Valley Community Development Corporation

CHESTER — Making good on an offer she extended during a recent legislative debate, East Boston Sen. Lydia Edwards visited Chester on Thursday to learn more about the challenges involved in developing affordable housing in the hinterlands of western Massachusetts.

It was part of a two-day trip for Edwards, who also found time to visit Fitchburg, Holyoke, Great Barrington, Springfield, Hadley and Greenfield.

In Chester, Edwards, who chairs the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Housing, joined Sen. Paul Mark, D-Becket, on a tour of the Chester Commons, the town’s former high school, which is undergoing extensive renovations since its purchase in 2020 by the Hilltown Community Development Corp.

The building was originally converted to affordable housing in 1987, but had fallen into disrepair under the previous ownership. Hilltown CDC’s aim was to preserve the 15 units of affordable housing for seniors and those with disabilities, while bringing the building up to modern standards of habitability and accessibility.

NORTHAMPTON — A Mediterranean breeze has swept through downtown, bringing a taste and feel of Morocco to Main Street with Meriyem’s Cafe.

Located in the storefront formerly occupied by Dobra? Tea, the Northampton eatery offers its patrons the allure and decor reminiscent of a traditional Moroccan home with an indoor garden or a courtyard, also known as a riad. For an added touch, all of the interior walls have been limewashed with actual limestone, mimicking the appearance of buildings in the western region of North Africa.

A native of Morocco, owner Raina Yetts recalls gathering outside at the riad around a sun oven to cook, eat and be together.

“I wanted that feeling here in America where people could try all of these Moroccan fusion items and Mediterranean fusion items in a gathering place rather than just having us just appear at a wedding a few times a year,” said Yetts.

NORTHAMPTON — The Planning Board approved a site plan Thursday for a six-story affordable housing project at 27 Crafts Ave., clearing a key hurdle for the 30-unit building to rise from behind City Hall in the coming years.

Valley Community Development Corporation’s $16.6 million project would be located on a parcel that currently consists of a staircase leading to a parking lot behind City Hall and connecting to the city’s Puchalski Municipal Building.

Preliminary plans show the average size for the apartments would be 327 square feet. The building would also feature bicycle storage rooms, a laundry room and offices for property management, resident services, and maintenance staff on-site.