Ribbon Cutting Senior/Assisted Living

AHSC Celebrates Grand Opening at Walker School Apartments

Photo credit: Brian Malloy Photo

Tauton, MA – Affordable Housing and Services Collaborative, Inc. celebrated the opening of the Walker School Apartments, located at 135 Berkley St. in Taunton, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony held on Oct. 26.

Back row (l-r): Rob Charest, senior VP, Boston Financial; City Councilor John McCaul; and City Councilor David Pottier.
Middle row (l-r): Mike Kennealy, Chrystal Kornegay, Norman Orrall, and Tom Hoye.
Front row (l-r): Colleen Doherty, executive director, Taunton Housing Authority; Michael Mattos, executive director, Affordable Housing and Services Collaborative; Karyn Polito; Shaunna O’Connell; Marc Pacheco; and Carol Doherty.

The brand new 40-unit apartment community is the former site of the long-vacant Walker School and is now home to seniors 62 and older and non-elderly disabled individuals.  Residents began moving in in September and by the end of November, the community is expected to reach full occupancy.

A  collaboration of funding sources and organizations came together to support the project, which included redevelopment of the vacant former school into 40 new one-bedroom apartments, 16 apartments in the original school building plus an addition containing 24 apartments. All apartment homes have income qualifications and rent restrictions to provide affordability.  Braintree-based Peabody Properties is managing the community.

Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito attended the event and spoke about the importance of affordable housing and lauded the collaboration of agencies, organizations, and individuals that worked together to bring this new community to fruition.  Massachusetts Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Mike Kennealy, MassHousing Executive Director Chrystal Kornegay, Taunton Mayor Shaunna O’Connell, State Senator Marc Pacheco, State Representatives Carol Doherty and Normal Orrall, Registrar of Probate (and former mayor of Taunton) Tom Hoye, and Rob Charest of Boston Financial also contributed remarks to the program.  Tours of Walker School Apartments were offered following the ceremony.