More than 120 years ago – in 1900 – a relatively small, unassuming house was built at the corner of E. Main and S. Jefferson in Lowell. Some time later, Evelyn and Leo Denny moved in.
Then the Great Depression hit, and by the early 1930s, the Dennys decided to add onto their home, making it five times larger than its original size. However, the addition wasn’t for themselves. Instead, historical records indicate that the extra space was “to provide a comfortable place for tourists, but also those from the Lowell community in need of a place to stay.”
Evelyn and Leo Denny are now resting in Oakwood Cemetery, but their vision for their home remains. Denny’s Rooms continues to serve those in need of a place to stay. FROM purchased the property in 2016 and is now marking the completion of newly renovated spaces that will be available at affordable rates.
Two Phases Down, Two to Go
After FROM purchased the property – which sits directly across from Ball’s Softee Crème – the non-profit had three goals in mind.
“We wanted to make it safe, affordable and desirable,” says Jodie Seese, volunteer project and facility manager for Main Street Housing, the LLC created by FROM to manage the property.
To do that, the project was broken down into four phases:
- Phase I: Health and safety
- Phase II: Reconditioning/remodeling of tenant spaces
- Phase III: Common areas
- Phase IV: Future enhancements
The years had taken their toll on the building, Seese says, and the first order of business was to address fundamental issues related to health and safety. That meant improving the lighting, installing smoke detectors, finding missing keys and adding locks.
Once that was done, it was time to renovate and refresh tenant living spaces, and Main Street Housing decided to combine several of the existing units. The building originally had 13 units but with the renovations, that number has been reduced to 10 single and double occupancy units.
“By going down in size, we’re making safer units with more amenities,” Seese says. So far, ten units have been completely renovated or refinished, including the electrical, paint, appliances, windows and floors.
A dedicated team of six core volunteers has shown up weekly to transform the living spaces, with Ada Bible Church adopting one unit and heading up its renovation. Volunteers recently celebrated the completion of two units which were put up for rent at the start of this year.
Permanent Supportive Housing
Applications for the new units were distributed using an old-school method: a sign outside the building. There was no online listing or social media promotion. “Our goal is to reach the people who can’t get to Facebook Marketplace,” Seese explains. “We are serving a population that likely doesn’t have access to the internet.”
The new units at Denny’s Rooms are intended to be supportive housing. That means they provide a home to those who might be blocked out of other housing options and need additional resources to thrive. Tenants not only get an affordable month-to-month lease but also access to services offered by FROM.
To reach people who need this type of housing, FROM made the decision not to list the units online. Instead, by placing applications out front, they hoped to connect to those who are already in the community but in need of a safe and stable place to live.
The new apartments can also be permanent housing for those who need it. “We have people who have lived here for 30 years,” Seese says.
New units are rented under a month-to-month lease, and applicants go through a background and credit check. However, Seese notes that limited or lackluster credit wouldn’t necessarily prevent someone from being approved for a unit. The application process also follows government fair housing standards.
Rents range from $400-$600 per month and include utilities. Those aren’t subsidized rates, but rather, are affordable by design, Seese says. Volunteers spent an average of 200-300 hours per month on the building rehabilitation and that, along with grants and donations from churches, individuals and local funds, have helped keep costs down.
What’s Next for Denny’s Rooms
With work wrapping up on the units, Main Street Housing is looking to the next phase of its project. That will involve sprucing up common areas including the garage, hallways, entry, office and laundry facilities.
Already, some work has taken place in shared spaces with garden beds and covered patios added thanks to Eagle Scout projects. Seese notes that many current residents have enjoyed gardening, and tenants have donated excess produce to FROM’s food pantry.
After the common spaces are updated, it will be time to evaluate whether additional enhancements need to be made to the property.
“Main Street Housing is a true reflection of the generosity of the Lowell community coming together to help others,” Seese says, “but also to create a sense of community where everyone benefits.”
We’re sure Evelyn and Leo Denny would approve.
Editor’s note: This article was updated at 12:15pm on Feb. 1, 2022 to correct the number of units in the building.
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