Prospect Place: New affordable housing opens in Northampton

Brand new affordable housing opened up in Northampton today and the community celebrated with a ceremony. >> 22 News reporter Aretta Odia joins us live in studio with why these units are setting an example for housing in the Commonwealth. >> Yes, Nick Anara for Northampton. These aren't just apartment units, but a energyefficient building with a new story to tell. With rent on the rise, shortages of affordable homes, and high demand, Massachusetts still faces a housing crisis. It really doesn't matter whether you're in the western part of the state, the middle part of the state, or the eastern part of the state. Everybody is challenged with finding affordable places. Tariffs and other things are driving up the cost of housing, materials that go into units. >> Communities like Northampton celebrate a more innovative strategy with the opening of Prospect Place, their new 60UN affordable housing development. The former nursing home went from vacant for over a decade to a brand new home for families. But we have the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, Mass Housing, Mass Housing Partnership, Department of Energy Resources, and a whole slew of others that helped make this happen. >> It took $30 million total to build with 19 sources of funding. An impressive 4,600 people applied to live in these units. And to adhere to fair housing laws, it's up to a lottery system. Majority of residents rent cost is dependent on their income with the rest covered by subsidies. There's clean energy technology using geothermal wells. It's an improvement. many are excited for. >> Once the building's running, it's less expensive. It is all electric and that will be offset by almost an acre of solar panels that we're putting up. >> Another being the artistry from the exterior to the interior, working with local muralists to have a less industrial look in a more vibrant community. Now, Valley CD hopes folks are selected and moved in within the next month. And there's two other Northampton projects in the works. 30 units at Crafts Avenue and 92 units on King Street. working for you. Orata Odia, 22 News.