PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Community Preservation Committee and Affordable Housing Trust will collaborate for housing applications to clear up confusion and ensure that funds are being used wisely.
After discussion amongst themselves and with the committee that handles Community Preservation Act funds, the trust mapped out a path forward of assisting with the process.
"When the city envisioned this affordable housing trust, one of the things we were responding to was the Community Preservation Committee saying that it would be helpful to have a board specifically focused on housing and housing projects," Director of Community Development Justine Dodds said.
"Because as we all know, as we've learned over the last year and a half, they are very complicated."
This year there are two CPA applications for community housing: $350,000 from Allegrone Companies for the redevelopment of the Wright Building on North Street and $350,000 from The Westside Legends to support a $5.8 million affordable housing project on Columbus Avenue for first-time homebuyers.
Earlier this month, Dodds and chair Betsey Sherman attended the CPA committee's meeting to discuss the partnership. Rather than having the trust waive its $150,000 ask and being the designee of CPA funds for housing, the committee would like it to review the applications and provide feedback for this cycle.
The trust will have a presentation from the proponents and develop feedback before funding applications are due on February 9.
The total ask for FY24 is about $1.7 million and the city has around $966,000 in CPA funds to disperse. Dodds pointed out that the funding is lower than in previous years for different reasons, one being that the "amount of requests is significant."
"They have a difficult task for them this year," she explained.
"In previous years, they've had enough reserves and enough resources to be able to fully fund whatever came before them if they felt that it was worthy and eligible for Community Preservation funds. That will not be the case this year."
At its last meeting, the CPA committee chose not to consider two late eligibility applications that came forward. One of which was a funding request for a condominium and rental housing project at 55 Linden Street, the former Polish Community Club.
Dodds reported that the developer has put together a quite comprehensive plan and though the CPA rejected it for this year, it could be taken up by the trust. It was established with $500,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds.
"We do have ARPA funds that we an organization can handle for this third if we choose to do so," Sherman said.
On Tuesday's City Council meeting agenda is a proposal to amend the state Housing Development Incentive Program zone to include 100 Wendell Avenue, which is planned to become nearly 30 mixed-income rental units, and the Linden Street property. The subcommittee on economic development supported it.
Trustees are in favor of the developer coming before them for a presentation and it was called an "intriguing parcel." The nearly 10,000-square-foot building sits on just under two acres at the corner of Linden and Center Streets.
The panel also discussed making a rubric for the consideration of projects for funding that align with its mission.
Carrie Wright was welcomed to the trust and will serve as the liaison between it and the CPC. She has an experience in the area with art non-profits and real estate.
"There is definitely a housing crisis from what I see," she said.