East Street-Belchertown Road Project

East Street BACKGROUND

On May 16, 2018, Amherst's Town Meeting approved the transfer of control of the East Street School located at 31 South East Street from the School Committee to the Select Board and authorized the Select Board to convey the property to the Amherst Municipal Affordable Housing Trust. Town Meeting designated that the site was to be used for affordable housing purposes provided that at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the units developed on the property shall be affordable in perpetuity for those earning no more than eighty percent (80%) of the area median income. Town Meeting authorized the Select Board to accept, on behalf of the Town, an affordable housing restriction on the affordable units, which may be held in common with the AMAHT. With the dissolution of Town Meeting, the Amherst Town Council has become responsible for the approval of the disposition of the property.  

EAST STREET REFERENCE DOCUMENTS


Online WebGIS

The following documents can be found by clicking here:

  • Property Survey including Wetlands
  • Architectural Plans from 2015 (large file, 30 MB)
  • Kuhn Riddle Architectural Study from 2018/19
  • Hazardous Materials Survey including identification, analysis and chain of custody
  • Abatement areas and cost estimate for the East Street School Building
  • Housing Forum Presentation 2018

Belchertown Road Background

On February 16, 2021 the Town of Amherst purchased the three lots that comprise the Belchertown Road Property - the lots located at 72, 76, and 80 Belchertown Road - for community housing purposes under the Community Preservation Act (CPA). The funding for this acquisition came from a combination of $135,000 in AMAHT funds and $600,000 in CPA borrowing awarded by the Amherst Town Council (the “Council”).  The Town Manager was authorized by the Council to convey the fee to and/or enter into a long-term lease agreement (which may be for a term of 99 years or more) to lease all or a portion of this property, subject to the provisions of G.L. c. 30B, to a qualified purchaser for the development of community housing. 

 Since the Belchertown Road Property was acquired using affordable housing monies, this property may be used only for low and/or moderate income housing.  No market-rate units may be developed on the Belchertown Road Property.

Belchertown Road References


Online Web GIS

The following documents can be found by clicking here:

  • Property appraisals
  • Survey including wetlands
  • Wetlands Report