Town of Amherst Designated a Housing Choice Community

Source: amherstma.gov

The Healey-Driscoll Administration recently designated the Town of Amherst as a Housing Choice Community. This prestigious designation by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) recognizes Amherst’s leadership in producing new housing and adopting best practices to promote sustainable housing development. 

With this five-year designation, Amherst gains access to exclusive state funding opportunities and technical assistance that support housing growth and local planning efforts. Additionally, the designation helps Amherst receive priority consideration for various other grant programs related to transportation, infrastructure, and environmental initiatives.  

Town Manager Paul Bockelman said, “I am very proud that the state continues to recognize the town’s commitment to fostering sustainable growth and vibrant communities. I credit our incredible town staff and housing advocates for this achievement. The additional resources and priority access to funding will enable us to continue making meaningful improvements, ensuring Amherst remains a desirable place to live, work, and thrive.”  

In order to be designated as a Housing Choice Community, Amherst met rigorous housing production criteria, including a minimum 3% increase and the creation of at least 300 new housing units between 2020 and 2024. Remarkably, Amherst exceeded these requirements by producing 482 new units, reflecting a 4.52% increase in housing stock. 

Building upon this success, the town is updating it’s Housing Production Plan (HPP) which will chart a path toward continuing to meet the affordable housing needs of low- and moderate-income people in Amherst. The HPP, last updated in 2013, includes data about who needs housing and what options currently exist, identifies goals for different housing types, and names strategies Amherst might pursue to strengthen affordable housing opportunities. The draft HPP was recently adopted by the Planning Board and will be considered by the Town Council at an upcoming meeting. 

“It is exciting that Amherst continues to be a regional leader in the development of both affordable and market rate housing,” said Senior Planner Nate Malloy. “Being designated a Housing Choice Community is an indication of the time and resources that the Town puts into increasing the number of units to meet the demand of people who want to live here.”   

Amherst first became a designated Housing Choice Community in 2018 and has received $500,000 in grant funding to support various initiatives that increase access to housing and improve conditions surrounding new development. Notable projects include completing the sidewalk and bus stop along East Pleasant Street between Village Park and Olympia Drive, constructing the sidewalk along the Town Common on Boltwood Avenue, and most recently, applying for funding to develop a multi-use path along North Pleasant Street. 

“The high cost of housing is one of the greatest challenges facing Massachusetts residents, and communities across the state are stepping up to meet it,” said Governor Maura Healey. “It’s great that these 43 cities and towns are doing the work to create more reasonably-priced homes, support their residents and lead by example. The Housing Choice designation is one of the many ways we partner with communities to help them build housing and lower costs for us all.”  

The Town of Amherst is one of 77 municipalities across Massachusetts to be currently designated as a Housing Choice Community. Together, these towns and cities have produced more than 77% of all new housing in Massachusetts over the past five years. A list of all designated Housing Choice Communities can be found on the Housing Choice Designation page.