MassDevelopment and Wright Builders Break Ground on Eastview Homes at Village Hill Northampton
October 29, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Kelsey Abbruzzese, MassDevelopment, 617-330-2086
Teri Anderson, City of Northampton, 413-587-1253
Jonathan Wright, Wright Builders, 413-586-8287
Northampton Mayor Mary Clare Higgins and MassDevelopment COO Nancy Howard joined Wright Builders Founder and CEO Jonathan Wright today to break ground on the Eastview homes, a twelve-unit Craftsman-style townhouse complex. Eastview homes will be Energy Star and LEED-certified and exemplify New Urbanist neighborhood principles.
“I am excited to see this next step in the development of Village Hill,” said Mayor Higgins. “The energy efficiency and sustainability of these units sets a new higher standard in residential development.”
“Our goal is to make Village Hill Northampton a landmark for livability in the Commonwealth,” said Nancy Howard, MassDevelopment COO. “Working closely with Mayor Higgins, the City Council, the CAC, and Village Hill residents, we are creating a cutting-edge New Urbanist neighborhood that will provide a wide choice of housing options, both for ownership and rental, as well as access to cultural and recreational amenities.”
New Urbanism is a growing movement among planners, urban designers, architects, developers, public officials, and residents working to promote neighborhood-based development as an alternative to sprawl. Goals of the movement include: improving quality of life by reducing the distances between home and workplace; increasing availability and safety of alternative transportation options; and preserving natural resources.
“Moving forward on Eastview marks another first for Wright Builders at Village Hill, and has been made possible by extensive teamwork with MassDevelopment, Florence Savings Bank, and City Hall,” said Jonathan Wright. “This project is the region’s first townhome project to be registered for LEED Certification, and with units priced starting at $269,000, moves the North Campus vision of mixed housing and light commercial development one important step forward.”
In addition, construction to complete Moser Street is well underway. This new portion of the road opens development of the next area of Housing at Village Hill Northampton.
MassDevelopment, the state’s finance and development authority, works with businesses, financial institutions, and local officials to stimulate economic growth across the Commonwealth. During FY2008, MassDevelopment financed or managed 265 projects statewide representing an investment of more than $3 billion in the Massachusetts economy. These projects are supporting the creation of 4,001 housing units and more than 10,384 jobs: 5,424 permanent and 4,960 construction-related.
