WHAV.net – August 12, 2026
The Haverhill City Council Tuesday granted a special permit to Essex County Habitat for Humanity to convert a single-family home on upper Washington Street into three affordable homeowner units and add two duplex units to be sold to low-income residents.
Members also approved a private developer’s plans to replace a dilapidated single-family home on the Merrimack River with three condominiums.
The city blessed the seven-unit, Washington Street, project last year when the Community Development Department approved $250,000 from the city’s federal HOME grant allocation towards the purchase. Community Development Division Director Andrew K. Herlihy endorsed the project.
“I don’t come up here for every housing project, but I’m proud of this project. This project represents exactly the type of housing that we need. It is also some of most extraordinarily difficult for us to get, which is affordable homeownership opportunities,” Herlihy said.
Caitlin Masys, a lawyer for the nonprofit developer, explained both a deed restriction and a clause in condominium documents will prevent future homeowners from being able to re-sell the units at market rate.
“The first-time homebuyers who come in and buy these units, they will be able to sell, but it will be capped in terms of profit. So, it’s not like one person can come in and buy the unit at an affordable rate and then three years later decide they want to sell it, put it on the market and sell it for market rate. The units will be reserved strictly for people who qualify for affordable housing,” Masys assured councilors.
Kevin Hudson, head of development for Habitat, told WHAV after the meeting he anticipates groundbreaking this fall.
As WHAV reported previously, the project became a reality when the original owner of the property at 512 Washington St., Keith Boucher, not only decided to sell his property to Habitat at lower than market rates, he also committed to helping Habitat find money for the project. A member of the housing advocacy group, Haverhill Homes 4 All and co-founder of Make It Haverhill, Boucher called on fifth generation Fantini Bakery owners Joe and Robert Fantini. Fantini donated $100,000 towards the eventual $3.2 million estimated cost of the project.
Hudson said Habitat raised $1.45 million towards its $1.6 million fundraising goal. The North Shore Home Consortium has pledged $350,000 and Cedar’s Foods and Charlesbank Home Foundation each pledged $100,000. Other donors include the Federal Home Loan Bank with $420,000; George C. Wadleigh Foundation and the Stevens Foundation, each with $30,000; and the Edward S. and Winifred G. Mosley Foundation and Northeast Community Savings Bank, with $25,000 each.
The Washington Street project is Habitat’s third in the city. It is currently marketing the second unit of a duplex built last year on Curtis Street.