Ribbon cutting to mark opening of 53-unit North Commons at Village Hill in Northampton

July 13, 2022 : MassLive.com, by Jim Russell

NORTHAMPTON – A ribbon cutting to celebrate completed construction of North Commons at Village Hill, a 53-unit apartment building on 140 Olander Driveis set for Thursday at 11 a.m.

The Community Builders developed the $19.6 million project, which is near Smith College and the Mill River.

In a news release, the TCB said this is a “126-acre public/private redevelopment. North Commons marks the end of the two decades of redevelopment on the campus by MassDevelopment, the City of Northampton, TCB and private homebuilders and developers.”

It says “North Commons was conceived in partnership with the City of Northampton and Valley Community Development to bring more affordable housing opportunities to the Village Hill campus.”

There are four three-bedroom units, 22 two-bedroom units, 19 one-bedroom units and eight studio apartments.

“Of the total 53 apartments, 12 for residents earning under 30 percent of area median income (AMI), 3 units for those earning under 50 percent AMI, 24 for residents earning under 60 percent AMI, and 14 for residents earning under 80 percent of AMI. Of the total units, 12 will be set aside for clients of the Department of Mental Health and the Massachusetts Rehab Commission,” the news release says.

In addition to North Commons residents, those scheduled to attend the July 14 ribbon cutting include: Northhampton Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra, Ward 2 City Councilor Karen Foster, the TCB Director of Development Rachana Crowley, Massachusetts Undersecretary of Energy/Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Judy Chang, MassDevelopment’s Senior Vice President Claire O’Neill, the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation’s Director of Housing Lionel Romain, and

Mark Teden, Vice President, Multifamily Programs for MassHousing.

The news release says a number of agencies were involved with financing the projected including Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development, Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency, Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation, Massachusetts Clean Energy Commission, the city’s Community Preservation Act bank, and Community Development Block Grant funds.