AMHERST — A North Amherst development that will include 30 affordable homes in 15 duplexes, giving home-ownership opportunities to families, is being financially supported by the Amherst Affordable Housing Trust.
The trust voted 5-2 on Aug. 10 to commit $375,000 to Valley Community Development’s Amherst Community Homes, a $17.17 million development on just over 9 acres off Ball Lane. The homes are to be part of the state’s Commonwealth Builders program, which provides a subsidy for first-time homebuyers and also aims to increase home ownership for Black, Indigenous and people of color communities and enhance generational wealth.
The trust’s support for the mix of two- and three-bedroom duplexes supplements $750,000 already coming from the town’s Community Preservation Act account.
Jessica Allan, real estate project manager for Valley CDC, said the idea of the project is to provide first-time homebuyers with access to new dwellings. “It is very rare to have this program and to have it available,” Allan said.