Frequently Asked Questions
When was this project approved?
This project was approved by the Town of Swampscott Zoning Board of Appeals in June 2022 after going through the 40B Permitting Process. Information from the permitting process can be found here: https://www.swampscottma.gov/community-and-economic-development/pages/elm-place
Who are the companies involved in this?
WinnCompanies of Boston is the owner and its affiliate, WinnDevelopment, is the developer. Cranshaw Construction of Newton is the general contractor. The Architectural Team of Chelsea is the architect. Once the project is completed, the new apartment community will be managed by WinnResidential.
When will it be completed? When will people move in?
Completion is expected in March 2025. Occupancy is expected in June 2025.
What are the income restrictions that residents will need to meet?
Forty percent (40%) of the apartments would be set aside as affordable housing based on Area Median Income (AMI), while 60% of the units would be rented to middle income and market rate residents.
How does this community impact Swampscott's subsidized housing inventory?
While only 40% of the apartments created by this project will be traditional affordable housing units, all 114 units in this development will count as subsidized housing inventory for the Town.
Will the building adhere to all codes and regulations as far as fire safety and access?
The building will have state-of-the-art fire detection, protection and suppression systems, all of which have been approved by the Swampscott Fire Department as part of the building permit process.
Will the new building be handicapped accessible?
Yes. This will be a fully accessible building under federal, state and local codes. A minimum of 5% of the apartments will be fully ADA accessible and 2% of them will be accessible for the visually or hearing impaired. All common areas will be fully accessible as well, including parking lots, vending machines, drinking fountains, corridors and elevators.
Where will the HVAC system for the building be located?
Each apartment will have its own HVAC system, rather than a large central heating and cooling plant. There will be minimal noise impact for neighbors and the small condensing units will have very little visual impact for neighbors. The condensing units are approximately 2-feet tall and 3-feet wide and will be distributed across the center of the roofline.
What are the environmental aspects of this building?
This building will be Passive House certified, which is the most rigorous high-performance green building standard in the world. As a Passive House building, it will use significantly less energy than typical buildings while creating a super comfortable and healthy indoor air environment. Specific building features will include triple-glazed European windows, high-efficiency heat pumps for heating and cooling, energy recovery ventilation systems, robust exterior wall insulation, LED lighting and ENERGY STAR appliances. The building will also utilize low-flow plumbing fixtures to help conserve water usage on the property. New EV charging stations will also be available for residents to charge their electric vehicles.
Can you describe the parking arrangements for the proposed property?
In total, there will be 131 parking spaces reserved for residents of the apartment community, with 50 of those spaces located in a garage at the rear of the property. There will be 11 parking spaces along Pittman Road, of which five will be dedicated parking for residents. A parking site plan can be found in the Gallery of this web site.
How will this impact traffic?
A traffic study conducted by industry leaders Vanasse & Associates concluded that this project will not create safety issues or have a significant impact on traffic delays or vehicle queuing in the present or the future. The study monitored Burrill Street, Pitman Road, Essex Street, Burpee Road and Elm Place during weekdays from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. to capture peak rush hour conditions. The results were adjusted to mirror pre-pandemic traffic conditions and extrapolated over a period of seven years, factoring in traffic from this project and the expected growth of the Town. Traffic coming out of and into Hillcrest Circle was accounted for by studying Essex Street traffic.
Where would the rail trail connection be located?
There are currently no plans from the Town of Swampscott that show the Rail Trail getting extended from Stetson Avenue across the railroad tracks. However, in the event that segment gets planned, designed, funded and approved in the future, the developer has agreed to provide an easement to the Town to accommodate a landing space for crossing the railroad tracks - either underground, above ground, or at grade crossing. For the most up-to-date information regarding the Rail Trail, please visit the Town’s website at: https://www.swampscottma.gov/community-and-economic-development/pages/swampscott-rail-trail.
What will be done to limit noise from construction and from the new apartment building?
The project will adhere to all noise-related rules and regulations in the Town of Swampscott. Cranshaw Construction, based in Newton, is the general contractor managing the construction activities of this housing development. Construction would be conducted between typical work hours. Cranshaw will prepare a construction staging and management plan and will comply with the noise and hours of operation regulations of the Town. WinnCompanies will closely monitor the general contractor and construction company to make sure all noise mitigation measures are strictly monitored. Once the project is complete, WinnResidential's on-site management team will monitor and regulate noise strictly in the interests of the building's residents and neighbors. WinnCompanies is a long-term owner and operator and is committed to managing the property in a responsible way as a good neighbor.
How will the new apartment community promote the use of mass transit to reduce vehicles use?
WinnResidential will encourage the use of mass transit and sustainable transportation as much as possible. to accomplish this, a variety of transit-oriented amenities and features will be offered, including MBTA passes, limiting each household to one parking spot, installing a transit screen to show the status of MBTA commuter options, creating indoor and outdoor bicycle storage areas, and offering shared rental bikes, shared rental cars, and shuttle services.