Open Square lands $2.5M grant for 84 housing units in Holyoke

Open Square, a mixed-use development, occupies the block between Dwight and Appleton Streets and the First and Second Level Canals in Holyoke.

Open Square, a mixed-use development, occupies the block between Dwight and Appleton Streets and the First and Second Level Canals in Holyoke.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

Staff Writer

Published: 12-21-2024 1:15 PM

HOLYOKE — Open Square, the net zero energy, mixed-use development spread across seven mill buildings, is getting a $2.5 million infusion from the state’s Housing Development Incentive Program for constructing 84 housing units.

The award for the development, at 110 Lyman St. and 383 Dwight St., was recently announced by Gov. Maura Healey, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus as part of $27 million from the program, going to nine Gateway Cities across the state for the creation of 709 new housing units.

The announcement was made at theJAV in Lawrence, a 24-unit development by Jowamar Companies LLC now under construction, after receiving an HDIP award earlier in 2024.

“We want people to be able to afford to live and work in our Gateway Cities, which have so much to offer in business, industry, arts and culture,” Healey said. “The HDIP program has a proven record of supporting the creation of new housing, like theJav development, which can lower the cost of housing in these communities.”

HDIP is a tool for the state’s Gateway Cities to create more market rate housing to support economic development, expand the diversity of the housing stock and create more vibrant neighborhoods. Of the dozen projects funded in the latest round, half of these, like the one in Holyoke, will support the revitalization of old mills or commercial properties into housing.

The development was before the Holyoke Planning Board Dec. 10 for site plan review for mill conversion and a special permit for reduction of parking.

The other developments include two in Fitchburg, two in New Bedford and two in Salem, and one each in Haverhill, Hyannis, Lawrence, Taunton and Worcester.

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