Senior housing complex in Attleboro to get upgraded high speed internet through state program for public and affordable housing
Aervivo will provide internet access to 92 apartments with funds from the Residential Retrofit Program
Attleboro, Mass. – Attleboro Mayor Cathleen DeSimone joined with Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MassTech), Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) and Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) to celebrate the delivery of high-speed internet to Gardner Terrace – a 92-unit affordable apartment building that once was a jewelry factory in a city that was once known as "The Jewelry Capital of the World.”
Gardner Terrace I is located near the center of Attleboro and is the second property in the state to receive broadband upgrades as part of the Residential Retrofit Program, a $70+ million investment to improve internet access in public and affordable housing.
The funds, initially announced in December 2024, will enable Aervivo Inc. to deploy state of the art wiring that will provide high-speed internet to the property’s 92 senior households. Mayor DeSimone was joined by Joshua Eichen, Director of Program Development at MBI, Aaron Gornstein, POAH President/CEO and Mindy Torbit, VP of Customer Success, Aervivo. Two residents from Gardner Terrace also spoke at the event.
Households in 13 municipalities are currently participating in the Residential Retrofit Program. Aervivo Inc. will offer income-eligible broadband plans to Gardner Terrace I Apartment residents of at least 100mbps/100mbps and up to 1,000/1,000mbps. Through this award, Aervivo will also provide laptop devices and will partner with Tech Goes Home to provide digital skills training to the senior residents.
“I am very grateful to MassTech, MBI, and POAH for their amazing good work and substantial investment in our city,” said Attleboro Mayor Cathleen DeSimone. I am particularly struck by the sincere investment in improving the quality of life for our Gardner Terrace residents. The appreciation of and connection to the city’s rich manufacturing history demonstrated in this project is also very meaningful to larger the community.”
“It is very rewarding to see that a site that once was an innovative producer of goods that built the economy of Attleboro will be a center for individuals to be active in the digital age,” said POAH CEO Aaron Gornstein. “POAH is very grateful for these broadband upgrades that will allow our senior residents to access services and stay connected to the world around them.”
“The internet connection means I can connect to my Zoom classes at Bristol Community College and connect with my family, friends, medical staff and my church community. The connection means the world to me,” said Gardner Terrace resident Jean Phillips.
MBI's Residential Retrofit Program launched in February 2024 and has since awarded $70.5 million to deliver internet to more than 40,000 public and affordable housing unit across Massachusetts. Funding for the Residential Retrofit Program comes from the U.S. Treasury’s Capital Projects Fund through the American Rescue Plan Act.
"Public and affordable housing residents deserve the same level of connectivity as everyone else,” said Massachusetts Broadband Institute Director Michael Baldino. “This funding helps level the playing field and connects families to everything from telehealth to remote learning."
About the Massachusetts Broadband Institute at MassTech
A division of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, MBI is working to extend high-speed internet access and availability across the state. To achieve this, MBI uses state and federal funding to launch infrastructure expansion programs that target areas of the state that lack high-speed internet access as well as digital equity programs that tackle barriers to internet adoption and increase availability, addressing critical issues around affordability, enhanced public Wi-Fi, the need for internet-enabled devices, and digital literacy training. Learn more here.
About the Gardner Terrace I
POAH purchased the former jewelry factory at 46 Pine Street in 2020 along with a historic mill and wood-framed townhomes to preserve 227 units of senior and family affordable housing for the long-term. Earlier this year, POAH completed renovations at Gardner Terrace I that highlighted the property's historic architecture and included a new domestic hot water system, improved electrical service, new emergency generator, and a high-efficiency heating and cooling system. Every apartment received significant upgrades, including new flooring, renovated kitchens and bathrooms, and modern, energy-efficient appliances. Nine units were reconfigured to meet full ADA standards, and accessibility features were expanded throughout the building to better serve residents with mobility needs. Learn more here.
Photo: Mayor Cathleen DeSimone (third from right) joined with POAH President/CEO Aaron Gornstein 4th from right and Gardner Terrace resident Jean Phillips 3rd from left) to celebrate internet access delivery to the affordable housing complex