AMHERST — The region will get 88 new affordable apartments in Amherst and South Hadley, and 37 existing apartments in Holyoke will be preserved, through a statewide infusion of $139 million in funding and tax credits announced by the Baker-Polito administration last week.
“As Massachusetts continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important that we continue to prioritize new affordable housing development to help our most vulnerable families,” Gov. Charlie Baker said in a statement announcing the money.
The awards, through the Department of Housing and Community Development, with federal and state low-income housing tax credits and subsidy funds, will assist with the development of 1,526 new rental units across the state, including 1,346 rental units that are affordable for low- and extremely low-income households.
In Amherst, the supportive studio housing at 132 Northampton Road being undertaken by Valley Community Development is being funded.
That project includes 28 studio apartments, supplemented with onsite supportive services, with 20 apartments for people earning 60% or less of average median income, with 10 having preference for those who have been homeless and two having preference for clients of the Department of Mental Health.
Each unit will be about 240 square feet and have a kitchenette and bathroom, with the building also including common areas and a provider office.
The town has already set aside $700,000 for the project.
In South Hadley is the Plaza Apartments, a new construction project for families at the Woodlawn Shopping Plaza on Newton Street. Like Amherst, the town of South Hadley is supporting the project with its own funds.
When completed, Plaza Apartments will offer 60 apartments, all of which will be affordable to families earning less than 60% of area median income, with 18 of these further restricted for extremely low-income families earning less than 30% of area median income, including families transitioning from homelessness.
In Holyoke, the Valley Opportunity Council is undertaking the Voces de Esperanza occupied project for individuals and families. With city and state money, the 27 units will remain affordable to individuals or households earning less than 60% of area median income, with 10 units further restricted for individuals or households earning less than 30% of area median income, including those making the transition from homelessness.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
