Thirty-six seniors on the waiting list for affordable housing in Marion have just moved a lot closer to having an affordable rental unit to call their own.
    Gov. Devall Patrick announced on Jan. 8 that Marion’s Little Neck Village is among 26 projects which will benefit from $153.9 million in resources leveraged from various affordable housing programs, American Recovery and Reinvestment funds, and private investment support.
    Funds made available for Little Neck Village will make possible the demolition of 12 aged existing units of senior housing and the construction of 48 new units. Demolition of the current units will not take place until the first phase of construction is completed, allowing current residents to remain on-site.
    Both consultant Dick Heaton (H&H Associates/LLP Bolton) and Dana Angelo (senior project manager for developer EA Fish) attributed Little Neck’s successful progression through planning stages and assignment of funding to the overwhelming support given the proposal by Marion’s town government and residents, as well as congressman Barney Frank, state senator Marc Pacheco and Rep. Bill Strauss.
    "This is very representative of a community getting behind an idea and making it happen," Angelo said.
    According to Heaton, approval of Little Neck for funding was based upon a ranking system for which points were given. Among the many aspects considered were financial, environmental and community support issues and market demand.