North Adams Housing Agency Reaching Asset Deal With City

The Housing Authority is continuing with the dissolution of hits home-ownership arm, Housing Opportunities Inc.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Housing Authority has met with city officials to continue discussion on the dissolution of Housing Opportunities Inc.

The Housing Authority board was provided an update of the dissolving of HOI during its meeting Monday night. The authority has been systematically working through an agreement with the city for the past two years about which assets North Adams will absorb from HOI.

Chairman Christopher Tremblay said he is optimistic about how the dissolution has been developing.

"We have met with the mayor … the Office of Community Development, and our attorney, and we discussed the finalizing of this and what our intents are and what the ultimate outcome is going to be," Tremblay said. "I think it is safe to say that we have reached an agreement with the city of North Adams."

The city will take control and responsibility of some properties and funds.

HOI is a nonprofit organization that uses government funds to purchase and rehabilitate homes for low income families, first-time home owners, and sustainable housing. The authority board also comprises the HOI board of directors.

Tremblay said it is no longer practical to sustain the organization.

"We are in the process of dissolving HOI; it is no longer a viable entity, and we have quite a few assets that are going to be returned to the city," he said.

Because of pending litigation (not having to do with the city), the Housing Authority was unable to discuss the dissolution in any detail. Members said by their next meeting things should settled down. Tremblay said the lawsuit is positive.

“It’s not a bad thing for the North Adams Housing Authority; it is actually a good thing," Tremblay said. "Things are going through the right way and we just have to wait before we can make an announcement."

The board also discussed a recent Green Physical Needs Assessment for public housing it received. The government assessment is soon to be mandated and aims to make more energy-efficient public housing.

Executive Director Jennifer Hohn said many of the items included in the draft report are written into the Housing Authority's five-year plan.

"We wanted to incorporate all of these work items into our five-year plan because whatever we don’t include in our five-year plan can’t be added after," Hohn said. "We are better off putting more in it than we are actually going to do."

The Housing Authority welcomed new member Ben Taylor, who was appointed to fill in the remaining term of former member Marie Harpin. Taylor is a political science professor at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.

Brown Street Bridge Reopens in North Adams

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
01:16PM / Monday, December 15, 2025

Mayor Jennifer Macksey is the first to drive across the bridge, closed since early 2023.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Mayor Jennifer Macksey led a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday, Dec. 15, marking the official reopening of the Brown Street Bridge.

 

"We are very excited despite the cold weather," Macksey said before the ribbon-cutting. "… We are chipping away at these projects, but this is long overdue."

 

The bridge had been closed to all vehicle traffic since March 2023 after being deemed structurally deficient by the state Department of Transportation (MassDOT). The 26-foot steel structure, built in 1952, was flagged after its superstructure rating fell to 3.

 

The reopening follows a temporary repair project designed to safely restore access while the city and state determine a long-term plan. The temporary repair contract was awarded to J.H. Maxymillian at a cost of $349,920.

 

Funding for the project included $75,000 from state Chapter 90 road funds, with the balance was covered by state flood money the city had been previously awarded following a severe storm in July several years ago.

 

The mayor emphasized the critical need to reopen the span, particularly for public safety. 

 

"The perception behind that was we have flooding on West Main Street and River Street, we have to use this bridge," she said. "We are very excited to have it open. Not only to alleviate traffic problems down at the intersection of Big Y and the intersection of City Hall, but to help our friends at emergency management with the ambulance."