Valley Community Development has 200 affordable homes in its pipeline. These include a wide variety of housing types, from single-person studio rentals to first-time homeownership condos. Development sizes range from 20 to 60 units. Locations in Northampton, Amherst, and Hadley are in planning.
Valley is conducting an affordable housing pre-development study in Easthampton, with the goal of identifying a suitable affordable housing location in the coming 18 months.
Prospect Place — 737 Bridge Road, Northampton, MA (60 family apartments)
Valley received Major Site Plan approval from the Northampton Planning Board in October 2022. In the same month, the Massachusetts Underutilized Properties Program awarded funds to pay for asbestos removal at the property. This abatement work began in January 2023. Valley also submitted its state funding application in January and anticipates an announcement this summer.
Design work continues to evolve and is focused on integrating neighbor comments, producing highly livable apartments for families, and creating a near-zero net energy property that eliminates the use of fossil fuels.
23 Laurel Street, Northampton, MA (20 family apartments)
In December 2022 Valley received a $650,000 grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston Affordable Housing Program. The next month, Valley applied for state financing for this development. Awards are anticipated this summer.
Above: Site Plan rendering by Berkshire Design Group
Above: Typical building renderings by Austin Design, Inc.
EconoLodge, Hadley, MA (50 studio and one-bedroom apartments)
Valley acquired this property in early January 2023 with financial assistance from the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation. Valley also received a Project Eligibility Letter from the state, which allows Valley to seek a site permit under Chapter 40B from the Hadley Zoning Board of Appeals.
27 Crafts Avenue, Northampton, MA (Estimated 20 studio apartments)
In November 2022, Valley responded to a Request for Proposals issued by the City of Northampton to develop a City-owned property at 27 Crafts Avenue for affordable housing. Valley was selected to be the project developer and will work with Jones Whitsett Architects and the City to develop a new construction program and design for the site.
Ball Lane Community Homes — North Amherst, MA
Ball Lane Community Homes is a proposed affordable homeownership development which will create an estimated 30 homes on an 8.33-acre property in North Amherst. Most of the homes will be deed restricted to Low-to-Moderate income first-time homebuyer households. The development will be duplex condominiums clustered around shared open spaces, and shared parking arrangements will minimize vehicular traffic and emphasize pedestrian connections.
Valley acquired the site in August 2022 and is currently in the design phase. Valley presented the first schematic site and building plans at the District One Neighborhood Association BBQ in September 2022 (see below photos) with our design team, Peter Flinker from Dodson & Flinker Associates, and Tom Chalmers from Austin Design Cooperative, Inc.
Ball Lane Community Homes site
