Williams developing affordable housing project

WILLIAMSTOWN – Four organizations have begun working on an affordable housing project on land owned by Williams College.

“We happily announce today the launching of a complementary, privately organized project that has the benefit of a strong site and a development team that’s both deeply grounded in our community and experienced in producing and managing well-designed and effective housing that’s affordable,” Williams College President Adam Falk said.

The Berkshire Housing Development Corporation (BHDC), Higher Ground, the Williamstown Elderly Housing Corporation (WEHC) and the Women’s Institute for Housing and Economic Development are working together to develop the four-acre parcel, which abuts the west side of the elderly affordable housing complex Proprietor’s Field.

“It not only abuts current affordable housing, but is clean, in town, on a public bus route and near the senior center, for one set of potential residents, and across the street from the elementary school, for another,” Pres. Falk added. “So well-suited is this land for affordable housing, that the college, with the approval of the board of trustees, has decided to donate it for this project.”

The participating organizations seem equally excited to participate in the project.

“As the original developer and current property manager of Proprietor’s Field, we’re very excited to be chosen by Williams to be part of the team to help address the recognized housing needs in Williamstown,” BHDC President Elton Ogden said. “The site being offered by the college is ideally located for this use and the school’s offering of it is the catalyst needed to get the project started.”

A recent, town-commissioned study reinforced the longstanding perception that Williamstown lacked sufficient affordable housing, with the situation having been made worse by the devastation of Tropical Storm Irene.

“Throughout our 32-year history, we’ve brought our professional development expertise to work and partnered with local advocates to create housing opportunities appropriate for each community,” Women’s Institute Deputy Director Mollye Wolahan added. “We look forward to continuing the discussion that Williamstown has already begun regarding the needs for affordable housing as we work with the community to define the appropriate housing for this site.”

To begin the project, the development team will study the parcel more closely and hold sessions to solicit community input on its scope, size, nature and design.

Posted by Catherine M. Krummey on June 27, 2013. Filed under Community News,News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry