Read more about the article 133 Chandler Street

133 Chandler Street

This previously abandoned "turn of the century" brick apartment building was acquired by WCG and completed in the spring of 2003. It provides five units of rental housing consisting of four two-bedroom units and a one-bedroom unit in addition to 1000 square feet of retail space for a local vendor. The construction included parking, as well as porches and green space in the rear of the property for the tenants. This vital project helped to establish a balance between the residential character of the Austin Street neighborhood and the commercial uses along Chandler Street.

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Read more about the article 98-102 Austin Street, Worcester

98-102 Austin Street, Worcester

These properties are located within the Crown Hill Historic District, an area that was the focus of substantial neighborhood revitalization efforts starting in 1999. The property at 98 Austin had been abandoned and gutted. It is known by local historians as the Amos White house. In more recent times, it passed through the hands of multiple owners. With their troubled past, both buildings were the focus of many local agencies including the Crown Hill Neighborhood Association, The Austin Street Initiative, Preservation Worcester, City of Worcester Health and Code, City of Worcester Fire Department, City of Worcester Police Department, Worcester Common Ground, Inc. and many concerned individuals. It was also listed on the City of Worcester's Ten-Priority Properties List. Thanks to the support of the Massachusetts Housing Partnership Fund, WCG acquired the two abandoned and distressed properties, and began construction in the winter of 2001. The project was completed in the spring of 2003 and provided nine units of rental housing that were affordable to low income households, including parking for the tenants located across the street at 101 Austin.

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Read more about the article 161 Austin Street, Worcester
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161 Austin Street, Worcester

161 Austin Street was foreclosure property acquired by Worcester Common Ground (WCG) during the housing crisis, which was rehabilitated using NSP and CDBG funds. Completed in 2010, 161 Austin’s rehab was unusual for WCG, due both to the building’s distinct architectural properties and the flexibility of the funding, which allowed for rapid turnaround of this stand-alone, single-property project. Because the organization was not obligated to package a number of properties (generally, funders require a minimum of 20 units to invest in a project), WCG was able to identify funding, purchase and rehabilitate in just under two years. While a triple-decker, the house doesn’t conform to the style commonly associated with these types of homes; 161’s sloped third floor is unique amongst WCG’s portfolio of flat-roofed, three-family properties. The identification of a First Time Homebuyer was also relatively quick, and homeowner Jeffrey Ortiz has since become an integral part of WCG’s governance, serving on the board and chairing the organization’s Community Committee.

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