When CHOICE began offering more services, it became clear that we could — and had to — do more.

We had the passion. We had the people. But we needed a place to grow. So we started dreaming.

We needed land, but not just any land — it had to be close to our existing senior housing so we could build community and provide better care with greater efficiency. David and Connie met with the Town of Chelmsford, and in a move that would change everything, the Town agreed to sell us a parcel of land right behind our two senior developments.

With that piece of land, a spark became a plan. We assembled a team: Davis Square Architects, Howe Surveying, The Women’s Institute, and more. Our goal? To build 37 units of affordable senior housing, a place where older adults could live with dignity, support, and connection.

But from the start, the message from so-called “experts” was painfully clear:“You’ll never be funded.”

They said we had no track record. That our dreams were too big. That first-time developers don’t get through the door, never mind win tax credits. But Connie and David didn’t flinch. They took the plans on the road and spoke to anyone who would listen. Not just about a building — but about lives. About seniors who deserved better. About what it means to age in a place that feels like home.

The numbers were tight. The gap was real. But the mission never wavered.

They applied for funding everywhere. The Agnes Lindsay Trust gave early support. Then someone whispered a possibility: the Charles Farnsworth Trust. It was a long shot. Their awards were small. Still, Connie poured herself into the application and was invited to present.

We came armed with oversized posters, a vision, and — most importantly — our story.

We spoke from the heart. About the seniors we knew. About the need we saw. About the difference this project would make. We asked for $100,000 — more than they typically gave. When the meeting ended, we thanked the committee and turned toward the elevator, unsure of what would happen next.

Then — just as the doors opened — the Chair ran down the hall, beaming.“We took a vote,” he said, “and we want to give you the maximum — $250,000.”

We were stunned. Overjoyed. They believed in us, in our mission, and in the story we told with such conviction. That gift wasn’t just about the money — it was a message: what you’re doing matters.

And then, lightning struck again.

When the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (then EOCD) announced its funding awards, the CHOICE Center was selected in the first round — an almost unheard-of outcome for a first-time developer.

Everyone told us we couldn’t. But we did.

Because this wasn’t just a project. It was a promise — to do whatever it takes to ensure that seniors in our community have the affordable, supportive housing they deserve.

The CHOICE Center stands today not only because of bricks and funding — but because of belief, persistence, and love.

It stands because we refused to accept “you’ll never be funded” as the end of the story.
Instead, it became the beginning.