MPZ Development LLC and Capstone Communities LLC celebrate opening of Baldwinville School Apts.

Templeton, MA MPZ Development LLC (MPZ) and Capstone Communities LLC (Capstone) celebrated the grand opening and ribbon cutting of Baldwinville School Apartments on Tuesday, October 20. The event marked the official delivery of Baldwinville School Apartments – the first multi-family housing project delivered in the town in more than 25 years, providing much-needed mixed-income housing to the local community.

Baldwinville School Apartments has transformed the historic Baldwinville Elementary School into 54 rental apartments, 49 of which are affordable for households earning at or below 30-60% of the Area Median Income. 

Designed by ICON Architecture, the Baldwinville School Apartments project revitalized the historic school and introduced a new addition that will be certified under Enterprise Green Communities and Passive House standards. The apartments are available in several layouts and sizes, including loft, studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom, many of which are rehabilitated from the original elementary school. 

Callahan Construction Managers served as the project’s general contractor. The first residents began moving in in early October.

The affordable housing lottery for Baldwinville School Apartments attracted more than 900 applicants, reflecting strong demand for housing in the area. Managed by Peabody Properties, the community offers numerous on-site amenities to residents, including an outdoor courtyard and community green space, children’s playground, fitness center, electric-vehicle charging stations, in-building laundry, and a community walking trail leading to an overlook of the Otter River.

Capstone and MPZ secured financing from both public and private partners to make the Baldwinville School Apartments project possible. Financing was provided by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, MassHousing, Rockland Trust, National Equity Fund, the Massachusetts Historical Commission, The Life Initiative, and Dorfman Capital. 

Capstone and MPZ also were awarded $1.924 million in funding for Baldwinville School Apartments through the Community Preservation Act via Templeton’s Community Preservation Committee, as well as $750,000 through the Underutilized Properties Program (UPP) via the Commonwealth’s Community One Stop for Growth awards, administered by MassDevelopment.

“For generations, the Baldwinville School was a place of learning and connection. Today, it begins a new chapter as a place to call home,” said Jason Korb, Principal of Capstone Communities, and Mathieu P. Zahler, Principal of MPZ Development. “Baldwinville School Apartments preserves an important part of Templeton’s history while creating much-needed affordable homes where residents can build their futures. This milestone reflects years of collaboration and the commitment of our local and state partners. We are proud to welcome residents whose lives and experiences will shape this community for years to come.”

“Access to affordable housing is essential to building strong, vibrant communities,” said Congressman Jim McGovern. “The Baldwinville School Apartments will make a real difference for families in Templeton, providing 54 new homes while preserving an important piece of the town’s history. At a time when so many people are struggling to find a home they can afford, this is exactly the kind of investment our communities need. I’m grateful to everyone who helped make this possible.”

“We’re working hard to build more homes and create more affordable places to live across the state,” said Juana Matias, Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities. “The Healey-Driscoll Administration was proud to support the historic preservation and transformation of the Baldwinville school into 54 new homes. Congratulations to the town and local leaders on this achievement.”

“I remember the groundbreaking for this project in June of 2025 and trying to imagine how it would look when it was done,” State Sen. Peter Durant, R-Spencer, said. “I’m excited to see the completed project. MPZ Development LLC and Capstone Communities LLC have brought a thoughtful building reuse project to this former school, transforming it into the town’s first multi-family apartment project in decades; a much-needed asset in today’s housing climate.”

“It is fantastic to see vitality returned to the former Baldwinville School,” said Anne Gobi, Director of Rural Affairs for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. “The care and attention to detail that Capstone and MPZ provided has resulted in housing that blends with the character of the town and retains many of the historical features of the school with the addition of new units and amenities. The Healey-Driscoll Administration is proud to be a partner in supporting new housing especially in rural areas.”

“We are pleased to celebrate the opening of the Baldwinville School Apartments and are especially glad that many Templeton residents will be able to call it home,” said Jeffrey Bennett, Chair, Templeton Select Board. “This project preserves an important part of our Town’s history while providing new opportunities for local residents to remain in the community they know and love. On behalf of the Templeton Select Board, we thank everyone who helped bring this project to life.”

“A historic former elementary school building has been revitalized and more than 50 new apartments have been created in Templeton through this forward-thinking project by Capstone Communities and MPZ Development,” said MassDevelopment President and CEO Navjeet Bal. “MassDevelopment proudly supported the Baldwinville School Apartments with a $750,000 grant from the Underutilized Properties Program and an approximately $50,000 loan from the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund, two state programs that advance housing, commercial development, and more by breathing new life into underused sites.”

“MassHousing is excited for the residents who have brand new apartment homes resulting from the redevelopment of the former Baldwinville School,” said MassHousing CEO Chrystal Kornegay. “We were pleased to partner with Capstone Communities and MPZ Development to take a historic property no longer serving as a school and create new rental housing for residents with a range of incomes that will serve the community for many years to come.”

“We’re thrilled to partner with Capstone Communities and MPZ Development on the Baldwinville School Apartments,” said Melissa Fish Crane, Principal and CEO of Peabody Properties. “It’s always special to give a meaningful and historic building a new purpose, and the thoughtful design of this new community truly stands out for its architecture, amenities, and location. We look forward to welcoming new residents to their new home.”

“Rockland Trust is proud to support Capstone Communities and MPZ Development in the innovative transformation of the Baldwinville School into much-needed affordable housing for the town of Templeton,” said Claudius Zorokong, Commercial Banking Officer at Rockland Trust. “Capstone and MPZ have a track record of exemplary performance, and we are thrilled to be part of this revitalization effort.”

“The transformation of the Baldwinville School Apartments reflects what’s possible when intentional, collaborative partnerships and shared purpose come together,” said Liz Hibbard, senior vice president, capital markets at National Equity Fund. “At NEF, we envision a society where increased access to affordable housing empowers every individual and family to reach their full potential. Bringing that vision to life takes innovative thinking, committed partners, and a deep understanding of community needs. Capstone Communities and MPZ Development share in our values and have worked diligently to create a space that is safe, stable and affordable, allowing residents in Templeton to thrive and build the foundation for their futures.”

“The Life Initiative is honored to play a role in this project, providing predevelopment support to the Developers,” said Brandon E. Braxton, Vice President of The Life Initiative. “We have been fortunate to ally ourselves with Capstone Communities and MPZ Development on a number of projects and in a variety of lending roles; in the early stages of a project, with acquisition and predevelopment loans, up and through construction financing. This project is another wonderful example of creativity and hard work resulting in beautiful affordable homes for a deserving community. Our relationship with the development team will hopefully contribute to many more similar projects come to fruition throughout the Commonwealth.”

“The innovative conversion of a historic school building into much-needed mixed-income housing is a win-win for the Templeton community,” said Pat Callahan, President of Callahan Construction. “We find these projects incredibly rewarding to bring to fruition, especially when working with project partners like MPZ Development LLC and Capstone Communities LLC.”