Clark House (center) Ann Whalen (left) Bangs Center (front left)
The 100 residential unit Clark House, a six story structure in downtown Amherst, is getting ready for a change in ownership. Fortunately to a "qualified Preservation Buyer" so all the Section 8 tenants will probably not be displaced.
The Clark House was built in 1980 as part of the Amherst Redevelopment Authority's ambitious Boltwood Walk project. The facility is currently 100% Section 8 tenants with 60 of the units Low Income and 40 units Extremely Low Income.
Click to enlarge/read
Amherst is in the minority for communities in the state with a Subsidized Housing Inventory greater than 10%, although housing in general is still in short supply. As a result Amherst has higher prices which drives out middle income workers, seniors and young families.
Because Clark House is already exempt from Amherst property taxes, the sale will have no impact on the tax base.
There are many very affordable condos and homes in Amherst for middle class buyers in the $100s-$300sk range. Look at the Mass real estate on-line listings.
ReplyDeleteNow if only we could get these people to stop living off the system and get jobs.
ReplyDeleteMany of them are elderly, have medical issues, etc.
ReplyDeleteTo the anonymous, ignorant person who posted: "Now if we could get these people to stop living off the system and get jobs":
ReplyDelete1. The majority of people who live at the Clarke House are elderly or disabled. There are very few apartments for non-disabled/non-elderly families there, and for those, the rent is adjusted according to their income.
2. People who have subsidies for housing DO work, many of them full time, for very low pay. Their rent is based on their income and they pay a percentage of their income towards rent. They do not get a free rent and they do not live off the system. Many of them walk miles to work because they don't have a car. Many of them work long hours and would do anything to have better paying jobs. Someone has to do the low-end jobs. If they didn't have subsidies, they would be homeless. These are hard working families, not lazy people living off the system.
3. Welfare reform does not allow people to just sit around and "live off the system". People are required to work to get any "benefits" and if they are not working, they have a very limited amount of time to receive any benefits. They are cut off if they don't work after a period of time.
4. Your ignorance is embarrassing. Enlighten yourself a little bit.
Very well said!
DeleteSure! Guess you haven't seen how people circumvent that every day. You'd have to live in a project like I did to see it. Or said another way they can't buy liquor or lottery tickets with EBT cards. A recent report showed most EBT cash withdrawals are in liquor stores and casinos. Guess they only use the machines there for cash. What a joke. You liberal losers are fucking blind. But then again, you created the system, so even if it is terrible you'll stand by it like you do Crooked Hillary.
ReplyDeleteFact people use the system to benefit themselves in any way they can. Fact the law maker know this and refuse to do anything to correct it. You be the judge who's using the system?
ReplyDeleteLarry, why aren't you complaining about this property being tax exempt -- it must be profitable if someone wants to buy it...
ReplyDeleteOne would think that this mom has the chance to have the stay away order lifted and she is not taking it- Why is that? It also seems that several people- the Pelham school committee- have now heard the facts and have encouraged the mom to take the opportunity to have the stay away order lifted. Not sure why she wouldnt take it. Stay away orders are issued pretty regularly in school districts. I don't think it just has to be a physical threat although that would certainly be a reason.
ReplyDeleteAnd of course our community loves situations that are "tried in the press" without all the facts. Much less complicated when you can be outraged only knowing one side of the story.
And this is related to a highway construction and ATM kiosk, HOW?!?!?
ReplyDeleteJust askin...