Northern Berkshire Habitat Seeking Applicants for New Home

• currently live in overcrowded or unsafe conditions or be paying more than 50 percent of household income for housing.
• be able to pay a low-interest mortgage, including having a stable and adequate income within Habitat's income limits, as well as having a low debt load and a positive credit rating. 
• be willing to partner with Habitat, including completing 250 hours of sweat equity per adult family member on the home (or other Habitat projects).
• The home will be priced at no more than $147,000, with a final price and mortgage term set to ensure the selected family's housing costs do not exceed 30 percent of their total income. The home will be available to families with incomes up to 60 percent of area median income based on family size.

Williamstown Fire Committee Talks Station Project Cuts, Truck Replacement

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
05:17AM / Friday, April 26, 2024

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.