The North Central Massachusetts branch of Habitat for Humanity had an office in Acton for over ten years before it moved to Leominster in early 2024. Later the same year, 416 Great Road, former home of the Le Lyonnais restaurant, became available. It was purchased by a benefactor and given to Habitat. The site has a house that contained the restaurant and the owner’s residence. There is also a barn at the back of the property. Both were built in 1890 and are on the Acton Cultural Resources List that is maintained by the Acton Historic Commission.
Habitat is formulating plans to convert the main building into three housing units and an office and to remodel the red barn into a three-bedroom apartment. When construction begins in the fall, students from Minuteman Tech will be helping. The new office will house the Middlesex County office of the Habitat for Humanity North Central Massachusetts, Inc. (HHNCM). The current office in Leominster will manage Worcester County projects.
HHNCM serves thirty towns in the two counties. Current projects include a half-completed duplex in Ayer and a single-family home in Leominster. Soon, construction will start on a duplex and a single-family home in Littleton. Completed projects in the Acton area include a River St. single family home (2008), a duplex at 43-45 School St (2019), and 26 Carlisle Road (2023).
On May 19 the Select Board granted a request by the Acton Community Housing Corporation (ACHC) to transfer $60,000 from the Community Preservation Act account to help finance Habitat’s affordable housing project at 416 Great Road. In a letter to the Select Board, the ACHC states, “Habitat has an excellent track record in Acton for creating affordable residences, including projects involving the preservation and reuse of existing structures, and in every instance has worked collaboratively and effectively with the Town and ACHC.” Carolyn Read, executive director of HHNCM writes, “I think the most exciting part is that we can build up to four units of housing at 416 Great Road in addition to our office because of the zoning, and that housing is very, very much needed right now.”
According to the Habitat website, the organization was founded in 1976 in Georgia and “operates around the globe and has helped build, renovate, and repair more than 600,000 decent, affordable houses sheltering more than 3 million people worldwide.”
Habitat is always looking for volunteers to help with new construction, remodeling, critical repairs, and help in the office with various clerical tasks. ReStore is Habitat’s retail operation in Leominster that sells donated new and used furniture, appliances, and building supplies.
Current office: 3 Park St. Suite 203, Leominster. 978-348-2479 ncmhabitat.org
Future office for Middlesex County: 416 Great Road, Acton.
ReStore 637 Lancaster St. Leominster. 978-277-5556. restorencm.org
