Lenox Library Association to Host a Stay at Home & Read a Book Ball

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LENOX, Mass. The Lenox Library Association will host its first Stay at Home and Read a Book Ball "non-event" to benefit the Lenox Library on Saturday, March 25, at 7:00 p.m.
 
Guests are invited to stay at home and curl up with a favorite book while donating what they might have spent on a gala night out to support the library.
 
"There is no better way to celebrate and support the library than by losing ourselves in a great book at the Stay at Home and Read a Book Ball. I am excited to curl up on the couch, next to the fireplace and let the pages transport me to another world. Thank you, LLA, for this wonderful event (excuse) to stay home and read," said Lenox resident and Lenox Library Association Trustee, Marybeth Mitts.
 
The event will begin online with a short welcome webinar where participants will meet their seven hosts followed by a live Q&A and conversation session. The Stay at Home and Read a Book Ball hosts are local author and professor at Bard College at Simon's Rock, Brendan Mathews; host and composer for the award winning children's WBUR podcast Circle Round, Rebecca Sheir and Eric Shimelonis; pediatric development specialist and Lenox Library youth department volunteer, Sara Jarvie; book enthusiast and former Lenox Library Association trustee, Susan Dana; voracious reader and Lenox student, Eliza Cass; Lenox family and avid readers, Team Moriarty; and owner of The Bookstore & Get Lit Wine Bar, Matt Tannenbaum.
 
Three local Lenox food establishments have partnered with the Lenox Library Association to support the Stay at Home and Read a Book Ball by offering specials on the day of the March 25th event. Dare Bottleshop and Provisions will offer a special discount for specific purchases on the day of the Book Ball. Firefly Gastropub will donate 15 percent  of the day's proceeds to the Lenox Library Association. All pre-paid Book Ball RSVP donations are eligible for a Loeb's gift basket drawing to be picked up on the afternoon of March 25.
 
To participate, RSVP with a donation in person at the library, by mail at LLA, Attn. Book Ball, 18 Main Street, Lenox, MA 01240, or online at https://lenoxlib.org/support/. Suggested donations start at $25. Donations are tax-deductible and will support the many literacy and educational programs of the Lenox Library.
 
Guests are invited to share their plans and/or photos with us by either emailing them to contact@lenoxlibrary.org or by posting on social media and tagging #lenoxlib, #stayathomeandreadlenox, and #lenoxbookball.
 
The Stay at Home and Read a Book Ball is open to the public and invites guests to have a ball while reading at home and showing support for the Lenox Library by donating what might have been spent on a night out in the Berkshires. Please visit https://lenoxlib.org/support/ for more information.

 


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Pennrose Breaks Ground in Lenox, Bringing 68 Units of Affordable Housing

Staff Reports

LENOX, Mass. — Pennrose announced the groundbreaking of 238 Pittsfield Road, a 68-unit affordable rental community.

The development will bring much-needed affordable, family-friendly housing options to the area.

The community will consist of 10 residential buildings offering a mix of 23 one-bedroom, 38 two-bedroom, and seven three-bedroom apartments. Of the 68 total homes, 57 will be affordable for households earning from 30 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI) up to 80 percent AMI, with the remaining 11 units available at market rate rents.

A community building at the entrance of the development will offer resident-focused amenities, including event space and a fitness center, along with on-site offices for Pennrose management and resident services staff.

"238 Pittsfield Road builds on the progress that the Town of Lenox has made in addressing the region's pressing needs for affordable, family-sized rental housing," said Karmen Cheung, Regional Vice President at Pennrose. "This partnership with the Town of Lenox continues to deliver communities that give families of all sizes a place to call home. Together with Forge, these two communities reflect our long-term commitment to meeting the diverse housing needs of Berkshire families."

Currently only 7 percent of Lenox's housing stock is deed-restricted affordable, falling short of the 10 percent goal established by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Additionally, approximately 90 percent of the town's existing affordable housing is limited to seniors, and market-rate rental options remain sparse.

238 Pittsfield Road is located a mile down the road from Forge,  a mixed-income community that celebrated its grand opening in August. Together, the two sister developments will add a total of 133 new affordable units to the town.

The project continues Pennrose's collaboration with the Town of Lenox and is guided by the goals of the Town's 2017 Housing Production Plan, 2021 Master Plan, and 2002 Gateway Redevelopment Plan.

The project is financed via federal 4 percent tax credit and state tax credit allocations from the Commonwealth's Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC), with the National Equity Fund as the syndicator and Rockland Trust and US Bank as the investors. Rockland also provided construction debt, and the Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP) provided both permanent debt and Workforce Housing Funds. MassDevelopment is the bond issuer, and EOHLC provided additional soft sources and operating subsidy. Finally, the Town of Lenox provided local Affordable Housing Trust and Community Preservation Act funds, as well as funds through the Commonwealth's HousingWorks Infrastructure Program (HWIP).

Haynes Construction is serving as general contractor and The Architectural Team as architect for the development.

Construction is underway and is expected to be completed in early 2028.

 

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