AYER — Thanks to the advocacy of legislators and town officials, long-awaited affordable housing project Ayer Commons, slated for a site on Fitchburg Road, may break ground as soon as next year. The project got a big boost earlier this year when the 2026 Consolidated Appropriations Act was signed into law, with $4 million in federal funds earmarked for the project.
The earmark, sponsored by U.S. Sens. Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren, is good news for both the town of Ayer and the state, given the shortage of affordable housing across Massachusetts.
Being developed by the Massachusetts nonprofit organization Neighborhood of Affordable Housing (NOAH) and its nonprofit developer, Peace Properties, Ayer Commons plans include 64 townhouse-style units in phase one of the project, with a mid-rise building housing 42 rentals and a community room in phase two.
According to NOAH/Peace Properties Executive Director Phil Giffee, the federal funds will “go a long way to filling the gap in financing” for the $40 million construction project, which he anticipates starting in 2007.
“We are extremely grateful to Senator Markey and Senator Warren,” Giffee said. He also noted the town’s key role in moving the project forward. “The Town of Ayer, its elected officials and legislative delegation could not be more supportive,” he said, including technical analyses provided by town departments and their “strong support” for affordable/workforce housing.
In a recent Town of Ayer press release, Sen. Warren highlighted the importance of investing in projects like Ayer Commons, calling the earmark a “major win for affordable housing and infrastructure development” in Massachusetts. She pledged to “keep fighting” for the cause.
Sen. Markey, for his part, highlighted local perks such as affordability, public transportation (via Ayer’s nearby train station) and the project’s makeup, including “townouse-style rental homes” in Ayer’s downtown.
Markey said projects like Ayer Commons can “bring together local communities.,” creating the kind of “vibrancy, accessibility and affordability the community wants and needs.”
In addition, the project has been awarded a $500,000 state grant to fund extension of wastewater utilities to Ayer Commons for the first phase of the two-phase project.
Town Manager Robert Pontbriand said the state grant, in conjunction with Markey and Warren’s “significant efforts” in securing federal funds for Ayer Commons, demonstrates the importance of the “public-public” partnerships they represent. “Victories such as these are testament to the importance of working together for the betterment of our communities,” he said.
A collaborative effort with many moving parts, Ayer Commons has been in a work in process for some time. Assistant Town Manager Carly Antonellis said the Zoning Board approved the project as a 40B a couple of years ago, finally expected to break ground next year. “We’re excited about getting shovels in the ground,” she said.
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