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Date: 1/16/2024
AMHERST — With development expected to allow occupancy during 2028, a two-site project for affordable housing in the town is climbing the steps to reach the permitting, financing, construction and completion stages.
Two locations, the former East Street School and the area covering points at the 70 through 80 blocks of Belchertown Road will become home to more than 70 units after the finalization of development, which is scheduled to commence in 2027, putting the project some two years past its original plan.
Wayfinders, a regional affordable housing and community development organization with housing centers in Springfield, Holyoke and Northampton is behind the $27 million project in cooperation with the town of Amherst.
President and CEO Keith Fairey said the plans are still moving forward on the adjusted timeline.
“With affordable housing projects, any housing project they have to go through lots of public processes both, to get done and so that’s what’s we’re doing now,” he said.
Fairey said the organization has been working since 2021 with town officials and state agencies on the project at 31 East St. and Belchertown Road, and notes challenges and time adjustments are part of any type of construction undertaking.
“The challenges are pretty consistent across construction development today,” he said. “What we’re seeing is, this is not so much a timing challenge as it is a cost challenge with increasing construction costs across the real estate sector, affordable housing, market rate housing, any kind of construction.”
At the same time, he acknowledged the original proposals for the project were made during the heart of the coronavirus pandemic.
Building up from what Fairey said was a town proposed number of units totaling around 40 to then a planned 70 units, has been since updated and increased to 78 units for mixed income housing for families and individuals.
Fairey also said the timeline that they are outlining also has to take into account the availability of resources at the state level although they are excited about Governor Healey’s Affordable Homes Act, a more than $4 billion project designed to create upwards of 40,000 homes across Massachusetts.
“We expect that whatever version of that eventually makes its way through the legislature will be part of the financing for this project,” he said.
Wayfinders offers programs and projects including homeless shelters and assistance for current and would-be homeowners.
The organization, founded in 1972 as a housing allowance project, also assists individuals with securing employment as well as differing types of housing stabilization and rental assistance.
“Today our focus is really on creating greater housing stability for families and creating greater economic mobility so that those individuals can thrive and our communities can thrive as well,” he said.
Units once completed at the two sites will be available to individuals and families with differing levels of the area median incomes, ranging from 30-80% up to market rate incomes. Designs of the apartment units will feature studio to three-bedroom accommodation with energy efficiency and reduced carbon footprint construction.
Wayfinders has collaborated with Amherst on two prior projects in the town.
Fairey acknowledged the work of the town as partners in the project, noting the resources and efforts provided and the location and securing of the project sites themselves.
“The town, across all departments has been supportive,” Fairey said.
Pointing to the 13 anticipated sources of financing alone for the project, Fairey noted the necessity of municipalities, agencies and departments working together.
“All these projects take a tremendous amount of collaboration and partnerships from the Municipal Housing Trust to the town of Amherst to the state of Massachusetts, and multiple agencies,” he said.