GREENFIELD — The town is in the beginning stages of planning a new, seven-unit housing project on Deerfield Street, which Mayor William Martin hopes will be dedicated to veterans.

Greenfield has purchased parcels of land between 104 and 106 Deerfield St. over the past several years using Community Development Block Grant money, according to Community Development Administrator MJ Adams, who said she hopes the full acquisitions will be done by mid-summer. At least four of the seven units will be affordable housing, and Martin has expressed hope that veterans will be given priority.

“We’re trying to make this a very special and unique project,” he said. “It’s a nice location; it’s vacant, so it will be a boost for that neighborhood.”

Adams said an existing structure on one of the parcels still needs to be demolished, and from there some more site analysis will be done. With a project like this, she said it’s important to have a community-wide conversation about what the needs are in the area and what residents would like to see.

“The mayor has been very intent on wanting to meet the needs of veterans in the region,” Adams said. “He’s made that a clear priority.”

Martin said the development is still in the very early stages of planning, but hopes to have a request for proposals out by September. The town has yet to decide whether the units will be condominiums or rentals managed by the Housing Authority, he said, but added they will be energy efficient and will include handicapped accessibility.

“The game plan is to really take a look at the community input and be respectful and responsive to community input, but also get things done,” Adams said.

The site is located about a quarter of a mile away from the John W. Olver Transit Center, making it a good location for transit-oriented design, which she said is less vehicle-oriented and more walkable. Adams added because the site is located near the southern gateway to the city, it’s especially important to make sure the design fits in with the town’s Sustainable Master Plan.

“It’s a great site and when the bike path is down there behind it, that will be terrific,” she said.

You can reach Aviva Luttrell at:
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