Northampton Road Supportive Studio Project To Break Ground This Month

The 28-unit supportive studio project at 132 Northampton Road, now named “East Gables,” is slated to begin construction later this month. The groundbreaking was announced by Laura Baker of Valley Community Development at the March 10 meeting of the Amherst Area Affordable Housing Trust. The development will be built by Western Mass. Builders and is estimated to take 14 months to complete. 

Although Amherst has committed $750,000 to the project through Community Preservation Act, Community Development Block Grant, and Housing Trust funds, Baker said that the recent rapid increase in construction costs have caused the cost of the project to increase from $5.1 to $5.9 million. The Department of Housing and Community Development has awarded Valley CDC another $600,000, and Valley CDC has decreased its developer’s fee by $25,000, but Baker requested that the Housing trust contribute an additional $100,000 to help cover the additional construction costs. Because much of the money disbursed through the recent rental assistance program was reimbursed to the Trust through the federal CARES fund, the trust has adequate funds to cover this expense. Members voted unanimously to increase the contribution to the East Gables project.

In the end, the cost will be about $350,000 per unit created, with the town’s share being about $30,000 per unit. Preference will be given to residents of Amherst, or those who work in town, or have children in the Amherst schools. Residents will be selected by lottery after an extensive outreach program. 

The building will be passive-house certified, meaning it will meet stringent requirements for energy efficiency and will be eligible for energy rebates. 

At the March 7 Town Council meeting, Dorothy Pam (District 3) wondered about the name “East Gables” for the building, since it is on the west side of town. Baker was unsure why the name was chosen, but thought it might be related to ”The Gables’ a Valley CDC affordable housing complex in Northampton.

Trust member Erica Piedade was disappointed that neither of the colleges or the university is participating in this project, but Baker said she has met with students from Amherst College and UMass who are very excited about it and about increasing affordable housing in town through their institutions. She is hoping they can influence college officials to advance their proposals.

Baker also said that Valley CDC is hoping to create about 25 houses and townhouses for affordable home ownership on an eight-acre parcel in Amherst. Planning for this development is in its very early stages, but she said that Valley CDC is aware of the soaring prices in town which put home ownership well out of the reach of many residents.