MACDC Support Letter for Valley CDC Lumber Yard Project August 2014.pdf
August 22, 2014
Mr. Downey Meyer, Chair
Community Preservation Committee
City of Northampton
210 Main Street - Room 11
City Hall
Northampton, MA 01060
Re: Redevelopment of the former Northampton Lumber Yard
Dear Mr. Meyer:
I am writing to strongly support Valley CDC’s request for $500,000 to purchase and
redevelop the former Northampton Lumber Yard property located at 256 Pleasant Street.
Valley CDC will construct approximately 50 new affordable rental apartments and 3,500
square feet of commercial space on the first floor. These new homes will be located close
to transportation, retail stores, grocery stores, the bike path, and the new Amtrak train
platform.
I write on behalf of the Massachusetts Association of Community Development
Corporations (MACDC) and on my own behalf, as a resident of Northampton and as a
volunteer for Valley CDC.
MACDC is an association of mission-driven community development organizations
dedicated to working together and with others to provide places of opportunity where
people of diverse incomes and backgrounds access housing that is affordable, benefit
from economic opportunities and fully participate in the civic life of their community.
With 88 current Members, we achieve this by building and sustaining a high performing
and adaptive community development sector that is supported by private and public
investment and sound public policies.
This project will meet a pressing need for this type of housing downtown and provide the
City of Northampton with a sustainable, mixed-use building that enhances the Pleasant
Street corridor. The proposal is consistent with the housing and community development
priorities of the City of Northampton and meets Community Preservation Act criteria for
affordable housing.
Considering Valley CDC’s experience and expertise in developing affordable housing, I
believe they are well prepared to take on this new project which will result in decent safe
affordable housing for our Commonwealth’s working families. This past year has seen
Valley CDC start construction on a project which will contribute 38 affordable rental units
to Easthampton. Valley CDC has an established track record of service to Northampton’s
residents.
I thank you in advance for your consideration of this request and again urge you to look
favorably on Valley CDC’s proposal to redevelop the former Northampton Lumber Yard
property into a mixed-use development with 50 family rental units.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at the number below.
Sincerely,
Don Bianchi
Senior Policy Advocate
Mass. Assoc. of Community Development Corporations
P: (617) 379-5926 | E: donb@macdc.org