Berkshire Communities To Receive ARPA Funds for Wastewater Improvements

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BOSTON — Adams and Great Barrington will receive American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to go towards wastewater treatment plant improvement projects.
 
State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg, Chair of the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust (the Trust), announced that $66.8 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) will be provided as grants to 52 projects in communities across the Commonwealth. 
 
In Berkshire County:
 
Adams will receive $378,713 in ARPA loan forgiveness and $499,901 in disadvantaged community loan forgiveness towards  wastewater treatment facility capital improvements.
 
Great Barrington will receive $300,300 in ARPA loan forgiveness and $132,132 in disadvantaged community loan forgiveness towards their wastewater pump station upgrades Project.
 
The grants are one portion of a $661.7 million subsidy providing water infrastructure projects. Most projects will take place in disadvantaged communities rendering over $535 million of project costs eligible for additional loan forgiveness.
 
"The grants we are receiving from the federal ARPA legislation support vital water infrastructure projects throughout the state," said State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg. "This investment furthers our commitment to ensuring the health and safety of all Massachusetts residents by providing access to clean drinking water in even more communities this year."
 
In December 2021, the Baker-Polito Administration and the Massachusetts Legislature approved $100 million in ARPA funding to the Trust as grants for water infrastructure projects.
 
"The Baker-Polito Administration is pleased to partner with the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust to ensure that the financial investments being made by the federal government and the Commonwealth result in cost-effective projects that improve water quality, public health and the environment in communities across Massachusetts," said Commissioner Martin Suuberg of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP).
 
The ARPA funds are expected to be spent quickly with funded projects moving towards construction in the spring or summer of 2022. The remaining ARPA funds will be spent similarly for projects targeting construction in 2023.
 
Chaired by Treasurer and Receiver General Deborah B. Goldberg, the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust is a state agency that improves water quality throughout the Commonwealth by providing low-interest loans to municipalities and other eligible entities. 
 
Communities receiving these grants experience a total reduction in project costs which frees up capital for other local needs. The loans pay for water projects such as upgrades to water treatment facilities, stormwater and nutrient mitigation, and sewer improvement projects. Since its establishment in 1989, the Trust has partnered with MassDEP to help develop and finance approximately $8.1 billion of water infrastructure projects serving an estimate 97 percent of the Commonwealth's population.
 
 
 
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Friday Front Porch Feature: Allendale Pines North

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Are you looking for an inexpensive home to raise your family in? Then this might be the home for you. And if not, there's a couple other options.

Our Friday Front Porch is a weekly feature spotlighting attractive homes for sale in Berkshire County. This week we are showcasing model homes at Allendale Pines North.

Teton Management is opening its new manufactured housing development next Allendale Pines at 395 Cheshire Road, and has three different model homes to choose from.

The Monroe with a full porch and with a half-porch, and The Aspire are available to move into in March. 

All the models have three bedrooms and two baths in 1,280 square feet, and include two parking spaces. The Monroe full-porch is on the market for $194,900, Monroe half-porch $189,900, and The Aspire for $204,900. View a video tour here.

The lot rent is $550 a month and it includes trash removal and recycling, as well as water and sewer. Tenants are responsible for their own utilities and lawn care/snow removal. Dogs and cats are allowed, for up to two pets.

We spoke with Val Whaling from Teton Management about the new homes.

What do you think makes this property stand out in the current market? 

The three models — Monroe Full- Porch, Monroe Half -Porch, and The Aspire — are Titan Home products manufactured by Champion Homes and stand out in the current market because:

  • The purchase price of these homes is well below current market rate single-family homes in Berkshire County.

  • The 5 Star Energy-Efficient rating (featuring energy-efficient windows and high- performance insulation) and one-year warranty on the home, sets these homes apart from older, stick-built homes.

  • These homes are built to strict HUD standards and include structural integrity in order to meet federal standards for durability, safety and wind resistance.

Are there any stand-out design features? 

Stand out features include: open concept floorplan, covered porches, stainless steel appliances, large laundry room /mudrooms, and large glass walk-in showers.

What kind of buyer do you see this home being perfect for? 

First time homebuyers/ professionals preferring home ownership vs. renting, empty nesters wanting to downsize, and cost-conscious individuals preferring the affordability of these homes.

What's the neighborhood like? 

Allendale Pines North will be comprised of 22 brand-new homes, on individual lots, set on beautiful property, neighboring the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail. The property is located at 395 Cheshire Road, Pittsfield, offering proximity to retail shopping and dining. Additionally, Allendale Pines North property is well managed by a reputable owner/operator. (All adult community residents are approved via community application approval process.).

What would you say to a buyer trying to imagine their life in this space? 

"Imagine the cost savings of owning a brand-new, energy-efficient home, easy to maintain and allowing the convenience of modern day and easy living, in a quiet, well-managed community."

What does the home come with? 

Included are: Stainless steel Whirlpool appliances (refrigerator with icemaker, dishwasher, and gas stove/oven), and closets equipped with shelf/hanging rod. Plus an 8-by-10-foot Amish built shed, two wooden entrance stairs with wooden handrails and black wrought iron spindles, two-car driveway, sidewalks and brand-new water/sewer infrastructure.

You can find out more about these homes on its listing here.

*Front Porch Feature brings you an exclusive to some of the houses listed on our real estate page every week. Here we take a bit of a deeper dive into a certain house for sale and ask questions so you don't have to.

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