Beverly City Council unanimously approves Briscoe School affordable senior housing redevelopment

BEVERLY — June 29, 2020 — Beverly City Council votes 8-0 to green-light Briscoe School redevelopment into 85 affordable senior units. The council granted a special permit Monday night to Briscoe Village LLC — a partnership of Harbor Light Community Partners and Beacon Communities — authorizing conversion of the former Briscoe Middle School at 7 Sawyer Road into 85 permanently affordable senior apartments, six live-work artist studios, and a restored roughly 500-seat community theater. All 85 age-restricted units will be income-restricted, with 16 units targeted at 30 percent of area median income backed by project-based vouchers and the remainder at 60 percent AMI; affordability is guaranteed in perpetuity at a minimum of 80 percent AMI under the special permit terms. The city has applied for $700,000 in Community Preservation Act funds, $200,000 from its Affordable Housing Trust, and $100,000 in federal HOME funds toward the project. Councilor Dave Flowers recused himself due to his employer's connection with Harbor Light. Construction timing depends on the outcome of a state low-income housing tax credit application the developers plan to file in November 2020.