No sun, just clouds Once promising solar-powered, green condo development now a major disappointment

No sun, just clouds
Once promising solar-powered, green condo development now a major disappointment

BROCKTON - It was hailed as the first solar-powered condominium development in New England: Johnson Square Village would feature 26 town house condos equipped with rooftop solar panels, energy-efficient heating systems, double-paned windows, and a special irrigation system to collect rainwater for the lawns.

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Dan Porrazzo, of Johnson Square Builders LLC, acknowledges Johnson Square Village “looks like a ghost town’’ and says construction stalled after The Community Bank of Brockton cut off financing for the rest of the project in 2008, because not enough units had sold.

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“The bank tightened the reins, and told us: ‘Unless you sell two more units, you can’t build anymore,’ ’’ he said. “We’re at a Catch-22.’’

Porrazzo said a public sewer line was to blame for any flooding problems at the development, and the problem has since been addressed. “It wasn’t anything we did; it was the city,’’ Porrazzo said. “It flows just fine on the property. They’ve got a low spot in their system. City Hall won’t tell you that.’’

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Last June, {ALL BUSH'S FAULT} state and federal regulators accused The Community Bank of Brockton of engaging in “unsafe or unsound banking practices’’ and ordered the bank to shore up its finances


More:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/01/10/for_owners_of_solar_powered_brockton_condos_cloudy_days/?rss_id=Most+Popular

Hey, Ian. This project seems like a perfect candidate for creating a model in clean energy housing. Aren't there other loans or funding available to finish it? Is there more to the story? Do the solar panels indeed significantly reduce energy costs for tenants? Can Jass, in his new position on the city council, help the developer obtain some financial backing before it's too late?

and let me know if I can help.

From thread on Blue Mass Group:

There may be some potential opportunities with the adoption of stretch energy codes or the Community Preservation Act.

Stretch Energy Code is new, but the feeling is that cities and towns that adopt it will be able to apply for grants to help with green building projects. Much as with the CPA, early adopters will have the advantage of less applicants going after a given amount of grant money. With the CPA matching funds, the early adopter advantage was enormous.

I am unaware if Brockton has passed a CPA (added local tax of up to 3% on annual real estate tax bills) or a stretch energy code.

I also agree that the developer may have both gotten in over his head and run into a perfect storm with his bank, but it also seems as though he may have bit off more than he could chew and that may have been something that the buyers should have considered when purchasing their units.

One final thought, Barney Frank was successful at getting stimulus funds / bailout funds for OneUnited Bank in Boston, a bank that, by all accounts, should NOT have received any federal money based on its past practices (having a porsche as a company car is one popular example). Maybe a letter (or multiple letters) from concerned citizens, union leaders and local elected officials to Barney could get the ball moving from the Federal level.

I disagree with Barney having supported OneUnited, but he has the most power amongst the MA delegation even if he is not your Congressman in Brockton it is worth an effort.