There is now visible progress in the construction of the community-driven affordable housing project at Littleton Drive, and its developer, Pennrose, is thinking about next steps.

The development will include a total of 93 mixed-income apartments — 49 units will be for families and 44 units will be for seniors aged 62 and older. These apartments will be available at 30% to 100% of the Area Median Income.

“There's real progress what's going on there,” said Charles Adams, regional vice president of Pennrose.

As of mid-October, “Five or six of the family buildings are well underway to being framed and some are even close to being closed up. The senior building already has the first three floors framed and they are about to put the roof on it in the month,” Adams said.

He added, “The community building is well underway for construction.”

Although the development is tucked away by Swifts Beach, Adams said Pennrose wants to ensure the Wareham community remains connected with the residents.

The development will include a park with a playground and a number of walking trails in the woods, Adams said.

He said everyone from the community is welcome to come down to Littleton Drive when it opens to use these amenities.

There will also be new sidewalks on Swifts Beach Road and an additional commitment to ensure 75% of the site remains open space, according to Adams.

Adams said Pennrose likes to get invested in the communities it joins and will work with town organizations to connect residents with resources and also to host events and activities in the community rooms.

He added the town has already offered Pennrose “tremendous support” through the project.

Residents of the development will be chosen through a lottery process, “with the goal of giving preference to Wareham residents,” according to Adams.

Adams said it’s a 90-day process, which people will be notified of far in advance. A public meeting will be held in which applications will be drawn at random for each of the units.

He added those who do not get selected will be put on the waitlist, which operate under a first come first served system.

“It feels good to have this project come to a beginning,” Adams said. 

He said it takes so much time to get to construction, but, he jokes, that’s when “the real work begins.” 

Adams said, “I sort of have this childlike enthusiasm every time I do these projects — even though I've been doing for a long time — it's sort of like, wow, we put a team together and they drew something on a piece of paper, literally on a piece of paper, and here it is, coming together.”