Affordable Housing Trust Rolls Out Initiative to Encourage Construction of Accessory Dwelling Units

Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Municipal Affordable Housing Trust, September 10, 2026

This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded.

Present
Members: Gaston de los Reyes (Chair), Heejae Kim, Bob Pomeroy, Karla Rasche, Paul Bockelman, Mayan Thorsen, and Eason Zhou.

Staff: Greg Richane

The Amherst Municipal Affordable Housing Trust (AMAHT) has been working to encourage homeowners to build accessory dwelling units (ADUs) on their property so seniors or adult children can remain in Amherst. The trust plans to submit a letter to the Daily Hampshire Gazette and to circulate a survey to homeowners.

The draft letter offers guidance from the trust to walk interested homeowners through the process and inform them of possible financing options, including a state loan of up to $250,000 for those who cannot easily borrow against their homes. The letter encourages those considering an ADU to contact the trust for more information.

The letter underwent substantial editing at the meeting. Trust member Mayan Thorsen recommended starting with the second paragraph to draw people in, and other members agreed. Town Manager Paul Bockelman wanted to add a sentence about constructing an accessible dwelling with one-floor living. He also felt that the sentence that said “An ADU built by the family living on the property is a different thing from one built to pack in student beds” was disparaging to students and should be reworded.

Bob Pomeroy suggested adding more about affordability with a smaller structure, and Eason Zhao thought the letter should mention the monetary incentives from rental income from an ADU. 

Chair Gaston de los Reyes said the trust will incorporate the feedback and then submit the letter for publication.

The second part of the ADU initiative will be a brief survey to gauge the interest among residents in building ADUs in town. Postcards with a QR code link to the survey will be mailed to Amherst residents with the hope of getting 30 or 40 interested respondents. Those considering building an ADU will be offered a tour of recently constructed units in town.

Bockelman said that the town’s communications department would also spread the word about the survey and the trust’s initiative.

Much Happening with Affordable Housing in Amherst
Housing Coordinator Greg Richane said that AMAHT will have a table at the Amherst Block Party on September 17. Rasch, Thorsen, and Zhao volunteered to staff the table to promote the ADU initiative and provide information about the trust.

Richane also mentioned Craig’s Doors’ 15th anniversary celebration at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, September 23, at Mill River Recreation Area. He suggested that trust members attend to learn more about the many services Craig’s Doors provides to the unhoused population.

De los Reyes, Richane, and Bockelman attended a celebration for the Amherst Community Land Trust (ACLT) project at 174 Amity Street, which will provide five affordable homeownership opportunities. The trust contributed to acquiring the property. ACLT has applied for a building permit, and construction is expected to begin in a couple of weeks.

Another project that has benefited from AMAHT funds is Amherst Community Homes, Valley Community Development’s 30-unit affordable homeownership development in North Amherst. A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on September 2, and new homeowners are beginning to move in. AMAHT supplemented the project’s original funding with an allocation to pay for solar panels for the homes.

The Way Finders proposed affordable apartment complexes at the East Street School and on Belchertown Road begin their hearings for a special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals at its September 24 meeting. 

In his volunteer work with Amherst Community Connections, Zhao noted how difficult it is for people seeking housing to submit applications to each affordable housing development. De los Reyes said he brought this up with the development manager at Way Finders, who said it was possible to combine applications for their various projects.

Karla Rasche mentioned a state ballot initiative on the November ballot that encourages construction of smaller, presumably more affordable, homes by reducing the minimum required building and lot size.