Housing Organization Transfers Bracewell Property to Louison House
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Housing Opportunities Inc. plans to transfer 111-113 Bracewell Ave. to Louison House, the family support and shelter organization.
This leaves the housing program with only the former Sun Cleaners property on River Street to dispose of so it can dissolve.
North Adams Housing Authority Executive Director Jennifer Hohn said Monday that the Family Life Support Center is expected to close on the property June 27.
Louison House had already been operating the apartment house for its permanent supportive housing; it was earlier transferred the Flood House on Church Street, which it has been using in the aftermath of a fire at the original shelter building.
"This is great news," newly elected Chairman Matt Neville said.
Housing Opportunities, which has the same board as the Housing Authority, has been attempting to dissolve the 30-year-old program for the past six years and turn over its assets to the city.
A majority of the nine properties were transferred to the city in April, with the exception of the Bracewell and Sun Cleaners properties.
The city was reluctant to take the River Street property over fears of contaminated soils.
The former dry cleaners, parts of which date to 1865, closed at least a decade ago. HOI purchased the property for $50,000 in 2008. The city will take possession depending on the results of a 21E environmental assessment that will be paid out of funds held by HOI, which is now about $292,704.
Hohn said Sun Cleaners is the last of the properties and that although contamination testing has occurred, a report has yet to be issued.
In other business, Hohn said the Housing Authority, yet again, received a favorable Public Housing Assessment System score of 96.
This marks the third year in a row the Housing Authority has been labeled a "High Performer" by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
"This is excellent," board member Patricia Wol said. "Another good job."
The score represents a federal housing authority program's management performance and the North Adams authority is scored high in a variety of categories.
Neville asked Hohn to extend the board's appreciation and congratulations to the Housing Authority staff.
"It's a team effort that is for sure, and it is very impressive," he said.
Tags: Housing Authority, Housing program,
