in 2018, one of the integral aspects of the plan was a $1 million loan of CPA funds held within the Affordable Housing Trust. This funding would ensure that 15 of the units would be permanently deed-restricted as affordable, and all 60 units would be included on the Subsidized Housing Inventory. A peer review of the project from an outside consulting group found that this allocation of CPA funding was financially necessary for the developers to be able to complete the project.

Dexter C. Harris FarmhouseOriole Landing was designed to not only meet the town’s affordable housing requirements, but there was an intentional effort to connect the development to Lincoln’s local character. The developers for the project created an online forum for residents to ask questions and provide feedback throughout the planning process, which resulted in a finished product that reflects both Lincoln’s rural roots and particular housing needs. Each unit was designed with the elements of a New England-style farmhouse, and a community garden was included to allow residents a communal outdoor activity.

Additionally, the historic Dexter C. Harris farmhouse that was located on the original Oriole Farm property was preserved and repurposed as a “community barn,” meant for gatherings, classes, and a fitness space. The handsome home was constructed in 1873 and completely refurbished by the developer.

Andrew Consigli, the managing partner for the development, commended the town for investing in the Oriole Landing project, stating that “it’s a testament to the Town of Lincoln and their proactive approach to providing housing for all income levels.” Without the years of commitment to support their local Affordable Housing Trust, Lincoln couldn’t have created this beautiful new neighborhood—and without their local Community Preservation Act program, these investments in local housing would not have been possible at all.

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Oriole Landing in Lincoln - Photo by Allen Vander Meulen