Housing at former Durfee Tech in line for state funding

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FALL RIVER — The planned conversion of the former Durfee Tech building into a new housing complex called Creative Class Lofts was one of 11 projects across the state Gov. Charlie Baker has announced will receive a portion of $44.7 million worth of state subsidy funding.

As many of the developments receiving money from the state have yet to close on the financing they need to move forward, the exact dollar amounts each project will get from the Department of Housing and Community Development have yet to be determined. However, state officials point to Baker’s announcement as representing a “significant” investment in each project.

Being designated as one of the projects DHCD is backing also serves as an important stamp of approval for developers still seeking funding from other sources.

The money Creative Class Lofts will receive, according to a statement from Baker’s office, is combined with $1.9 million in local funding going toward the project, which plans to convert the former school into 55 units of housing.

“We have invested more than $1 billion in the affordable housing ecosystem, created new programs to encourage development, and filed legislation to update zoning laws to promote equity and opportunity for all residents,” said Baker. “Today’s awards will advance the production of hundreds of new rental units for families, seniors and households transitioning out of homelessness.”

In addition to the $44.7 million being kicked in by DHCD, Creative Class Lofts will also likely receive a portion of $16 million in state and federal low-income housing tax credits being made available to the 11 developments listed in Baker’s announcement.

Of Creative Class Lofts’ 55 housing units, 11 will be designated as affordable to individuals or families earning less than 80% of area median income. In an interview with The Herald News last February, Alan Macomber, the developer behind the project, said many of the units would be intended for local artists.

Macomber has also said the finished building will feature 15,000 to 20,000 square feet of what he described as “business innovation and arts space,” which would likely include studios for resident artists, a business incubator and a fitness area.

Early last year, Macomber estimated the project would likely cost over $18 million to complete.

Built roughly 115 years ago, the building located at 64 Durfee St. began as Bradford Durfee Textile School. It was later renamed Bradford Durfee Technical Institute, more commonly referred to as Durfee Tech.

The property has been unoccupied for almost 20 years, the last half of which have seen various efforts to renovate the building. The former school was purchased by Peabody Property in 2009 with a plan to build housing that eventually stalled. The property was then purchased by a Providence-based developer before being purchased by Macomber in 2017.

Prior to his involvement with Durfee Tech, Macomber had served as one of the developers behind the Davol Street housing and commercial property known as Commonwealth Landing.

Cliftex Phase II, a planned renovation of the former Cliftex mill in New Bedford, was also listed as one of the 11 projects to receive funding. According to Baker’s press release, the project will create 71 housing units for seniors, 56 of which will be affordable to seniors earning less than 60% of the area median income. Another eight units will be restricted for seniors earning less than 30% of the area median income.