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Manufactured homes will start being installed before the end of the year on this cleared lot at Allendale Pines.
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Allendale Pines Expansion to Bring More Affordable Homes

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Allendale Pines expansion will bring more affordable homes to the community.
 
The expansion is located at 395 Cheshire Road, bordering the Ashuwillticook Trail, and will include 22 manufactured homes. The project cost is $1.4 million and is not too far from the current mobile home community at 245 Cheshire Road.
 
The homes will start as low as $179,900. Residents will pay owner Teton Management Corp. a lot fee of $550, which will include water and sewer. Residents will be responsible for electric and gas. 
 
"I do feel strongly that we are delivering a product, and indeed it is attainable and affordable housing that I just feel there is a need for that in Berkshire County," said Val Whaling, director of sales for Teton Management Corp. "We feel really strongly about pride of home ownership versus renting an apartment and signing a one-year lease. There's merit in that as well."
 
Whaling said the company likes to see people be able to own a home.
 
"We love pride of home ownership and our customers are that of that nature. They have doggies, they have grandkids. They love to decorate their yards," she said. "We're installing sheds, they love to, you know, plant a garden and have a small lot and a little yard. It's different than buying a stick-built house in Berkshire County right now as well, which is a whole different product and much more expensive." 
 
The multi-section homes are 28 feet wide by 48 feet in length. They will have three bedrooms and two bathrooms. There will be three floor plans to choose from that include open-concept kitchens, upgraded fixtures and appliances, two different porch models and a variety of colors. Each lot will also include a two-car parking spot and an 8-by-10-foot shed.
 
The company has started to clear the land by the trail and expect construction of water and sewer lines, paving and electrical to be done by the end of the year.
 
Teton anticipates having six houses in place and for sale by the end of this year, said Whaling. "I already have a wait list."
 
"We are very excited to bring more high-quality manufactured homes, at an attractive price point, to Pittsfield to help solve the need for more affordable housing in Berkshire County," said Teton President George C. Whaling, in a press release.
 
For more information, Teton can be contacted at 413-770-6296.

Tags: affordable housing,   mobile home park,   

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Dalton Board Signs Off on Land Sale Over Residents' Objections

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff

Residents demanded the right to speak but the agenda did not include public comment. Amy Musante holds a sign saying the town now as '$20,000 less for a police station.'
DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board signed the sale on the last of what had been known as the Bardin property Monday even as a handful of residents demanded the right to speak against the action. 
 
The quitclaim deed transfers the nine acres to Thomas and Esther Balardini, who purchased the two other parcels in Dalton. They were the third-highest bidders at $31,500. Despite this, the board awarded them the land in an effort to keep the property intact.
 
"It's going to be an ongoing battle but one I think that has to be fought [because of] the disregard for the taxpayers," said Dicken Crane, the high bidder at $51,510.
 
"If it was personal I would let it go, but this affects everyone and backing down is not in my nature." 
 
Crane had appealed to the board to accept his bid during two previous meetings. He and others opposed to accepting the lower bid say it cost the town $20,000. After the meeting, Crane said he will be filing a lawsuit and has a citizen's petition for the next town meeting with over 100 signatures. 
 
Three members of the board — Chair Robert Bishop Jr., John Boyle, and Marc Strout — attended the 10-minute meeting. Members Anthony Pagliarulo and Daniel Esko previously expressed their disapproval of the sale to the Balardinis. 
 
Pagliarulo voted against the sale but did sign the purchase-and-sale agreement earlier this month. His reasoning was the explanation by the town attorney during an executive session that, unlike procurement, where the board is required to accept the lowest bid for services, it does have some discretion when it comes to accepting bids in this instance.
 
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