B’nai B’rith Housing New England Inc. returned to the Zoning Board of Appeals on Tuesday to present updates to its proposed 41-unit rental housing development for seniors and veterans, addressing concerns previously raised by the board and nearby residents.
In recent years, Swampscott has made expanding affordable housing a priority, particularly for residents over age 55 and veterans. The town is currently planning a new affordable housing project at 12–24 Pine St. and the adjacent property at 10 New Ocean St., which it acquired on May 15, 2024. A land development and lease agreement with B’nai B’rith was signed in December 2024. The organization previously developed The Machon, an affordable senior housing complex in Swampscott, in 2021.
The proposed development, now named Veterans Crossing, would be a three-story coastal-style building with 41 one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartments, each approximately 600 square feet. Each unit will feature full kitchens with dishwashers. B’nai B’rith is partnering with Soldier On to provide supportive services for veteran residents.
“We’re happy to continue to collaborate with the town,” said Senior Project Manager Yara Vergucht. “We still have some work to do…We’ll stay in close communication with the town, neighbors and the board as the project becomes reviewed.”
B’nai B’rith reported progress since its last meeting, including outreach to neighbors who voiced concerns in September. Residents requested the removal of the driveway from Pine Street, citing traffic and safety concerns.
A shadow study using specialized software was conducted to show the building’s potential impact on surrounding properties. The study modeled worst-case seasonal conditions, concluding that while shadows may extend beyond the building, they are not expected to affect neighboring homes.
Additional design revisions include raising the building’s elevation by two feet to exceed the floodplain requirement and adjusting the lighting plan to minimize light spill onto adjacent properties. B’nai B’rith also removed the previously proposed first-floor porch steps, making the main entrance the sole access point.
Despite these changes, the project still faces opposition from some residents, both from neighbors as well as those focused on the veterans. Concerns remain about the building’s height, traffic and the future of the VFW post, which is currently located on the proposed site. In December 2024, the Select Board voted 3–1 to support the three-story building. By July, the board unanimously approved the creation of a special purpose stabilization fund to eventually support a new VFW post at 89 Burrill St.
At Tuesday’s meeting, neighbor Steve Gadman raised concerns about parking.
“They’re going to end up parking in front of our house,” Gadman said. “We did request if possible to have one entrance and exit.”
Zoning Board Chair Heather Roman agreed that option should remain under consideration. B’nai B’rith representatives said they are still evaluating traffic flow, including the possibility of a one-way circulation pattern through the parking lot to reduce congestion.
The Zoning Board of Appeals now has approximately 150 days to issue a final decision on the project, according to Roman’s calculations at the last meeting. Continued discussion is scheduled for November 18. In the meantime, the board is working to secure a civil peer review.
On B’nai B’rith’s side, the group faces upcoming funding deadlines and is preparing to submit both a management plan and a rodent control plan.
