TEMPLETON, Mass. — Applications are now being accepted for the affordable housing lottery at Baldwinville School Apartments, a redevelopment project that will transform the historic Baldwinville Elementary School into Templeton’s first newly permitted multifamily housing development in more than 25 years.
Developers MPZ Development LLC and Capstone Communities LLC, alongside property manager Peabody Properties, announced Wednesday that the lottery process is officially underway for the 54-unit mixed-income rental community, which is expected to open in fall 2026.
Located in Baldwinville Village, the project will convert the former elementary school into apartments while adding a new Passive House-certified addition designed by ICON Architecture. Of the 54 rental units, 49 will be designated as affordable housing for households earning between 30% and 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI).
The development will feature a mix of lofts, studios, and one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, many of which will preserve architectural elements of the original school building.
Applications for the affordable housing lottery must be submitted online or postmarked by July 15. A virtual lottery drawing will be held July 22 at 4 p.m. via Zoom, with applicants processed in lottery order afterward by Peabody Properties.
Developers said the project is intended to address a significant housing shortage in Templeton while preserving an important local landmark.
“We’re thrilled to open the housing lottery for Baldwinville School Apartments and invite prospective residents to apply to live in this community,” said Jason Korb, principal of Capstone Communities, and Mathieu P. Zahler, principal of MPZ Development, in a joint statement. “We’re proud to help meet a need in Templeton through new housing opportunities in a building that has long been part of Baldwinville’s community fabric.”
Peabody Properties, which will manage the complex, said the lottery marks a major milestone for the community.
“As the housing lottery opens, Baldwinville School Apartments marks an important step in bringing new housing opportunities to Templeton,” said Melissa Fish-Crane of Peabody Properties. “Our team looks forward to guiding applicants through the process and ultimately welcoming residents into a well-managed, supportive community they can call home.”
Templeton Town Administrator James Ryan said the project will prioritize local residents and families connected to the school district.
“Seventy percent of its unrestricted affordable units are reserved for Templeton residents, individuals who work in Templeton, or for parents whose children attend school in the district,” Ryan said. “Whether someone is looking to downsize and save, find a place of their own for the first time, or move closer to where their children are being educated, Templeton will soon have dozens of new apartments to meet those needs.”
The complex will also include several community amenities, including a fitness center, outdoor courtyard, public playground, EV charging stations, on-site laundry, and a walking trail overlooking the Otter River. Residents will also have access to nearby public transportation through the Montachusett Regional Transit Authority’s Winchendon Link bus route.
The project broke ground in June 2025 and received financing from several public and private sources, including the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, MassHousing, Rockland Trust, National Equity Fund, and the Massachusetts Historical Commission. Additional funding came through Templeton’s Community Preservation Act and the state’s Underutilized Properties Program.
Separate applications for the project’s five market-rate apartments will be accepted on a rolling basis.
An informational session for prospective applicants will be held May 14 at 5 p.m. at Narragansett Regional School in Baldwinville, with a virtual attendance option available. Organizers said an ice cream truck will also be onsite for attendees.
