Praise for Great Barrington’s many efforts on addressing affordable housing shortages

To the editor:

Housing costs and rents have risen at an alarming rate in the southern Berkshires. The town of Great Barrington, with help from several nonprofit partners, has worked hard to ensure that there are affordable housing options. A decade ag Great Barrington laid out a vision in the Master Plan for a healthy downtown, a thriving Housatonic village, protection of natural resources and agriculture, and a focus on increasing housing for all, but particularly affordable housing options. Many of the specific goals and tasks laid out in the Master Plan have been fulfilled and have helped to make Great Barrington a vibrant and dynamic town. The Planning Board has revised zoning to encourage development and streamlined the process wherever practical. The recently dedicated Windrush Commons, developed by Community Development Corporation of South Berkshire (CDCSB) with 49 affordable units, was rezoned and received financial support from the town. Through various funding sources, such as the Community Preservation Act (CPA), American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), and the town’s Affordable Housing Trust (AHT), Great Barrington has also:

• Awarded CDCSB $450,000 for the 45-unit Bentley Apartments and $200,000 for maintenance at the Hillside Apartments developed a generation ago.
• Committed $600,000 (ARPA, AHT) to CDCSB for the purchase of an existing six-unit block that has historically offered affordable rents.
• Supported Construct Inc’s. mission of providing emergency and transitional housing with grants of $100,000 and partnered with Construct to provide emergency rental assistance to keep people in their homes, particularly those effected by the pandemic economy.
• Awarded $650,000 in ARPA funding to Construct Inc. to purchase the former Windflower Inn, which has become a model for workforce housing with 19 en-suite rooms.
• Awarded $220,000 in CPA funding to Construct Inc. for renovations to the Forest Springs development.
• Awarded $200,000 in CPA funding toward the addition of 31 units at Bostwick Gardens.
• Awarded a derelict house to Habitat for Humanity. The renovated house will be sold as an affordable home.
• Habitat is also developing 20 homes on land that the town purchased for $185,000, and subsequently received a $3.3 million grant from the state to assist with development.

The town of Great Barrington and the Affordable Housing Trust Fund will continue to seek ways to support our community with affordable rentals, assistance with first-time home purchases, and help for transitional housing. As much as has been accomplished it hasn’t come close to meeting the need.

Fred Clark, Chair of the Great Barrington Affordable Housing Trust Fund
Great Barrington