Affordable Housing on Tap for Endicott Street

More affordable housing is headed to Peabody.

The City Council Thursday unanimously approved a plan to construct a four-unit affordable housing apartment building at 86 Endicott St., and praised the developer for his positive additions to the city.

The new structure will flank an existing single-family home already on the property, which was at one point also home to an eight-family unit that was destroyed by fire. Developer Daniel Terenzoni told the council that he planed to keep the single-family home standing and offer it as affordable housing as well.

All four apartment units will be two-bedroom structures with three parking spaces  per structure, totaling 12 on the lot.

Terenzoni acquired the land from John Brophy, owner of Brophy Plumbing and Heating, who had planned on constructing a similar six-family unit on the land. That plan never came to fruition and he sold the land to Terenzoni in October 2010. Much of the financing for the construction will come from the city’s Community Development Department via affordable housing grants.

“There was originally a six-unit complex proposed there, but that never ended up coming before us,” said Ward 2 Councilor Arthur Athas. “This project looks like it is a good fit for the neighborhood and it is also going to bring in some much needed affordable housing.”

Terenzoni told councilors that, along with being affordable, at least one of the units would be handicapped accessible and feature wheelchair accessible rooms and bathrooms. Councilors and residents alike spoke in favor of the proposed plan and praised Terenzoni, who owns a respected construction company in town.

“Any work that Mr. Terenzoni does is going to be first class,” said resident Rich Medena, who has hired Terenzoni to do work on his own home. “He is a gentleman and a scholar and he is an asset to our community.”

Councilors agreed, complimenting Terenzoni for his work on other properties on Foster and Lowell streets.

“We need more Dan Terenzoni’s in Peabody,” said Councilor-At-Large David Gravel. “Everywhere he touches he turns something ugly into something beautiful.”