PELHAM — Home City Development Inc. (HCDI) has begun construction of 34 new affordable apartments on a previously developed site in Pelham. The groundbreaking ceremony will take place on Thursday, Nov. 2 at 2 p.m. at 20 Amherst Road, Pelham. Elected officials, funders, and project partners will speak. Parking for the event is at 2 South Valley Road, Pelham.

“Commencement of construction of Amethyst Brook Apartments marks a significant investment in the town of Pelham,” said Peter Serafino, HCDI’s director of Real Estate Development. “Home City Development thanks Governor Healey, Senator Joanne Comerford, and state Representatives Aaron Saunders and Mindy Domb, who delivered the resources to produce much-needed, new affordable housing. The Pelham Select Board and numerous town boards and committees have been incredibly supportive of the project. Local support for Amethyst Brook Apartments has been key to reaching this milestone. The need for all types of new housing throughout our region is well-documented, and the town of Pelham has stepped up to make this development come to fruition.”

Consisting of one-, two-, and three-bedroom rental apartments in two buildings, Amethyst Brook Apartments provides modern amenities in a quiet, rural setting for households earning up to 60% of area median income. The buildings are designed to meet Energy Star and Passive House energy-performance standards. The property will contain charging stations for electric vehicles and roof-mounted solar panels. Along with local jobs, construction spending, and increased property taxes, this professionally managed property is expected to make significant contributions to the town of Pelham.

HCDI was awarded most of the project funding from the Commonwealth’s Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. In addition, HCDI received Community Preservation Act funds from the town of Pelham and construction and permanent loans from Easthampton Savings Bank. Other funders include Community Economic Development Assistance Corp., Massachusetts Housing Investment Corp., and Dorfman Capital.

The development team includes Architecture Environment Life; Western Builders; development consultant Gerry Joseph; Tierney Development Services; Berkshire Design Group; Shatz, Schwartz, and Fentin, P.C.; Klein-Hornig LLP; O’Reilly, Talbot and Okun; and many other partners.

SPRINGFIELD — Home City Development Inc., a Springfield-based affordable-housing developer, was awarded funding for the construction of 34 mixed-income rental apartments in Pelham.

Gov. Charlie Baker awarded the funding in the form of low-income housing tax credits, soft debt, and rental vouchers on Dec. 8. Home City Development previously received funds for Amethyst Brook Apartments from the Life Insurance Community Investment Initiative and Community Economic Development Assistance Corp. This is the first multi-family affordable-housing development approved in the Town of Pelham.

“Thank you to Governor Baker, Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito, all of the staff at the Department of Housing and Community Development, Senator Jo Comerford, and Representative Mindy Domb,” Home City Executive Director Thomas Kegelman said. “The involvement of Pelham residents and town boards and commissions in the planning of Amethyst Brook Apartments have resulted in an affordable rental property that will be an asset to the community.”

The 2.6-acre site at 20-22 Amherst Road will consist of two highly energy-efficient buildings. A 28-unit building will be certified to passive house standards, and a six-unit building which will be certified by Energy Star. The Pelham Zoning Board of Appeals issued a comprehensive permit for Amethyst Brook Apartments in August 2021.

Construction is expected to begin in late spring 2023 and is expected to be completed within 14 months. Western Builders of Granby will be the general contractor on the project, and the design team is led by Architecture Environment Life of East Longmeadow.

PELHAM — Home City Development Inc., a Springfield-based affordable-housing developer, has received a comprehensive permit from the Pelham Zoning Board of Appeals for the construction of 34 mixed-income rental units. On Aug. 10, the Zoning Board approved the comprehensive permit for the property to be known as Amethyst Brook Apartments. This is the first affordable-housing development approved in the town of Pelham and the first time the Zoning Board of Appeals has awarded this type of permit.

“We at Home City Development are humbled by the confidence placed in us by the town of Pelham,” said Tom Kegelman, executive director. “We will do our best to return that confidence with a beautiful and sustainable project, providing affordable housing for those least able to find it in today’s housing market.”

Two new buildings will be constructed at 20-22 Amherst Road; 22 Amherst Road will be designed to ‘passive house’ standards, which includes energy-efficiency specifications that drastically reduce the building’s ecological footprint. Notable additions to the site construction include a stormwater-management system and electric-vehicle charging stations. Next, Home City Development will finalize project financing, and construction is expected to be completed within 12 to 14 months after the start date, to be announced.

The design team is led by Architecture Environment Life of East Longmeadow. Berkshire Design Group of Northampton will conduct civil engineering and landscape design.

SPRINGFIELD — Home City Development Inc. (HCDI) has been chosen as the developer of the former Gemini site in the South End of Springfield. Once completed, the development will include 33 for-sale residential units, to be known as Gemini Town Homes. This project will expand home ownership in the South End by more than 150%.

“We are proud to have been chosen as the developers on this project, and we are grateful for the help and support of many organizations,” said Thomas Kegelman, executive director of HCDI. “Thank you to Mayor [Domenic] Sarno, the South End Citizens Council, Councilor Melvin Edwards, Tim Sheehan and the Office of Planning and Economic Development, and MassDevelopment for making this project possible.”

Once completed, the project will provide dozens of otherwise non-existent housing opportunities for people and families with low to moderate income, as well as millions of dollars of contracting opportunities for local and minority-owned businesses.

HCDI has assembled a team of experienced professionals with demonstrated success with projects like the Gemini Town Homes development. “We believe that this project will provide a solid footing for Springfield’s economic resurgence and continuing pride as the City of Homes,” the company stated.

Home City Development Inc. is a nonprofit, resident-centered developer of multi-family and mixed-use properties in Western Mass. Founded as Better Homes Inc. in 1968 by the Springfield Chamber of Commerce, HCDI has worked for more than 50 years to facilitate community stability and growth in collaboration with the community.

SPRINGFIELD — Home City Development Inc. (HCDI) is celebrating the start of construction of the Elias Brookings Apartments. The groundbreaking will take place today, March 26, at 2 p.m. at 367 Hancock St. in Springfield. A small group of elected public officials will gather for the event, rain or shine. The event will include speakers and a short tour, and will be livestreamed to www.facebook.com/homecitydevelopment. A video of the event, including messages from funders and partners, will be widely circulated soon afterward.

Home City Development has begun construction to adapt and reuse the former Elias Brookings School into 42 mixed-income rental apartments. Elias Brookings Apartments will contain a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments and on-site parking for 61 vehicles. The property will have an elevator, laundry room, and management office. The 4,000-square-foot former gymnasium will be used as a multi-purpose resource center and community room for athletics, theater, youth and adult training and education, supportive services for residents, and other events.

Elias Brookings School was built in 1925 and opened in 1926. The school was damaged in the June 1, 2011 tornado and closed. A new Elias Brookings School was built nearby on Walnut Street, and in 2018 the former school building was purchased by Home City Development. In recognition of Home City Development’s preservation efforts, upon completion, the building will be nominated for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

Funding for the redevelopment is provided by TD Bank, National Equity Fund, Community Economic Development Assistance Corp., the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development, MassHousing, the Springfield Community Preservation Committee, the Springfield Office of Housing, and Dorfman Capital.

Davis Square Architects is the project architect, and Allegrone Construction Co. is the general contractor. Construction is scheduled for completion in March 2022. The completed property will be managed by Housing Management Resources. Tenants will be selected by lottery, and lottery applications will be accepted beginning in late 2021. E-mail [email protected] to request a tenant-selection lottery application.

Home City Development Inc. is a nonprofit, resident-centered developer of multi-family and mixed-use properties in Western Mass. HCDI was founded as Better Homes Inc. in 1968 by the Springfield Chamber of Commerce. Over more than 50 years, HCDI has worked to facilitate community stability and growth in collaboration with numerous partners and residents.

SPRINGFIELD — Home City Development Inc. (HCDI), a Springfield-based affordable-housing development organization, was awarded resources from the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to adapt and rehabilitate the former Elias Brookings School into 42 affordable rental housing units, to be known as Elias Brookings Apartments.

The award includes $1 million in low-income housing tax credits (to generate more than $9 million in equity), $4.4 million of soft debt, and project-based rental vouchers. Other funds for the project include state and federal historic tax credits, city of Springfield HOME and Community Preservation Act funds, and construction and permanent loans. MassHousing will provide the permanent first mortgage loan and a subordinate workforce-housing loan. HCDI plans to begin construction in early 2021 and complete the work in 12 months.

The project will serve a range of incomes, including extremely low-income households, low-income households, and workforce housing. Select apartments are reserved for clients of the Department of Mental Health, people with disabilities, and homeless households. HCDI will offer a variety of supportive services to all residents. The property will be managed by Housing Management Resources, an organization with extensive experience managing comparable properties.

Built as the Elias Brookings School in 1925, the building was severely damaged in the June 2011 tornado and was closed. This redevelopment aims to contribute significantly to the revitalization of the of the Maple Hill, Six Corners, and Old Hill neighborhoods, which were heavily impacted by the tornado.

HCDI is working with Davis Square Architects, development consultant Gerry Joseph, Allegrone Construction, Klein-Hornig LLP, and Shatz, Schwartz, and Fentin, P.C., as well as many other partners on this project.

Home City Development Inc. is a nonprofit, resident-centered developer of multi-family and mixed-use properties in Western Mass. HCDI was founded as Better Homes Inc. in 1968 by the Springfield Chamber of Commerce. Over more than 50 years, HCDI has worked to facilitate community stability and growth in collaboration with numerous partners and residents.

NORTHAMPTON — Home City Development Inc. (HCDI), a Springfield-based affordable-housing development organization, was awarded $2.88 million and seven project-based vouchers by the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). Funds were awarded for renovations of New South Street Apartments, an 18-unit historic building located at 24-34 New South St. in Northampton. Project-based vouchers and supportive service funds will provide housing for seven homeless families. In addition, the city of Northampton awarded $50,000 of Community Development Block Grant funds for this project. 

“Home City Development is proud to provide quality affordable housing and supportive services in Northampton for homeless individuals and families,” said Peter Serafino, director of Real Estate Development at HCDI. “Gov. Baker, Lt. Gov. Polito, and the staff at DHCD understand the many challenges families face in finding housing. Home City Development would like to recognize and thank these Massachusetts leaders, as well as state Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, state Sen. Jo Comerford, and Mayor Narkewicz, for funding the New South Street Apartments improvements.”

Homeless households will be selected from the Three County Continuum of Care Coordinated Entry system. This system includes Hampshire, Franklin, and Berkshire county emergency-assistance shelters and other assistance organizations. HCDI will provide case management and related support services for residents at New South Street Apartments, including those who were formerly homeless. 

HCDI is working with Architecture EL as project architect and Henry General Contractors as contractor. Renovation work is expected to begin this fall and take about nine months to complete.

Home City Development Inc. is a nonprofit, resident-centered developer of multi-family and mixed-use properties in Western Mass. HCDI was founded as Better Homes Inc. in 1968 by the Springfield Chamber of Commerce. Over more than 50 years, HCDI has worked to facilitate community stability and growth in collaboration with numerous partners and residents.