PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Just a few months after Allendale Pines North cut the ribbon on its first six homes in the new manufactured home community, units in the planned development are selling fast with both first and second phases all but sold out.

 

For several years, Teton Management Corp. has been planning to expand its existing Allendale Pines Mobile Community with the development of 22 planned manufactured housing units. The new development has its own entrance at 395 Cheshire Road. 

 

The need for attainable housing has never been higher, Teton President George Whaling said. 

 

"And where we sought the opportunity to help with that demand is, we can get folks into a home at Allendale Pines North for essentially a couple of $100 less than what it would cost for someone to rent a three-bedroom of the same quality," he said. 

 

The corporation took over Allendale Pines, now referred to as Allendale Pines South, about 6 1/2 years ago, Whaling said. 

 

Since then, the corporation has invested $1,000,001 in infrastructure improvements, including replacing all water and sewer lines, paving the community and installing the infrastructure needed for 10 additional units, he said. 

 

Additionally, it has been working to clean up and improve the community, which was lacking during previous ownership, said Jason Nocher, owner of Nocher Realty, which has been hired to help sell the units. 

 

Since taking ownership, Teton Management Corp. has been replacing older mobile homes and has brought in a management on-site team to care for the grounds, he said. 

 

The new development, Allendale Pines North, is being completed in three phases and is projected to cost $1.65 million. 

 

The hope is to have the second two phases complete by the spring of 2027.

 

Once complete, Whaling hopes to carry the same attainable-housing model to new sites, and has been looking at land in Pittsfield and Lanesborough. 

 

"We're hopeful that some of the the southern towns, like Great Barrington or Egremont, would tour our property and take a look at it as less of a manufactured housing project, but more of an affordable housing that we think we can deliver at a lesser cost than some of the affordable housing projects that are happening now," he said. 

 

Within the next five years, Whaling also hopes to start developing 30 to 50 homes in a year. 

 

The Allendale Pines North has made headway after being delayed for four years because of pandemic-era construction costs that were "exorbitant" and required them to wait to secure more economical development pricing, Whaling said. 

 

He emphasized his appreciation for the banking support they received, primarily from Lee Bank and Pittsfield Co-Op. 

 

Teton Management Corp. broke ground on phase one last year, which included the development of six manufactured housing units. Phase 1 officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in May. 

 

Five of the Phase 1 homes have been sold, with the six being used as a model home, but is now on the market, Nocher said. 

 

Work on the next two phases is already underway. The second phase includes the construction of six more units and Phase 3 will construct the remaining 10 homes. 

 

Although not constructed yet, five units for Phase 2 have been pre-sold, some without looking at the model home, Nocher said.

 

"I am shocked that we were able to pre-sell five of the next round without the buyers actually seeing the product … Just visually seeing what's going on here. They're extremely happy to purchase it," he said. 

 

What buyers like about the units is that everything is new, including the roofs, windows, siding and mechanical systems, so owners don't have to worry for the next 25 years, Nocher said. 

 

Additionally, there is a one-year warranty so if anything goes wrong management will come out to fix it at no cost.

 

The units are manufactured inside to keep construction cost, which allows them to sell the units for less, Nocher said. 

 

Despite this, the units don't feel like mobile homes, he said, pointing to how the walls are made of sheetrock instead of paneling, which is a common design in mobile homes. 

 

"They're fantastic … all the fixtures are nice. The kitchens are beautiful. There's two bathrooms in each unit," he said. 

 

"There's three bedrooms in each unit. They're 1,280 square feet. They'll all be double-wides … Every mobile home comes with a shed. It's just beautiful up here." 

 

The streets will have lighting and there are also plans to create a path to the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail.

 

A non-mobile home of this size often goes for $350,000 to $425,000. These units are currently priced at about $200,000 to $240,000, up from the first phase's range of $185,000 to about $210,000 because of the higher material and labor costs, Nocher said. 

 

Lot rent is $550 per month, which includes taxes, water, sewer, street lighting, road maintenance, and trash services.

 

Buying a home at Allendale Pines North also comes with the advantage of not having to share a wall, floor or ceiling with a neighbor, and gives residents their own space to create things like a garden, Whaling said. 

 

"In apartments, you don't have your own parcel, so to speak, and you don't have the ability to gain equity and appreciation over time, which you do when you buy at Allendale Pines North," he said. 

 

The location of the development is also good because it is close to grocery stores and the city while also being tucked away close to the Cheshire line giving residents that desired privacy and quiet, Nocher said.