Orchard at Cold Spring Commons

This development of 7 town home duplexes provides owner housing for low- and moderate-income households in an area with limited affordable housing options. Cluster zoning was used to preserve the surrounding open space and protect wetlands on the 15-acre rural site. The site had originally been reserved for the second phase of a 44-unit residential development; however, while the first phase (26 units) and infrastructure for phase 2 were completed in the early 1990s, the remaining 18 homes were never built and the land was transferred back to the bank. HAP, Inc., a housing assistance organization serving Western Massachusetts, acquired the property in 2002 and was able to keep development costs low by utilizing the existing infrastructure. The project was further supported with a $700,000 award ($50,000 per unit) from the Massachusetts Affordable Housing Trust Fund. All units were sold to first-time homebuyers and include a deed restriction that preserves long-term affordability by limiting future sales to low- and moderate-income households.