ATHOL – The coronavirus may have slowed the wheels of government in some cases, but make no mistake — they are still turning. Athol’s Planning and Economic Development Department has been notified the town had received a Downtown Initiative Technical Assistance Program grant from the state Department of Housing and Community Development.
The award of $15,000 will be used to cover the cost of consulting services the town will secure to undertake a housing analysis and develop a housing strategy for downtown Athol. A consultant has not yet been chosen, according to Planning and Economic Development Director Eric Smith.
Put simply, Smith said the grant will be used to “determine the need and market demand for housing downtown.”
The town would not actually be handed a check for $15,000; the state will pay directly for the consulting services.
“I am not sure who the consultant is at this time,” said Smith. “I know under the MDI program they use a pool of consultants. MRPC (Montachusett Regional Planning Commission) will not be involved.”
Smith said he hopes to know who the consultant might be by the time the Downtown Vitality Committee holds its next meeting. The DVC has tentatively scheduled a remote meeting for Tuesday, April 21 at 5:30 p.m.
“I expect the DVC to be the main town committee involved with the project,” said Smith, “similar to how they were involved with the downtown parking study conducted last year, and also funded under MDI.”
Following the analysis,” he continued, “I’m hoping it could lead to more housing development downtown. That could be market-based or working through some of the mixed-income/affordable housing development programs the state offers.”
Just when the study will get under way is still up in the air at this point.
“Timing of the project, I expect, will be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said. “Typically, MDI projects are awarded in the spring and must be completed by December 31.”
Housing has become an increasingly important issue in Athol. Several committees have discussed ways of addressing a housing pinch that has developed with the surge in economic development Athol has seen in recent years.