Marion Selectmen endorse housing complex

Jul 19, 2019

MARION — The Board of Selectmen unanimously endorsed a 96-unit housing complex on a 13-acre land plot at 78 Wareham Road following a presentation from its developer, Steen Realty and Development Corporation, on Thursday, July 18. 

The proposed Heron Cove Estates complex would be built in a campus-style layout, with a main boulevard to enter and exit the complex and a circular road going around it.

Plans for the development feature 84 two-bedroom and 12-three bedroom units in townhouses and triplex-style buildings.

Amenities at the development include a swimming pool, dog park, and playground for kids. There will be 262 parking spaces, which include visitor parking, and rented garage spaces.

A quarter of the units will be rented at an affordable housing rate of $1,400 a month based on renters earning 80 percent of the area median income. Other units will be rented at $1,800 a month.

Developers at Steen Realty said that Heron Cove could help Marion reach the state requirement of 10 percent affordable housing for the 2020 census. 

Developers presented their ideal timeline of the project with all permits being acquired by April 2020, construction starting in May 2020 and ending in August 2021.

The Board of Selectmen’s endorsement of the project is contingent on developers paying about $500,000 in fees to access town water and sewage.

Maintenance of the facility will be handled by Steen Realty and is included in rent prices.

The project still needs to go before the Department of Housing and Community Development, and the Marion Board of Appeals before construction can begin.