[ THE CHALLENGE ] South Holyoke was once a thriving community, but lost much of its population and housing stock when the mill-based economy collapsed.  Recent immigration and new businesses are revitalizing the neighborhood, but are being held back by a lack of affordable housing.

 

[ THE RESPONSE ] Abacus collaborated with the Holyoke Housing Authority to engage in community outreach and develop a comprehensive masterplan for redevelopment. The first phase of the Urban Renewal Plan involved building South Holyoke Homes, an affordable housing project offering both rental and homeownership opportunities. Situated at a prominent corner within the Carlos Vega Park neighborhood, this building comprises 12 units of low-income housing and is part of the Commonwealth’s Community Scale Housing Initiative.