A new path to homeownership: Amherst Community Homes officially opens

DAILY HAMPSHIRE GAZETTE:

AMHERST — After more than 25 years in North Amherst, the last 17 as a renter at Riverside Apartments, Cat Stryker never expected to own a home here. This fall, she will.

Next month, Stryker will acquire a duplex at Amherst Community Homes, where she’ll share a dwelling with her grown daughter.

“I could never afford to live here, but this is my neighborhood,” Stryker said. “Now I’m going from one beautiful place to another.”

The unusual opportunity for Stryker and others, selected through a lottery program, means they can start relocating in October to the 30 homes that range in size from 995 to 1,275 square feet at the nearly complete 9-acre site between Montague Road/ Route 63 and Pulpit Hill Road, the site of a former trucking terminal.

There is lots of greenspace and areas for a community garden, walkways throughout and a meadow that remains intact, providing a buffer and privacy for the residents. Stryker said she has loved walking through this meadow over the years.

As the Valley Community Development Corp. development nears the finish line, officials Wednesday afternoon marked the completion of the $20.5 million project, which saw the town invest $1.6 million in combined Community Preservation Act and Amherst Municipal Affordable Housing Trust funding.

Each of the condominium units will have a refrigerator, stove and dishwasher in the kitchens, with plentiful cabinets, a washer and dryer, two bathrooms and large windows that provide passive solar. Solar panels are also being attached to each of the 15 buildings.

Valley CDC Executive Director Alexis Breiteneicher, standing on the main walkway leading from Montague Road into the complex, explained how rare such a development is for her nonprofit, as construction of affordable apartments is far more common.

She credited the town as well as the CommonWealth Building program of MassHousing, the quasi-public affordable housing bank for the state. “Without their support, this wouldn’t have happened,” Breiteneicher said.

Built by Keiter Corp., Amherst Community Homes has been a long-term vision for Jessica Allan, Valley’s real estate development director, who first brought the concept aimed at building generational wealth to town officials and the neighborhood in summer 2022.

While Allan wasn’t sure how many future homeowners were present at the event, she addressed her closing remarks to some of those likely on hand. “I hope you love it here, I really do,” Allan said.

The event featured cupcakes from Carefree Cakery, one of the Mill District stores that, like Puffer’s Pond and Mill River Recreation Area, is within walking distance.

So far, eight of the homes are under contract. Aside from Stryker, others present didn’t know if they will be coming to the location, with one mother, with her toddler in a stroller, uncertain over whether the bank handling her loan will approve the mortgage.

Valley CDC will remain an owner for about a year after all sales are completed, and then the property will become much like a condominium complex, with shared leadership for the association. Those who buy the homes will be able to sell them, though there will be a cap on resale value so that, while they can build equity, the homes will not lose their affordability. Those eligible to buy the homes can qualify by being at or below 80% to 100% of area median income, meaning the homes are selling for between $163,000 and $275,000.

State Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, said she understands the need for housing and growing the region’s population. Amherst Community Homes, she said, can be a model for how a community aligns with Gov. Maura Healey’s commitment to equitable development.

“Amherst has been continually gutsy about developing housing and putting its own money behind housing developments time and time and time again,” Comerford said.

“I’m stunned by the beautifulness of this project,” said state Rep. Mindy Domb, D-Amherst, applauding Valley CDC and the state’s Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities for achieving an important goal, specifically “making housed people happen.”

“The piece I found most appreciative is where you work with people eligible to live here and build the capacity for people to apply to live here,” Domb said.

Town Manager Paul Bockelman described the development as “transformational” and noted that low- and moderate-income people are disproportionately impacted by rising rents. “This is a rare species happening in this community,” Bockelman said.

He recognized that the housing and energy crises are being addressed in the same project.

“We need a whole lot more of these things happening,” Bockelman said, pledging to keep on track developments, such as at the former VFW site on Main Street that will feature supportive housing and a permanent homeless shelter.

Mounzer Aylouche, vice president of Homeownership Programs for MassHousing, was on hand because the CommonWealth Builder program provides a subsidy for first-time homebuyers and seeks to increase homeownership for Black, Indigenous and people of color communities and enhance generational wealth.

“It makes me feel very proud of what we do,” Aylouche said.

Several neighborhood residents showed their receptiveness to the development, including Mary Kraus, who lives at the Cherry Hill Cohousing. Kraus said that residents are thrilled to welcome more families.

Members of the Town Council also attended.

District 1 Councilor Cathy Schoen, who represents the section of town with Amherst Community Homes, said the solar will lower utility bills, while the design takes cues from nearby homes.

“The architecture of it fits with the neighborhood,” Schoen said.

Sam MacLeod, District 5 Councilor, chaired the CPA Committee when it recommended the town’s contributions. “The outcome is wonderful,” MacLeod said.

Scott Merzbach – Daily Hampshire Gazette