Three Projects, Three Approaches to Orleans Housing
Cape Cod News editorial staff
After years of effort Orleans gets ready to go live with its housing efforts
"The cost of housing in most communities on the Outer Cape is in excess of a million dollars - in terms of median home price - and that takes a household income of over $300,000 in order to afford that kind of housing. We have this huge gap. And what we call that is attainable housing. "
Jay Coburn, CEO Community Development Partnership
What is Orleans doing for affordable housing?
28 March 2025 - ORLEANS, MA - This spring Orleans will see years of planning work becoming newly-opened housing at two different locations in town, bringing 74 affordable housing units to the market, while a third project makes continued progress on the "missing middle.
This month the lottery for the West Road apartments has opened, the 107 Main St is close to opening, and the former Governor Prence Inn continues moving forward.
When are West Road apartments and townhouses available?
Over on West Road, at the former site of the Cape Cod Five headquarters and next to the Shaw's plaza, 62 units of housing are opening. People earning 80%, 60% and 30% of the average income on the Cape can apply to the lotter for an apartment or townhome. Penrose Properties developed the project and full information about income guidelines, units rents, and the lottery application process appear on the Orleans website.
What is happening a 101 Main?
A smaller number of units will soon be coming online at the site of the former Masonic Temple at 101 Main Street. Housing Assistance Corp used a modular build process to create buildings it says are consistent with the neighborhoods traditional face.
What is coming at the former Gov. Prence Inn?
Jay Coburn, CEO of the Community Development Partnership, says part of the focus of the work at the former Gov. Prencce Inn focuses on what he describes as attainable housing, and what Orleans defines as the "missing middle."
With house prices so steep on Cape Cod, people who once could have afforded a home remain priced out of the market - but make too much for traditional subsidized housing, creating a significant gap. Coburn says they hope to apply creative thinking to help create some solutions for bridging that gap.
