Amity Street Affordable Homeownership Project Gets Its Final Permit
Architect's rendering of renovation project at 174 Amity Street with duplex to be constructed by Habitat for Humanity to the left. Photo: amherstma.gov
Report on the Meeting of the Planning Board, July 29, 2026
This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded.
Present
Doug Marshal (Chair), Fred Hartwell, Jerah Smith, and Jesse Mager. Absent: Bruce Coldham, Angus McLeod, and Roy Johnson
Staff: Walker Powell (Planner) and Pam Field Sadler (Assistant)
The Planning Board, at their July 29 meeting, unanimously approved a site plan review permit for a proposal from the Amherst Community Land Trust (ACLT) to create five affordable homeownership units at 174 Amity Street. The proposal had neared approval at the July 15 meeting, but board members were unhappy with the findings and conditions drafted by the Planning Department. Rather than revise the document at that meeting, they scheduled an additional meeting to finish the permitting process.
ACLT plans to create three affordable townhouses in the existing duplex for homebuyers earning 80% or less of the area median income, with Habitat for Humanity building an additional duplex on the property. The plan has already received approval from the Historical Commission, the Conservation Commission, and the Zoning Board of Appeals. ACLT will acquire the property, long owned by the Grose family, at a discounted price.
The project has received funding from the Community Preservation Act and the Amherst Municipal Affordable Housing Trust. ACLT has applied for an additional grant from the Amelia Peabody Charitable Fund and will continue fundraising for the project. Because ACLT is a community development corporation, individual donors who give at least $1,000 can have half of their donation refunded by the state through the Community Investment Tax Credit program when they file their state tax forms.
The redrafted findings and conditions for the project did not raise any concern from Planning Board members, and the project was approved with a 4-0 vote. ACLT plans to close on the property at the end of August and to begin construction of the townhouses in the fall. The duplex will be built the following year.