NORTHAMPTON, Mass. The Community Builders (TCB) held a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of North Commons at Village Hill, a 53-unit, affordable mixed-income family housing development in the City of Northampton. Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra, new residents of North Commons, and other public officials attended the celebration.

The environmentally sustainable North Commons project is passive house certified by the Passive House Institute, United States (“PHIUS”) which is the highest energy standard in North America. It is the first passive house multifamily building in Western Massachusetts. North Commons includes a total of 53 rental homes. Eight are studios, 19 are one-bedroom, 22 are two-bedroom, and 4 are three-bedroom apartments.

Background: North Commons is a new construction family housing community developed by TCB. The development is located on the Village Hill campus, 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.

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. The development includes deeding back over 20 acres of conservation land to the city, open space preservation, a state-of-the-art playground, multi-use path connections, and sustainable landscape design practices. In addition, amenities for residents include large indoor and outdoor community space, covered bike storage, EV charging and parking, and exercise and wellness room.

Designed and built to Passive House standards, North Commons is certified by PHIUS, the first multi-family building of its kind in Western Massachusetts. The completion of North Commons signals the final build out of the planned community and with the addition of 53 income-restricted, affordable units, ensures that households of all incomes are able to call this community home.

North Commons was made possible in part with financing provided to TCB under the Federal and State Low Income Housing Tax Credit program. Other key financial participants include Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (“DHCD”), MassHousing, Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (“CEDAC’), Massachusetts Clean Energy Commission (“MassCEC”), and City of Northampton Community Preservation Act funds.

Additional Development Facts:

• Number of Units: Of the total 53 apartments: 8 are studios, 19 one-bedroom, 22 two-bedroom, and 4 three-bedroom units
  Amount of Community Space: 600 square feet
• Income Mix: 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.
• Developer: The Community Builders, Inc.
• Financial Participants: Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (“DHCD”), Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency (“MassHousing”), Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (“CEDAC’), Massachusetts Clean Energy Commission (“MassCEC”), City of Northampton Community Preservation Act and Community Development Block Grant funds.
• Type of Construction: New Construction, Passive House Standard, built to climate-specific comfort and performance criteria including a full solar array. To be certified by the Passive House Institute, United States (PHIUS).
• Total Development Cost: $19.6 million

About The Community Builders

The Community Builders’ mission is to build and sustain strong communities where all people can thrive. Our mission-driven businesses work with partners to develop, finance and operate residential communities, neighborhood amenities and opportunity programs for families, seniors and adults with disabilities. Since 1964, we have advanced housing equity through award-winning affordable and mixed-income communities and our pioneering Community Life model for resident success. Today, our ownership and management portfolio include over 14,000 apartment homes. Anchored by offices in Boston, Chicago, Columbus, New York and Washington D.C., we operate across 15 states.