Greenfield, MA Representatives from The Community Builders (TCB) broke ground at Leyden Woods Apartments with mayor William Martin, officials from the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development, residents, community members and other project partners. The housing development, built in the 1970s, will undergo an extensive transformation. TCB’s $79 million revitalization plan will preserve 200 affordable apartments and will bring new construction jobs to the area.

Shown (from left) are: Leyden Woods Apartments residents Katie Parzych, Rita Parzych and Ron Vatalaro; Rachana Crowley, TCB; Eliza Datta, TCB; Diane Sargent, TCB; Bev Bates, TCB; Tom Gleason, executive director, MassHousing ; William Martin, mayor, Greenfield; Amanda Bloomberg, Aegon; Christopher Cappucci, legislative director to Paul Mark, Massachusetts state representative; Joseph McNealy, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Massachusetts; Bill Brauner, Community Economic Development Assistance Corp.; Rachel Carlson, MDHCD and Matthew Robayna, MDHCD.

“Leyden Woods is a neighborhood. We’re very proud to have a neighborhood that we can support and sponsor in many ways,” said mayor Martin. “We need these neighborhoods to be redeveloped. Never have we been able to do an entire neighborhood. The opportunity to do that with The Community Builders is really fantastic. This is a great step forward for the city as a whole.”

The 56 existing buildings will be replaced with 49 newly constructed, Energy Star-rated modular structures with 200 apartments. The site will be reconfigured to enhance programmed recreational space and green space, featuring a basketball court, new playgrounds, and a new walking and biking path throughout the community.

“This marks a new chapter in the future of Leyden Woods,” said Bev Bates, senior vice president of development, TCB. “Our plan is only possible because of our partnerships. This is just the latest investment we’re going to make with our friends from The Community Builders; 25 developments and more than 2500 units of housing all across the state. We can’t follow them into other states, but if we could we would because we feel that strongly about what a good job they do on the developments they’re involved in,” said Tom Gleason, executive director of MassHousing.”

Located in Western Mass., Leyden Woods provides a critical housing resource for families in Franklin County, and through its preservation will serve a diversity of household needs. Managed by The Community Builders, the development supports a full time Resident Services Coordinator who works collaboratively with local agencies to meet residents’ goals.

“CEDAC is very thrilled about this project and the way that we can support it,” said Bill Brauner, director of housing preservation and policy, Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation.

“We are excited to see such dramatic reconstruction for the 200 family units. We look forward to watching the progress of construction and the rebuilding of the Leyden Woods community,” said Rachel Carlson, director of HSF, CATNHP and CIPF, Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development.

Construction is expected to be completed within 21 months.