Rockland Trust approved $23.15 million in financing to rehabilitation Northern Heights Apartments

Springfield, MA Rockland Trust has approved $23.15 million in financing to support the rehabilitation of Northern Heights Apartments, a vital source of affordable housing community in downtown for two decades.

The occupied rehabilitation project will preserve and modernize 148 affordable apartments across 45 buildings situated on 2.9 acres spanning several city blocks around Main and Central Sts. The project aims to enhance the quality of life for residents while maintaining the historic integrity of the community, which has been owned and managed by WinnCompanies for 20 years

“Rockland Trust’s support is critical to our ability to preserve affordability and deliver a significantly improved living experience to the hundreds of people who call Northern Heights home,” said WinnDevelopment executive vice president Adam Stein. “We’re grateful to partner with the Bank on a project that will have a lasting, positive impact on the community.”

In addition to the financing provided by Rockland Trust, the project is supported by additional funding sources from the Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP), the city of Springfield, and the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC), including federal and state Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) and federal and state Historic Tax Credits (HTC). WinnCompanies has also partnered with Wayfinders, Inc. and the Springfield YMCA to provide residents with access to health, financial, transportation, and social support services.

“Rockland Trust is committed to financing initiatives that strengthen our local communities and preserve affordable housing across the Commonwealth,” said Claudius Zorokong, vice president, commercial banking officer at Rockland Trust. “Our partnership with WinnCompanies on the Northern Heights rehabilitation supports the revitalization of a historic neighborhood while ensuring that Springfield residents maintain access to safe, high-quality, and affordable homes.”

The rehabilitation project will take approximately 21 months to complete and will include a combination of in-unit upgrades, building improvements, and historic preservation. Each unit will receive new kitchens and bathrooms, as well as updated paint, doors, hallways, and stairwells. Building-wide improvements will include roof and window repairs, exterior masonry restoration, elevator modernization, and electrical panel replacement.

Because Northern Heights is designated as a federal historic property, the rehabilitation will also adhere to U.S. National Park Service standards to preserve the historic character of the property’s older buildings and maintain the architectural integrity of the community.