Phase II Development Moving Ahead Quickly

With Phase I of FORWARD at the Rock, two group homes with 24/7 staffing, opened on time, on budget, and fully occupied and running smoothly, FORWARD is now moving quickly with the development of PHASE II, 8 one-bedroom apartments for supported independent living.

Plans include a common area for recreation small gatherings, movie screenings, training and meetings. Total square footage will be approximately 6,200± square feet.  Disruption of the residential neighborhood of single-family homes will be mitigated by anticipated building placement, building design, and landscaping.

Thanks to a pre-development grant of $65,000 from the Dennis Municipal Affordable Housing Trust and FORWARD’s own working capital design work is well underway

Phase II Highlights

  • 8 additional bedrooms configured as 8 individual apartments
  • Purpose-designed to accommodate the needs of those with autism and related disabilities
  • Built on Town-owned land already secured under a 99-year lease between FORWARD and the Town of Dennis
  • Utilities already brought to the site
  • Phase I architect, construction consultant, Town, and Massachusetts Department of Developmental Disabilities support secured
  • Apartments prepared for intensive use of Assistive Technology and remote staffing
  • A site and building placement intended to minimize any impact on the local neighborhood
  • A flexible common space for resident recreational and social use, training, telemedicine, storage and a small office
  • Incorporation of lessons learned from impacts of Covid – on-site recreation, storage, zoom, back-up utilities
  • ADA compliance, built to allow for aging-in-place
  • High energy efficiency and sustainability. Every apartment has individual split system heat pump heating and cooling, and on-demand hot water unit

Phase II:

  • Addresses the region’s critical need for affordable housing
  • Responds to the recently updated Dennis Housing Production Plan and the Cape Cod Regional Policy Plan*
  • Creates new homes for adults with developmental disabilities
  • Adds 8 permanent units to the Dennis Subsidized Housing Inventory
  • Benefits from FORWARD’s success in building Phase I on-time and on-budget
  • Leverages existing partnerships, organizational expertise and experience

Phase II Timeline:

  • Land secured – Done
  • Selectboard Approval – Done
  • Department of Developmental Services Support – Done
  • Local Site Permitting – August 1, 2022
  • Construction Contractor Bids Out – October 1, 2022
  • Final Capital Funding Applications Submitted – November 30, 2022
  • Final Capital Funding and Mortgage Closing – March 1, 2023
  • Construction Commences – March 1, 2023
  • Construction Complete – February 1, 2024
  • Certificate of Occupancy – March 1, 2024
  • Fully Occupied – April 1, 2024
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