Spring is around the corner and we are staying busy at Home City Development. We continue to work with our community partners to develop properties that provide quality housing, strengthen neighborhoods, and support our residents. We are also welcoming two new staff members to the Home City Development team. Please read on for updates on our development projects both active and in the pipeline.
Renovations have been substantially completed at Chestnut Crossing Apartments and all residents will have moved into their new units by the end of March! The building will have 101 larger single-occupancy units, all units will be energy efficient and include bathrooms and kitchenettes. Stay tuned for a ribbon cutting announcement this Spring.
Thank you to our partners Allegrone Construction, Davis Square Architects, and Locklin Construction (owner’s rep), William Dierkin, and Housing Management Resources.
Home City Development has submitted its first full complete One Stop application to MA Department of Housing and Community Development for Elias Brookings Apartments. Decisions are expected in July. If successful, HCDI will start construction in late 2020. Construction plans with Davis Square Architects are 70% complete.
In addition, Home City Development has been working with schools, non-profits, and local businesses, donating the contents of the building to be reused and recycled. The Center for EcoTechnology (Funded by Mass DEP) is a consultant on the project to help divert building contents away from landfills.
Amethyst Brook Apartments We have submitted a Chapter 40B project eligibility application to Mass Department of Housing and Community Development. Once approved, we will submit a 40B application to the Town of Pelham Zoning Board of Appeals. This is a 6 month process which will hopefully result in an issuance of a Chapter 40B Comprehensive Permit. Once a comprehensive permit is issued, Home City Development will begin applying for affordable housing resources for development of the project.
Thank you to our development team members Architecture EL, Berkshire Design and Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, P.C..
E Henry Twiggs Estates Solar Project Permits from the City of Springfield and Eversource are being processed and we anticipate full approval by mid-March. We plan for installation to begin at the end of March/early April. Over the next 30 years 7,640,291 lbs of CO2 will be removed from the atmosphere as a result of this project. Stay tuned for details.
Thank you to our partner on this project Endless Energy.
Welcome New Staff Members to the Home City Development Team!
Welcome Peter Serafino
Director of Real Estate Development
“This organization is highly focused on real estate development, production of new affordable housing, resident advancement, and enhancement of people’s lives. These are the aspects of work and set of values that are the most important to me.”
Peter joined Home City Development in the summer of 2019. Prior to joining Home City, Peter was a project manager in Real Estate Development at Way Finders for 10 years. There, he managed several major developments with complex funding structures throughout Western and Central Massachusetts. In family housing he managed three developments creating 125 units total. In senior housing he managed a project to re-finance and rehabilitate 40 units, and an adaptive re-use of a historic building to complete 28 units. He also managed the construction of 70 studio/one-bedroom apartments with 2,500 square feet of retail space. These projects were completed using a variety of private and public funding sources including: State and federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC); state and federal Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits, USDA 515 funds, HUD 233(f) financing, and many others. From 2005-2008 Peter worked with The Community Builders as project manager primarily for a HOPE VI development of 127 rental apartments in Hartford, CT.
A native of Springfield, MA, Peter lived in Brooklyn, NY for 19 years. Peter holds a Bachelor’s Degree with Individual Concentration (International Development) from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
Welcome Tia Altman
Associate Administrative Services Manager
“This is a great atmosphere to work in. We work as a team and we respect each other. Everyone is friendly, genuine and supportive, we say ‘good morning’ and ‘good evening’ every day. I really appreciate that.”
Tia Altman joined Home City Development in January 2020. Her responsibilities include assisting in the administrative support to the executive director and implementation of human resources programs and policies for staffing, compensation, benefits, employee relations, and training.
Tia has worked as the Executive Assistant at Springfield College as well as at American International College. She has her Bachelor’s degree in liberal studies from American International College. Tia also graduated from the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts, LIPPI (Leadership Institute for Political and Public Impact). She is a commissioned notary public in the state of Massachusetts and has many years of executive-level administrative experience. Tia serves as the Board Secretary of the Pesce Family Foundation.