 Pittsfield Affordable Housing Trust Looks to ResourcesEstablished last year with an initial $500,000, the Affordable Housing Trust soon expects to see additional resources to aid its mission. Affordable Housing Trust Talks Preservation of Pittsfield UnitsAffordable Housing Trust member Michael McCarthy asked his colleagues: How do we leverage trust fund monies for quality affordable housing? Pittsfield Affordable Housing Trust Hears Ins & Outs of DevelopmentThe panel is early in its work. It met for the first time in the fall after being established by the City Council over the summer. Construct Closes on Windflower Inn to Expand Workforce HousingThe historic 10.5 acres property, built in 1850, at 684 South Egremont Road, will help local businesses find housing for their staff. Pittsfield, Williamstown Developments to Receive Housing Tax CreditsThe Baker-Polito Administration announced $93.4 million in direct funding and $33 million in state and federal housing tax credits to support the development of 790 housing units across 14 projects  Letter: Affordable Housing ProposalUnits of affordable housing in Berkshire County need not be created with a one size fits all mindset. Affordable for who? Very often affordable housing is very costly, even excessively so for its creators or municipalities. Pittsfield Conservation Commission OKs Supportive Housing ProposalBerkshire Housing Development Corp. intends to build a 28-unit permanent supportive housing complex. Williamstown Board's Try to Make Housing Affordable Called 'Madness'Ernest-Jones was speaking in response to a draft warrant article that would essentially replace the term "mobile home" in the zoning bylaw with the more contemporary term "manufactured home" and allow said structures in all residential areas subject to the same rules as any other home.  Pittsfield Affordable Housing Trust Meets for the First TimeThe seven-member board aims to help the city address housing needs that disproportionately affect under-resourced residents.  Pittsfield Community Development Board OKs Permanent Supportive Housing ProjectIt is designated as permanent supportive housing, which combines affordable housing and support services to build independent living skills and connect people with health, treatment, and employment resources.  Pittsfield Allocates $8.6M in ARPA Funds for Housing InitiativesThe allocation will fund the construction of 37 new permanent supportive housing units and 41 new affordable housing units in the city. Williamstown Housing Officials: CPA Grant Not in Conflict with Section 8 NeedsBut the officials who administer the Section 8 program said this month that they support the Community Preservation Act allocation as constructed and it does not negatively impact the federal program.  Developers Pursue Duplex Project with Affordable Component for Former Williamstown Grange SiteLast week, Alexander Carlisle appeared before the board of the town's Affordable Housing Trust to seek its support for the project in anticipation of an approval process that will involve the town waiving zoning regulations to allow the development. Only One Applicant for Lenox Affordable Housing LotteryPittsfield resident Alejandra Lima, the only applicant for either house, won 10 Hynes St. for $254,000 with a tax rate of $10.84 per $1,000.  Lenox Housing Trust Holding Lottery for Two 'Affordable' HomesConstruct Inc., a nonprofit provider of affordable housing and supportive services in the Southern Berkshires, will be administering the lottery for the Lenox Affordable Housing Trust.  Pittsfield to Use ARPA Funds for Affordable Housing InitiativesThe first round of award proposals announced last fall included funding for the future emergency homeless shelter located at the First United Methodist Church on Fenn Street and Mayor Linda Tyer reported that there are additional housing initiatives underway.  Williamstown Community Preservation Committee OKs 4 ApplicationsTwo of the committee's votes were unanimous. The other two were opposed by at least one member of the panel, and one came down to a 4-3 decision.  Construct Opens Affordable Housing LotteryApplications are due by April 1, 2022, and the lottery will be held on April 5.  BRPC, 1Berkshire to Release Regional Housing StrategyThe effort began almost two years ago when the entities partnered to address the countywide housing crisis they were hearing about from businesses and communities. A practitioners group consisting of local planners, realtors, bankers, developers, and nonprofit employees was assembled and got to work. Williamstown Select Board Offers Financial Support to Louison House ShelterWilliamstown resident Michael Goodwin, the current president of the board of Louison House, told the board that the non-profit has secured $175,000 in state funds toward a $200,000 project to establish a shelter at the Mount Royal Inn on Route 8 in Adams.  Renovated Flood House in North Adams Ready to Give ShelterThe manse will now offer permanent housing in two apartments on the second floor and a handicapped accessible unit on the first floor as well as emergency shelter for teenagers and offices for Louison House.  Construct To Hold Affordable Housing WebinarThe webinar panelists will focus on their work related to affordable housing and support services and will respond to the audience's questions.  Williamstown Celebrates Opening of Affordable Housing DevelopmentStarting next week, dozens of families will begin new lives in a series of brand-new townhouses that flank the four-story former mill building that has been converted to apartments. Officials hope to move people into the "cube," the converted mill, in September and October.  Berkshire Housing Announces Leadership TransitionThe Board of Directors of Berkshire Housing Development Corporation has announced that Eileen Peltier, currently of Montpelier, Vt., has been selected as its new President and CEO effective April 20.  Pittsfield's Reigning Love Church to Become Eastview ApartmentsAM Management LLC of Pittsfield is beginning construction on a $3.2 million makeover of Reigning Love Church across from Pittsfield High School into market-rate and affordable housing units. |
