Overview:

Local, state and federal officials celebrated the official groundbreaking of Residences at the Park, a 53-unit housing project in Athol, Massachusetts. The development will consist of 20 one-bedroom, 24 two-bedroom and three nine-bedroom units, 20 of which will be for seniors and 33 for families, with rental prices ranging from $1,065 to $1,888. The project, which has been in the works since 2016, is scheduled for completion in mid-2026.

ATHOL – On Friday afternoon, local, state and federal officials gathered for the official groundbreaking at Residences at the Park, the 53-unit housing project underway at the former Riverbend and Bigelow schools.

Attendees for the event gathered under a tent set up in what will become the development’s parking lot. Athol resident Evelina Rodriguez, a member of the NewVue Board of Directors, called the groundbreaking “a milestone in Athol and a shining example that we can accomplish anything together for the good of our community.”

Town Manager Shaun Suhoski said, “I’m extremely proud of the partnerships we’ve built with Jo Comerford, Suzanne Whipps, Congressman (Jim) McGovern, and the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities.”

He also spoke of NewVue Communities, “Our nonprofit partners, starting as a little community development corporation in Fitchburg…reaching out to Athol and helping to serve our people.”

NewVue Executive Director Marc Dohan called Suhoski “relentless. We couldn’t have asked for a better partner from the Town of Athol, to have Shaun there pushing us all the way.

“These projects are really, really hard,” Dohan continued. “Today is an especially wonderful day for NewVue because this is the first large real estate project we’ve done outside of Fitchburg and Leominster.”

Providing a brief history of the project, Dohan noted it has been in the works since 2016, “When the town let us know they had put these two schools on the market, and they were looking for a developer. They’re old schools. They were built in 1907 and 1912, but I always think there’s nothing that brings more pride to a town than to see these old schools saved and turned into something more.”

Work is anticipated to be completed mid-way through 2026.

“I’m proud to have been an early supporter of this project, and I’m looking forward to the day it opens its doors,” said McGovern. “This is a magnificent project that a lot of people are responsible for.”

McGovern, who secured a $1 million federal earmark for the project, also praised Athol’s Selectboard, state Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, and state Rep. Susannah Whipps, I-Athol, for their roles in bringing it to fruition.

“It’s obvious we have a housing crisis in this country,” McGovern continued. “It’s acutely evident here in Massachusetts, particularly when it comes to affordable housing. This crisis disproportionately effects senior citizens and children. That’s why I was proud to secure a million-dollar earmark to help push this project forward.”

Other speakers included Selectboard Chair Rebecca Bialecki, Comerford, Whipps, Secretary Edward Agustus of the state’s Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, and Michael Williams of NeighborWorks America, a congressional-chartered, national nonprofit that works to create opportunities for people to find affordable housing.

Following the speeches, those involved in making the project a reality donned hard hats and gathered for the ceremonial groundbreaking, each sinking a shovel into a mound of dirt and casing it aside.

When the $30 million project is complete, Residences at the Park will consist of 20 one-bedroom, 24 two-bedroom and three nine-bedroom units. Twenty of those apartments will be for seniors, 33 will be for families. The approximate rental range will be from about $1,065 to around $1,888. The senior units will be housed in a new addition under construction which will connect the two older school buildings.

Greg Vine can be reached at gvineadn@gmail.com.