The Board of the Acton Housing Authority (AHA) has announced that McManus Manor will begin construction next week. McManus Manor will provide forty-one (41) units of affordable rental housing at 362-364 Main Street in Acton. Town Meeting authorized the Town to sell the property to the AHA and the AHA paid the Town $1 million dollars ($1,000,000) on January 24, 2025, to purchase the two lots, which are adjacent to Isaac Davis Way and diagonally across from the Acton Public Safety Building.
Fran Arsenault, chair of the Acton Select Board stated, “The Select Board is gratified that the Town’s support enabled the Acton Housing Authority to develop 41 units of affordable housing for our seniors and residents with disabilities. The Town has supported this project by providing the land, Community Preservation funds, ARPA funds, Acton Community Housing Corporation resources, and other resources. Successful collaboration between Town entities is really awesome to witness. On to the groundbreaking!”
This project came about after years of planning by the AHA. Nancy Kolb, chair of the Acton Housing Authority Board said, “The Board of Commissioners has been committed to building affordable housing, but it takes a village to build homes for people who need housing. Our Board searched long and hard to find property that would be appropriate. Once the Main Street property was an option, we sought input from the neighbors and incorporated their ideas into our planning. The neighbors and people of Acton supported our application when the Select Board voted on the use of Main Street. The Town Meeting voted overwhelmingly for our proposal. Town government has partnered with us for the extension of the sewer construction that will enhance our building. Kelley Cronin, the former Executive Director of Acton Housing Authority, has been the lead in all aspects of our project, and without her we could not have accomplished our goal. We are thankful to Senator Jamie Eldridge, Representatives Dan Sena and Simon Cataldo, Acton Town Government, the people of Acton, our consultants, and financiers. Acton will be very proud of McManus Manor.”
“I want to congratulate the Acton Housing Authority (AHA) for securing the full financing in order to build McManus Manor, a 41-unit elder/disabled affordable rental project in Acton on Main Street,” said State Senator Jamie Eldridge (D-Marlborough). “This innovative project, which not only provides desperately needed affordable housing for seniors and people with disabilities, but meets passive building standards and is fully electrified, in order to help Acton meet its climate action goals. I am also grateful to Governor Maura Healey’s Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities Ed Augustus and his team for providing the additional state financing, given the greater construction costs to build housing in Massachusetts. Building McManus Manor, a tribute to previous AHA Executive Director Betty McManus, is deeply personal to me, as she was a mentor to me.”
The AHA recognizes that without the support of Town residents and elected officials, this project would never have been possible. “I am beyond excited that McManus Manor is beginning construction. This project is vital to reaching affordable housing goals in Acton and will provide a home for many of the folks in our community. The Acton Housing Authority worked hard to make this project a reality. While McManus Manor is still far from complete, the beginning of construction is a major step forward,” said Rep. Danillo Sena (D-Acton).
“The process that has brought us to this point with McManus Manor is a prime example of effective collaboration among local and state government, in addition to nonprofit partners, to address our urgent need for affordable housing in the region. I share in the excitement and anticipation that so many Actonians have for this promising project. Soon, dozens of residents will benefit from this new building designed for rigorous energy and accessibility standards,” said State Representative Simon Cataldo.
This project is being financed by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, CEDAC, Massachusetts Housing Partnership, Town of Acton Community Preservation Act, Acton Community Housing Corporation, Town and State ARPA resources, the Acton Housing Authority, and construction lending from Citizens Bank. Delphi Construction, Inc, will be building the housing, Winslow Architects is the designer, Anser Advisory will be providing project management, and Stone Soup Housing was the development consultant. Construction should be completed by June of 2026.
There will be a lottery process for the housing units in the winter/spring of 2026. The AHA will advertise the availability of applications on the AHA’s website, the Town’s website, at public places such as the library, Town Hall, and Council on Aging, and in local publications such as the Acton Exchange. Applicants must be sixty-two (62) years or older to apply and units will be set aside for people below 30%, 50% and 60% of area median income. There will also be six (6) units set aside for people who are receiving services from the Department of Disability Services (DDS).
Kelley Cronin is the Development Coordinator of the Acton Housing Authority. She retired from her position as Director of the Acton Housing Authority.
