Swampscott Nonprofit Builds Affordable Housing

This article was submitted by Jessica Herrick of the Caleb Foundation.

Swampscott nonprofits, and The Caleb Group,  are nearing halfway completion of Phase III of the former LePage glue factory in Gloucester, building affordable housing at the site.

Caleb officials have pledged to see the Pond View Village project to fruition. 

“We are thrilled to be able to see this important and well-intended housing project through to its completion,” says Debra Nutter, Caleb’s president and CEO. 

The Caleb headquarters are located on Humphrey Street in a refurbished home a quarter-mile from the ocean.

Together with its sister agency, Th the Foundation employs 50 people. The organization develops and manages properties that provide affordable housing for people. 

Caleb received national notice when it opened 40 units of affordable elderly housing at The Olde Woolen Mill in North Berwick, Maine in 2009.

The mill had once been a factory manufacturing Union wool blankets during the Civil War, but in more recent times had been abandoned and fallen into disrepair.

Formerly known as the North Berwick Woolen Mill, the historic renovated property is now home to about 45 seniors. LePage Apartments at Pond View Village is the final piece of the mixed income residential community to be completed. Phase I and II were completed in 2007. 

LePage Apartments will be spacious, affordable family rentals primarily for those earning less than 60% of the area median income. There will be four units set aside for those considered extremely low-income earning 30% of the area median income.

Property amenities include ground floor parking, handicapped accessibility, laundry facilities, access to the community room and a computer learning center. Rents will range from $832 to $1,150 per month, with four units being between $442 and $521 per month.

If you are interested in being placed on the list, please contact Nancy Huffman at nhuffman@thecalebgroup.org or call 781-595-4665. Caleb operates in nearly 2,000 units of affordable housing at 24 locations in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire and Connecticut.

has created and maintained homes for low-income residents since 1992 and provides services and resources to help about 4,000 residents to access essential services to help women, men and children achieve self-sufficiency.

Caleb remains committed to “building community, one spirit at a time.” For more information, visit www.thecalebgroup.org.