The White Pines Motel has been razed, and residents may see affordable housing units built in its place.

While the project is just getting rolling, Bob Minichielli, who represents the Community Development & Mortgage Alliance Corporation, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization, is in the process of negotiating the sale of the property with the current owner, Bill Roberts of Guy Prestige Properties LLC., which purchased the property last June after it was foreclosed upon, according to a clerk in the Assessors office.

Minichielli said the intention is to build 100% affordable housing, which would provide housing to moderate- and low-income residents.

The orginization was involved in a 40B project on Locust Street in Onset and, according to Minichielli, currently has another 40B project in the works that was initially denied by the Zoning Board of Appeals. He is in the process of appealing the denial, which would create four affordable, single-family homes on Glen Charlie Road.

Plans to demolish the White Pines, located at 3137 Cranberry Highway in East Wareham, had been brewing for awhile, and according to Minichielli, Roberts had been awaiting approval from the Historical Commission.

Wareham Week could not immediately reach Roberts, who Minichielli said would rather not speak to the media at this time.

“We’d like to provide some affordable rental housing there for different factions of people in conjunction with the [Wareham] Housing Authority,” said Minichielli. “We’ve got a little ways to go to get there,” he said, noting that he has yet to go before the Board of Selectmen or the Zoning Board of Appeals to discuss his plans.

"We’re going to start proceeding with the town after the first of the year," said Minichielli, adding that Roberts would likely stay in possession of the property for the near future.

“I would say we’re looking at about a year to get all the ducks in a row and get everything together,” he said, adding that he is also planning to coordinate with the Wareham Area Committee for the Homeless, a local nonprofit organization that provides services to low-income residents and the homeless.

The White Pines Motel has a history of being a den of criminal activity. The motel was shuttered in January of 2011, shortly after two men were stabbed to death at the property, after allegedly trying to rob a third man who was staying at the motel.

After the deaths, it was revealed that then owner, John D’Italia, did not have a valid license to operate the motel. D’Italia also owed the town $65,000 in taxes.

According to the Treasurer/Collector’s office, the tax lien was paid off in May 2012. At that time, the lien stood at $76,553.64 due to accrued interest.

According to Minichielli, Roberts is responsible for paying the lien, and for knocking down the motel.

To say the building was an eyesore would be an understatement. Although the front of the main building had a relatively new paint job – a remnant of the unfinished renovations by the previous owner – utter decay was right around the corner.

Mattresses were stacked high out back, along with toys, clothing, dishes, and other reminders that the boarded building was once a place people called home. Windows were shattered, boards meant to keep people out were ripped off, and racist and profane graffiti was sprayed on the building.

Minichielli said the goal is to build a place where everyone from seniors on fixed incomes to young families can find a clean and affordable place to live.

“I’m sure something like this could be a socioeconomic benefit to the community,” said Minichielli.

Minichielli acknowledged that there is a certain stigma associated with affordable housing. Namely, that it attracts undesirable people to an area. According to Minichielli, “that’s just not a reality. If you have some young family living in a hotel because they ran into hard times, they’re not bad people.”

He pointed out that worrying about attracting people from outside of Wareham who are in need of affordable housing makes little sense, because there are already people in Wareham who need affordable units to rent.

“They’re already here,” said Minichielli. “What would be the difference if you moved them from a lousy environment -- especially young children -- into a better environment?”