By Tom Nash

The Somerville Housing Authority recently received State Legislature approval to turn an unused state-owned building into a senior housing center.

The SHA estimates the  Mystic Water Works building, which dates back to 1864, can be converted into as many as 26 one-bedroom apartments. A bill filed by State Sen. Pat Jehlen and State Rep. Carl Sciortino asking for permission to buy the building from the state was approved before the legislative session ended on July 31.

The bill provides land at 485 Mystic Valley Parkway to the SHA from the state for $1. The property is adjacent to the new VNA senior assisted living facility and the SHA’s Capen Court senior housing, which is currently undergoing reconstruction.

“This is another tremendous step in our efforts to support seniors in our community,” Sciortino said. “This project provides low-cost, attractive housing options with support services and amenities within reach. Repurposing the old water station and the construction jobs the project provides will contribute to the effort to boost the economy of Somerville and strengthen our community.”

“This new development, along with continued interest in our housing system for senior residents, will let us continue to ensure that Somerville remains a welcoming and livable city,” said Jehlen, who filed the home rule petition in the Senate and ushered through an emergency preamble to expedite the transfer.

“The new, modern units will be places where seniors can be proud to live. I’m pleased that the Legislature voted to give this land to the housing authority so they could commence work as quickly as possible.”

SHA Executive Director Joseph R. Macaluso praised the bill’s passage as an important step in getting the project started.

“We try to allow seniors to achieve a maximum amount of independence and will be working with them once the new housing is built to achieve that goal,” Macaluso said. “Receiving the land from the state essentially for free will allow us to being construction sooner rather than later.”

The housing units were designed by Design Consultants Inc., a company known in the Boston area for working on many multi-unit dwellings, including the Weston Avenue Townhouse Complex in Somerville and the Rindge Avenue Condos in Cambridge.