SPRINGFIELD — Home City Development Inc. (HCDI) will kick off construction of 40 affordable homeownership units on the former Gemini site in the South End of Springfield (76 Morris St.) with a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, Oct. 25 at 10:45 a.m. This project is funded in part by MassHousing, the city of Springfield, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Mass Save, and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center.

When these units are sold, homeownership will increase in the neighborhood census block by over 1,000%. The project’s clean-energy design features all electric utilities, private enclosed garages, and a community pavilion, and will be marketed to first-time homebuyers earning under 100% of Springfield’s area median income (AMI). Once completed, this project will provide dozens of affordable 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.

“We are proud to continue building better neighborhoods in the City of Homes with 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 Sarno, the South End Citizens Council, the Massachusetts Black and Latino Caucus, the Office of Planning and Economic Development, MassHousing, and many others involved for making this project possible.”

SPRINGFIELD — On Nov. 10, Home City Development Inc. (HCDI) received an award from the Springfield Preservation Trust for historic preservation of the Elias Brookings Apartments. HCDI hosted the Springfield Preservation Trust’s annual preservation awards ceremony in the community room at the Elias Brookings Apartments, where a total of 15 individuals and organizations (including HCDI) were recognized. The Springfield Preservation Trust honored the recipients’ hard work, commitment, and dedication to preservation.

Adaptive reuse of the Elias Brookings School was completed in March. This rehabilitation focused on historic restoration, where classrooms were converted into 42 mixed-income apartments and the basketball court was converted into a fully outfitted, 4,000-square-foot community room.

“Restoration and reuse of this historic building ensures that it will continue to serve the city of Springfield and its residents as it has since 1925,” said Peter Serafino, director of Real Estate Development at HCDI. “Elias Brookings Apartments, along with the new Elias Brookings School, the rotary at Six Corners, Ruth Elizabeth Park updates, Educare Springfield, and the Central Street Realignment, together have truly transformed the neighborhood.”

SPRINGFIELD — Home City Development Inc. (HCDI) has signed a land disposition agreement with the city of Springfield to develop up to 40 for-sale residential units on the former Gemini site in the South End of Springfield. This townhouse development will serve low- to moderate-income households earning between 70% and 100% of adjusted median income.

The residential zoning change was approved in October, and Mayor Domenic Sarno signed the land disposition agreement in January. The team is working closely with funders to make sure the project is developed and managed appropriately to serve the community. The HCDI team continues to meet with the South End Citizens Council, receiving valuable input.

“We at Home City are excited by the opportunity to make a significant contribution to the creation of badly needed home-ownership opportunities for working families in our city,” said Thomas Kegelman, executive director of HCDI. “We are grateful for the confidence placed in us by the city to take on this important project. Many thanks to Mayor Sarno and all those who have helped us reach this important milestone.”

HCDI has received a preliminary commitment from MassHousing for the majority of the public financing necessary and has applied to the city of Springfield for the remaining funds. Once these funds are in hand, construction could start as early as the fall of 2022.

Designs are being finalized by Architecture Environment Life of East Longmeadow and Torres Engineering of Wethersfield, Conn.