FITCHBURG — Local and state officials, project partners, and community members gathered on Nov. 12 for the groundbreaking of the Fitchburg Housing Authority’s new $15 million community-administration center at Green Acres public housing development.
This project is a major component of ABLE — A Better Life Experience — an FHA initiative designed to combine modern public housing facilities with expanded education, employment and economic opportunities for families to turn Green Acres into a workforce housing community. The new center will feature administrative offices, community and educational spaces, before and after school programming, and technology resources.
The project will also return six existing apartments to residential use and FHA and Opportunities for Hope Executive Director Doug Bushman said the site of the upcoming 13,000-square-foot center at 1 Normandy Road, which is expected to be completed in 10 months, is “hallowed ground.”
“As a veteran myself this is a special place,” he said to the crowd that came out for the Thursday afternoon affair.
Bushman said the project aims to address “social and economic issues at Green Acres,” public housing that he relayed has one of the highest unemployment rates in the city.
“There’s so much untapped potential,” he said, citing the benefits of all the resources and services the center will offer including classrooms, before- and after-school childcare for students in kindergarten through sixth grade and a Fitchburg Public Library micro-branch.
“We are beginning something that will have long-lasting effects.”
He thanked all of those involved in the project, including FHA staff and everyone who playing part in “making changes in public housing.”
“You can never accomplish anything by yourself. You have to have a team,” Bushman conveyed.
FHA-OFH Board Chair Adam Goodwin said the entire FHA crew and board members have worked hard to bring the Green Acres project to fruition and as such are “incredibly proud to make this happen.”
He mentioned how instrumental both former and current FHA board members are when it comes to the project’s success and expressed gratitude for their dedicated efforts.
“I want to be mindful of the people who laid the groundwork,” Goodwin imparted.
Dietz & Co. principal Lee Morrissette said the Green Acres community-administration center will serve as “a resource for the entire city” and noted, “that’s why we are all here, to see something really great happening.”
He pointed out that the design of the building includes a roof slant in the front that is purposeful and represents “a tipping of the hat to those who came before and those to come.”
Bushman gave a shout-out to FHA Executive Assistant Yadira Colon, who organized the groundbreaking event and had the foresight to order a heated tent for the day, which ended up being cold and rainy.
Bushman then invited Beth Walsh, a city councilor and the constituent service director for state Sen. John Cronin, D-Fitchburg, up to say a few words.
“It’s amazing,” she said of the large-scale community project. “This is giving them a life they can enjoy.”
Bushman said FHA Director of Modernization & Development Jordan Hughes “picked up the ball and is moving forward” and joked about Hughes sneaking in a basketball court into the project specifics. Hughes, who became a father the night before the groundbreaking, said when he was holding his newborn daughter something struck him.
“I really sat with my thoughts,” he said, adding that the Green Acres community-administration center “is impacting not just ourselves,” but “generations to come.”
“This represents something so much bigger,” said Hughes, who called the center “a community anchor … tying together this side of Fitchburg.”
“It’s a beautiful thing.”
Bushman said he is “extremely proud of our team” and thanked the FHA maintenance crew for transporting people to the groundbreaking. He also thanked Fitchburg Mayor Sam Squailia, City of Fitchburg Community Development & Planning Executive Director Liz Murphy, and other city staff for their guidance and providing $275,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding for project.
“It was a great city collaboration,” Bushman said.
Before Squailia spoke, Deputy Chief Engagement Officer for the Massachusetts Executive Office of Veterans Services Nicholas Charrette divulged that he had been all over the state in recent days “making sure we are honoring veterans.” He continued by saying that “proper housing” like Green Acres and Canton Valley “are key,” and that the new community-administration center will help residents be able to pursue education, employment, and other life changing opportunities.
Squailia observed being able to see both Canton Valley and Green Acres from the groundbreaking site and pointed out that the affordable housing developments have been a part of the city fabric for generations, from housing veterans to families and more. She said the new Green Acres community-administration center will provide a variety of services “together in one location” as well as “community support.”
Squailia praised Bushman for his “vision and commitment to making this happen” and recognized Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, the many community partners, and everyone involved in the Green Acres project for “investing in our city … [and] building a stronger Fitchburg.”
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