HAMILTON — Construction begins this week on Firehouse Place, an affordable-housing project years in the making.
The project, an undertaking of the Beverly-based nonprofit Harborlight Community Partners, will redevelop the building at 69 Willow St., creating an updated space for the Acord Food Pantry, as well as four one-bedroom apartments.
Called a "dream come true" by many at the project's groundbreaking ceremony yesterday morning, Firehouse Place will be the first affordable-housing project in Hamilton supported by Community Preservation Act funds.
Construction is expected to take 18 to 20 weeks, with residents moving into the new apartments this fall, said Carol Suleski, Harborlight president.
During construction, Acord Food Pantry will operate out of the former library building at 299 Bay Road.
"We will be realizing a dream for all of us when this happens," Suleski told the more than 30 people at yesterday's groundbreaking.
The contractor for the project is Martins Construction Co., whose vice president is Molly Martins, chairwoman of the Wenham Board of Selectmen.
Acord, which has provided food for residents of Hamilton, Wenham, Ipswich, Topsfield, Essex and Manchester-by-the-Sea since 1991, will have a renovated space on the first floor, with a new side access door.
One handicapped-accessible apartment will be located on the first floor, and three one-bedroom apartments will be on the second floor.
The building's footprint will remain the same.
The property will have no on-site parking; Harborlight has secured one street parking space and three spaces nearby at the Black Cow for Firehouse Place tenants.
The project's name, Firehouse Place, pays homage to the building's original use as a fire station. Located in downtown Hamilton, the building is a stone's throw from the Hamilton-Wenham library and commuter rail train station.
"This building has a lot of karma to it," state Rep. Brad Hill said.
Years in the making
Wheels were set in motion for this project in 2008, when owners of the Acord building began looking to sell. Concerned about having to relocate, Acord leaders met with Andrew DeFranza, executive director at Harborlight.
The nonprofit Harborlight has developed several North Shore low-income and elderly housing projects, including in Beverly and Ipswich.
"We always worried what would happen if the building was sold," said Anne Marie Cullen, co-president of Acord. "This project is a dream come true."
Harborlight purchased the Acord building in the summer of 2009, and then plans for Firehouse Place made their way through town boards. In June 2010, the project received a $475,000 grant from the state Department of Housing and Community Development, enabling Harborlight to seek bids.
Last October, Town Meeting approved an affordable housing deed restriction for the property.
Hill called the project a perfect example of what is intended by the Community Preservation Act.
Selectman David Carey, who worked closely with Hill and others to bring the project to fruition, called Firehouse Place the "deal of the century for Hamilton."
Staff writer Bethany Bray can be reached at bbray@salemnews.com and on Twitter @SNewsBethany.
Firehouse Place
69 Willow St., Hamilton
First-floor space for food pantry
Handicapped-accessible, one-bedroom apartment on first floor
Three one-bedroom apartments on second floor
For details on the project, visit harborlightcp.org, call 978-922-1305 or email dfay@harborlightcp.org
Acord Food Pantry
Relocated during construction to 299 Bay Road (the former library)
Open Wednesdays, 6:30 to 8 p.m., and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to noon
Park in the Police/Fire Department parking lot and use the rear door
For more information, call 978-468-7424 or visit acordfoodpantry.org
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