Debbie Anacki and David Traggorth talk about the Cable Mills apartment complex on Wednesday evening.
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The marketing team behind the Cable Mills apartment complex was at Town Hall on Wednesday to urge anyone interested to inquire about applying for one of the project's 13 affordable housing units.
"A lot of people think they're not qualified," said Debbie Anacki of property manager Hall Keen of Norwood. "Always ask. We want folks to call us with those questions. You'd be surprised who could qualify.
"It doesn't have anything to do with having $100,000 in the bank or $200,000 in the bank."
It does have to do with household income, and households earning up to 80 percent of the area median income (as determined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development) qualify to rent one of the one-, two- or three-bedroom apartments at a reduced rate.
The 13 affordable units in the 61-apartment complex are the result of the $1.5 million in Community Preservation Act funds that are subsidizing the renovation of the historic Water Street mill.
A single person qualifies with an income between $37,020 and $46,100. A family of four qualifies with an income up to $65,800. More income levels are available on the town's website.
A lottery to determine the first 13 households who will occupy the affordable units will be held Oct. 15. The deadline to enter the lottery is Sept. 30, Anacki said.
As of Wednesday, developers had received a few applicants, but none that qualified. That should not stop other potential tenants from applying for the units, which David Traggorth of Mitchell Properties emphasized are "affordable, not low income."
"If you're a family of four making $60,000 a year, there are a lot of people who fit within that category," Traggorth said. "Teachers, nurses, police officers.
"When we were trying to figure out when to have this presentation, we [decided on 5:30 p.m.] because all the people who qualify have a job, unless they're retirees, we need to make this at an accessible time for folks. So here we are."
Wednesday's presentation in the Selectmen's Meeting Room appeared to draw just one participant who was asking questions on her own behalf. Other attendees included members of the town's Affordable Housing Committee.
Anacki and Hall Keen's Anne Dooley have been giving similar presentations around the area, seeking to drum up interest among qualified applicants, the said.
"We've spread out to the college, certainly there are members of the Williams staff who would qualify," Traggorth said. "We're also talking to larger employers further south. We've reached out to Bennington and Albany. We're casting the net pretty wide."
For more information about the Cable Mills project, visit www.cablemills.com.
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Williamstown Fire Committee Talks Station Project Cuts, Truck Replacement
By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Prudential Committee on Wednesday signed off on more than $1 million in cost cutting measures for the planned Main Street fire station.
Some of the "value engineering" changes are cosmetic, while at least one pushes off a planned expense into the future.
The committee, which oversees the Fire District, also made plans to hold meetings over the next two Wednesdays to finalize its fiscal year 2025 budget request and other warrant articles for the May 28 annual district meeting. One of those warrant articles could include a request for a new mini rescue truck.
The value engineering changes to the building project originated with the district's Building Committee, which asked the Prudential Committee to review and sign off.
In all, the cuts approved on Wednesday are estimated to trim $1.135 million off the project's price tag.
The biggest ticket items included $250,000 to simplify the exterior masonry, $200,000 to eliminate a side yard shed, $150,000 to switch from a metal roof to asphalt shingles and $75,000 to "white box" certain areas on the second floor of the planned building.
The white boxing means the interior spaces will be built but not finished. So instead of dividing a large space into six bunk rooms and installing two restrooms on the second floor, that space will be left empty and unframed for now.
The Charter Review Committee on Wednesday voted unanimously to endorse an amended version of the compliance provision it drafted to be added to the Town Charter. click for more
Developer David Traggorth asked the trustees to make the contribution from its coffers to help unlock an additional $5.4 million in state funds for the planned 54-unit apartment building at the south end of the Cable Mills site.
click for more
The donors, who wish to remain anonymous, say the gift reflects their desire to not only support Williams but also President Maud S. Mandel's strategic vision and plan for the college.
click for more
Neighbors of a proposed subdivision off Summer Street last week asked the Planning Board to take a critical look at the project, which the residents say is out of scale to the neighborhood. click for more