NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) - A Northampton apartment complex that hundreds of low-income families call home is getting a major upgrade, without raising rents.
State housing officials were at Meadowbrook Apartments on Thursday to announce new funding to renovate the 252 unit complex. The nonprofit “Preservation of Affordable Housing”, or POAH, has owned Meadowbrook since 2005.
They’re planning about 15 million dollars in work, including new kitchens, bathrooms, flooring, windows, roofs, siding, plus more handicap accessible units and landscaping. Most residents there are very low income, including seniors, children, and people with disabilities.
“We know that the housing challenges from community to community are very different. We’re going to make sure that our rural partners know that we understand that they have needs when it comes to housing, and today’s announcement shows that we’re going to continue to invest where investments are needed,” Juana Matias, the Massachusetts Housing and Livable Communities Secretary said.
The event was part of a larger state package — $277 million for 29 affordable housing projects in 20 communities. In Northampton, that includes 30 new units planned just behind city hall on Crafts Avenue.
POAH photo - Sr. VP Ownership/Operations Dena Xifaras (left) and POAH President/CEO Aaron Gornstein with Secretary Matias (center)
note: POAH Sr. VP Real Estate Development Cory Mian (4th from left) with Lt. Gov Kimberley Driscoll (3rd from left) who announced that POAH will also receive funding for the redevelopment of the Willow Park Apartments in Watertown.