Public Presentation on Beacon’s Proposed North Amherst Development
Conceptual plan for a housing development at the Mitchell Farm in North Amherst. Photo: amherstma.gov
Beacon Communities, the Boston-based developer that developed and manages North Square apartments in the Mill District, plans to construct approximately 140 units of affordable housing on 14 acres at 246 Montague Road (the Mitchell Farm). There will be a public presentation on the project from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Amherst Survival Center, 138 Sunderland Road, on Monday, April 13.
The plans are to develop an intergenerational community providing one, two, and three-bedroom apartments, as well as parking, on-site management, resident services, and generous interior and exterior amenities for seniors aged 55 and up and individuals and families (non-age restricted). It will be new construction of affordable, sustainably designed apartments.
Residents living near the proposed site have raised questions about the density of the development on land with extensive wetlands, the ability of the area to handle the extra traffic, and the lack of a sewer line to the site.
In 2021, this site was proposed for The Eruptor, a business incubator, but the project was canceled after the developers failed to obtain approval from the Conservation Commission, following a survey that revealed more extensive wetlands at the site than expected.
In addition to North Square, Beacon Communities manages the Rolling Green Apartments in East Amherst, which it acquired in 2018, and preserved its affordability when the existing rent restriction expired.