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Cassilis Farm in New Marlborough, being renovated by Construct into affordable housing, will be the site of a designer showcase fundraiser in June.

Construct to Host Designer Showcase

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NEW MARLBOROUGH, Mass. — Construct Inc., a nonprofit provider of affordable housing and supportive services to residents in 15 towns across the Southern Berkshires, will hold its first Designer Showcase event/exhibition.
 
Slated for the entire month of June 2024, the Designer Showcase will highlight the work of more than a dozen local and regional designers, as well as landscape architects and visual artists. Each exhibitor has been assigned a space at Cassilis Farm, a 27-acre, Gilded Age estate that Construct, along with the New Marlborough Housing Development Committee, purchased at auction with the intention of renovating and converting it into 11 much-needed affordable housing apartments.
 
"We have the opportunity to take advantage of Construct having acquired this magnificent estate," said board Secretary Hinda Bodinger, who is also co-chair for the Designer Showcase Committee. "Utilizing such a beautiful space allows us to highlight the talent of the designers, and to share our mission in a unique way with the greater community."
 
"As we've reached out to interior designers, landscape designers and others with our appeal to help us with the Showcase, the overwhelming response has been 'YES!,'" said co-Chair and board member Laura Jordahl. "Because they, like many businesses, have been directly affected by the shortage of affordable housing. All of us know that working to make Cassilis into a place that 11 families will call home will help to strengthen our community ties."
 
The Designer Showcase, themed "Nature in the Berkshires," will be a timed, ticketed walkthrough and will be open to visitors through five weekends in June. Additional events surrounding the fundraiser include a New Marlborough community day as well as a special opening night tour and reception at Cassilis Farm.
 
Berkshire Magazine is the official media sponsor of the Construct Designer Showcase.
 
Information about the Designer Showcase will be updated here, as well as via Construct's social media handles. Tickets may be purchased online

Tags: affordable housing,   showcase,   

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South County Towns to Share Housing Rehabilitation Grant

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — The Healey-Driscoll administration has awarded $1.375 million to fund housing rehabilitation projects for income-eligible residents of Great Barrington, Egremont and Stockbridge.

The funds provide a 0 percent interest, deferred payment loan of up to $50,000, which is forgivable if the homeowner remains in the residence for at least 15 years. Applications will be made available before the end of this calendar year.

Funds cover building code repairs, weatherization, lead paint abatement, handicap accessibility and emergency funds for leaking roofs, failed furnaces and septic systems.

The funds come from  a Community Development Block Grant, which will fund home improvements for up to 16 low-and moderate-income households.  

"We are grateful to the Healey administration for its support of homeowners in our community," said Town Manager Mark Pruhenski. "As we work to support affordable rental housing in Great Barrington it's also essential to support homeowners who need financial support in making sure their homes are safe, healthy and energy efficient."

The town will open the application process within a few months, and will prioritize grants for correcting health and safety violations. Applications will be considered on a first come, first served basis.

Program details:
  • The Regional Housing Rehab Program is a grant-funded program that provides eligible households with a 0% interest deferred payment forgivable loan of up to $50,000.
  • Residents are accepted on a first-come/first-served basis and must be income eligible.
  • The maximum eligible income for a two-person household is $70,110; $87,600 for a four person household.
  • There is no cost to the town of Great Barrington.
  • Residents repay a portion of the loan only if they sell their home within 15 years.
  • A professional Program Manager and Rehab Specialist work with the homeowners on their approved project.

 

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