In The Pipeline

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. 

With help from Saloomey Construction and WellSpring Geothermal, Valley recently drilled a test well to assess the site for future geothermal energy. Geothermal is an excellent passive renewable energy source that involves using the natural ground temperature for heating & cooling. If the test well provides positive results, future wells would go down 400 feet into the ground. Geothermal could help us operate affordable housing for years to come!

Valley acquired this property in early January 2023 with financial assistance from the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation and applied in February to the Hadley Zoning Board of Appeals for a permit under Chapter 40B. Multiple Hadley Boards and residents supported Valley’s proposed redevelopment, however, the Hadley Zoning Board of Appeals denied the permit. Valley is currently exploring options to bring this property into productive use as affordable housing.

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. 

Valley Community Development proposes to build an affordable homeownership development which will create an estimated 30 homes on an 8.33-acre property in North Amherst. All 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 with our design team, Peter Flinker from Dodson & Flinker Associates, and Tom Chalmers from Austin Design Cooperative, Inc. A second neighborhood community meeting was held on the property in April 2023 to review the site redevelopment and building plans to date. Valley intends to file a Chapter 40B Comprehensive Permit request with the Amherst Zoning Board of Appeals this year.

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