HAVERHILL — Haverhill, along with five other Gateway Cities in the state, will share a combined $15 million from the Housing Development Incentive Program (HDIP).
On Monday, Gov. Maura Healey kicked off the program’s first round of funding in 2025, which will fuel the creation of 829 new homes.
Healey made the announcement alongside the state’s Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus in Revere — another municipality receiving support for a major housing project.
Haverhill’s District Square project, sponsored by Lupoli Companies, was awarded $3 million for 124 new market-rate units. It’s one of the first phases in the $160 million transformation of the downtown corridor, led by developer Salvatore Lupoli.
“The Lupoli Companies’ mixed-use project, which we’ve been calling the Merrimack Street Redevelopment Project, is the largest redevelopment in the city’s history,” Haverhill Mayor Melinda Barrett said.
“It adds almost 400 market-rate housing units to our downtown, starting with 124 in the first phase. This transformative project in our Riverfront Zoning Overlay area not only undoes the negative historic effects of Urban Renewal, but it also serves as an investment in our MBTA Communities compliant district while encouraging additional economic development.”
Earlier this month, Lupoli Companies’ Senior Vice President of Real Estate and Development Morgan Pierson brought images and renderings to Haverhill City Council, detailing where exactly these funds will go.
As the developer nears the finish line on a 600-space parking garage, the construction of “Building 2,” is on deck for the developer. This building will include the awarded 124 residential units, a food hall, a pool, sun deck, and other amenities, and will sit adjacent to the garage.
The Merrimack Street Redevelopment Project will install more than 50,000 square feet of retail space alongside the hundreds of affordable housing units for future residents of downtown Haverhill.
Other awardees included the Bedford Street Lofts in Fall River, receiving $2.5 million for 52 units; 533 Main Street in Fitchburg, receiving $1 million for 17 units; 484 Merrimack in Lowell, receiving $1.3 million for 24 units; Portico 1 and 2 in Revere, receiving $5 million for 473 units; and 17 Pearl in Worcester, receiving $2 million for 139 units.
“These HDIP awards are a powerful tool in helping our Gateway Cities create housing and revitalize our downtowns, neighborhoods and underutilized properties,” Healey said.
“Our expansion of the HDIP program under my tax cuts package has played a critical role in driving the nearly 100,000 new homes that have been built or are under development since we took office. These awards are helping communities build the housing they need, supporting local economies and ultimately making housing more affordable and attainable for everyone.”
The announcement follows the year anniversary of Healey signing the Affordable Homes Act, which authorized $5.16 billion in spending to counter rising housing costs. The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) stated that more than 90,000 new homes have been built or are in development since Healey took office.
Her administration has driven a series of initiatives to boost housing production such as the MBTA Communities Law, which Barrett referenced. The law requires cities with or near transit stations to allow for the development of multi-family housing.
Determined by EOHLC in January, Haverhill is in compliance with the MBTA zoning mandate, and the added $3 million will only help the city exceed the requirements.