ATHOL — The state Senate, on July 21, passed a $4.4 billion economic development bill which included 11 amendments offered by Sen. Jo Comerford. Those amendments included $1 million in appropriations and $4 million in bonding authorizations. A conference committee is currently working to hammer out differences between a similar bill passed by the House earlier in the month.
Among the earmarks Comerford was successful in attaching to the legislation was a $1 million bond authorization to support the transformation of the former Helen Bigelow and Riverbend schools into a 53-unit affordable housing complex. The Northampton Democrat called the project “incredibly compelling.”
“I’m really excited about it,” she said. “This is one way in which I can support it, which is putting in this bonding authorization and then working with Athol to try to get the money out.”
Should the House also approve Comerford’s earmark for the affordable housing in Athol, it would then be up to the governor whether to actually fund the project. Comerford said she is working with state Rep. Susannah Whipps on the funding proposal.
“Rep. Whipps and I each have items in the base bill,” Comerford explained, “and we will rely on each to advocate in our chambers to keep those items. That’s why it’s great to have a good partner in the other branch.”
The final version of the bill must be approved before the end of this month.
“It’s got to come out very quickly,” she said. “Then it will be signed by the governor. And as soon as it has his signature, we get to work asking this current administration and — if that doesn’t work — the next administration to release the funds for Athol.
“It is quite within the scope of the economic development bond; it has housing appropriations in it. Certainly, affordable housing is part of economic development. So, we’ll fight like hell to have that money realized.”
Comerford then stressed that passage of the bill doesn’t guarantee monies for the project.
“It is an authorization to borrow,” she explained. “So, it’s useful but it’s not final. Towns use it to leverage private investment. They use it to leverage federal dollars being spent on a project. So, it’s useful as a step along a longer journey.”
Comerford added that another reason she pursued the bonding authorization for the Bigelow-Riverbend project is because U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern is also pursuing $1 million for it via the federal budget.
“As you know, money gets money,” she said. “So, if Congressman McGovern is successful, that would be a strong pull to the state to add state money.”
Comerford told the Athol Daily News that housing is an important issue throughout most of the communities in the Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester district.
“It’s a district-wide problem,” she continued. “Wayfinders did a study of Hampshire and Franklin counties, which is part of what informs my focus on housing. There is a significant current gap, and that gap is projected to grow in affordable housing in the region. It’s really acute.”
Wayfinders is a Springfield-based housing advocacy organization.
Athol Town Manager Shaun Suhoski said he is optimistic the bonding authorization will remain in the final version of the legislation.
“I’m not sure I have good insight on whether it will survive the process right through the governor’s signature,” he said, “but I certainly hope so. What gives me some confidence is that this is a true affordable housing program that provides housing across a wide range of incomes, from very low income to workforce housing. It will also offer 20 units of senior housing. It’s intergenerational. At the same time, it’s rehabilitating two historic buildings.
“Isn’t this what we hear from the administration is a top priority for the Commonwealth? So, if Sen. Comerford and Rep. Whipps, who has been supportive of this project all along, if they’re able to pull this off, I think we’d be able to make a good case to the governor.
“Gov. Baker certainly supports affordable housing; you read press releases every day. Here’s a unique project that could serve an underserved region of the Commonwealth. So, I’m optimistic. This project’s going to get done.”
Greg Vine can be reached at gvineadn@gmail.com