Wareham officials celebrate new affordable housing unit at Agawam Village

Four years and $70,000 later, a new affordable housing unit is available at Agawam Village.

On Wednesday, Sept. 19, state and local officials celebrated the opening of a recently overhauled apartment, which had been used as an office for the affordable housing complex starting 20 years ago.

Wareham Housing Authority Chair Bob Powalitas noted the space was originally an affordable housing unit.

“It never should have been taken as an office,” said Powalitas. “That’s one more additional unit of affordable housing that could have been available.”

With the new apartment, Agawam Village now offers 40 affordable units for rent. State Representative Susan Williams Gifford (R-Wareham) applauded the opening.

“Affordable housing is at a premium in Wareham,” said Gifford. “Many people like veterans and those with disabilities have a great need for affordable housing and projects such as this help meet that need.”

The apartment was renovated with $70,000 of Community Preservation Act funds, approved at Spring Town Meeting in 2014. The Community Preservation Committee allocates funds every year for a variety of community projects. Each year, the committee allocates money through the state’s Community Preservation Act in four categories: open space, historic preservation, affordable housing and recreation. The money is raised through a surcharge on property tax bills. The state then matches a percentage of the town-raised money. Funds must be approved at Town Meeting.

Current Community Preservation Committee member Sandy Slavin and former committee member Angela Dunham were on hand for the ceremony.

Both offered thanks to the people who helped bring the project forward. 

“Voters at Town Meeting approved the funds that made this beautiful little unit possible,” said Slavin.

Dunham said while the process was lengthy, it was worth the wait.

“To everyone who persevered to make this a reality, I thank each and every one of you,” she said.