HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Comment from Pennrose v2
July 3, 2025
Barnstable Zoning Board of Appeals
Barnstable Town Hall
367 Main Street
Hyannis, MA 02601
AƩenƟon: Jacob Dewey, Chair
Subject: Wilkens Lane Workforce Housing
Dear Members of the Board,
I am a Senior Developer with Pennrose, LLC, a naƟonal leader in mixed-income housing development.
Pennrose has been creaƟng high quality, inclusive housing since 1971, including several affordable
housing projects across Cape Cod and throughout New England. Most recently, I have been proud to
lead our 62-unit affordable housing community in Orleans, Phare, which is now open and leasing aŌer
years of collaboraƟon with the town and regional partners.
I’m wriƟng in support of the Wilkens Lane Phase II workforce and affordable housing project in Hyannis.
This development represents the kind of housing that Cape Cod urgently needs. It will deliver 320
apartments, including 13% affordable units, in a well-located area served by water, sewer, and public
transportaƟon, and adjacent to major employers. This kind of thoughƞul infill housing is essenƟal to
stabilizing the Cape’s year-round workforce populaƟon.
At Pennrose, we know that no one-size-fits-all soluƟon exists for workforce housing. This project
demonstrates how private developers, working within a strong regulatory framework, can deliver a
meaningful supply of homes for people including teachers, nurses, first responders, tradespeople,
hospitality and retail workers, and young families, all of whom are increasingly priced out of the Cape’s
housing market.
Phase I of this development has already proven successful and I believe Phase II will build on that
momentum to help meet the current demand for workforce-oriented rental housing. I am encouraged
by the project’s unanimous approval by the Cape Cod Commission, and I believe it will serve Barnstable
and the broader Cape region well.
I respecƞully urge the Board to approve this proposal so that more working families can con Ɵnue to live
and thrive on Cape Cod.
Sincerely,
Rio Saccheƫ
Developer
Pennrose
Email: rsaccheƫ@pennrose.com
Phone: 857-990-4938