North Adams Community Development Panel Mulls Affordable Housing TrustOne City Council committee is hoping to take more active steps on housing and economic development in North Adams. Williamstown Housing Trust Discussing Marketing Plan for SubdivisionThe board of the town's Affordable Housing Trust hopes to resolve in January an issue with the non-profit looking to build four single-family homes on a Summer Street parcel owned by the trust. Pittsfield Housing Trust Awards $860K in APRA FundsWith an end-of-year deadline, the trust recommended three projects for funding, and extra American Rescue Plan Act monies were allocated to fill the gaps. The panel was originally awarded $500,000 to disperse. Pittsfield Housing Trust Has End of Year ARPA DeadlineThe Affordable Housing Trust has four months to commit a half-million dollars in American Rescue Plan Act funds. Williamstown Housing Trust Faces Decision on Family Selection Process for New DevelopmentThe board of the Affordable Housing Trust may face a decision about whether it's more important to follow the practice of its non-profit partner or the dictates of a state housing program. Pittsfield Housing Trust Digs into ARPA ProposalsThe trust reviewed five letters of intent for housing projects in the city and will ask the parties to submit a full application. Williamstown Housing Trust Seeks to Resolve Habitat Project IssuePart of the plan Habitat developed with civil engineer Guntlow and Associates is a rain garden that would be part of the subdivision's stormwater management plan. Williamstown Affordable Housing Trust Hears Objections to Summer Street ProposalA couple of the residents who addressed the AHT said they are concerned that Northern Berkshire Habitat is biting off more than it can chew and will not have the resources to build five houses at the site. Habitat for Humanity Plans Wednesday Info Sessions on Williamstown DevelopmentNorthern Berkshire Habitat for Humanity will hold two information sessions this spring for residents interested in a planned five-home development off Summer Street. Pittsfield Housing Trust Looks to Involvement with CPA ProcessThe Affordable Housing Trust will offer its expertise for Community Preservation Act applications related to housing. Habitat for Humanity Making Plans for Williamstown's Summer Street LotNorthern Berkshire Habitat for Humanity is making plans to develop four single-family homes on a Summer Street residential lot the Affordable Housing Trust acquired in 2015. Williamstown Housing Trust Awards First-Time Homeowner GrantA representative of lender Greylock Federal Credit Union told the trustees that the would-be homeowner would have needed help from family to make the purchase happen, but for the grant from the town. Exorbitant Housing Prices, Limited Options for Pittsfield ResidentsLocal leaders highlighted housing needs at a public input meeting with the Affordable Housing Trust on Wednesday. Williamstown Housing Trust Exploring New IdeasIn the former, they talked about following models in other communities that allow higher grants for income eligible homebuyers or pursuing partnerships with homebuilders that might have more capacity than the non-profit Habitat for Humanity, which relies on volunteer labor for much of the work. Pittsfield Housing Trust Explores Relationship Between Energy Efficiency and AffordabilityOn Wednesday, the Affordable Housing Trust looked into energy costs as a challenge of affordable housing with presentations from the Berkshire Community Action Council and the Berkshire Environmental Action Team. |