Ribbon Cut on Lee's Long-Awaited Housing Development
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| The 44 apartments will be built with passive house design. |
LEE, Mass.— After more than a decade of work, tenants will move into the Eagle Mill Lofts this fall.
On Tuesday, Hearthway and Rees-Larkin Development held a ribbon-cutting for the first 56 apartments in the former paper mill. Sitting on the banks of the Housatonic River, this development offers one- to three-bedroom, mixed-income units in the heart of the downtown.
Lead Developer Jeffrey Cohen said the apartments are "unbelievable." The building's original brick is celebrated in the units, which feature different layouts and are contrasted with modern appliances and features.
"I saw the apartments when they first got done, and I couldn't understand really how they look so good," he said during a ceremony in the foyer.
"And I think that is so good for the town of Lee, for affordable housing in general."
This project has been ongoing since 2012. Individuals and families will begin to move in next month. This is the first phase; another 44 apartments will be built onsite.
President and CEO of Hearthway Eileen Peltier said projects like the Eagle Mill are important to addressing the need for housing at varied income levels. These units will house families of varied incomes, with rent-assisted units for people making 30 percent of the area median income, and affordable units for those in the 60-80 percent AMI.
Rents under these guidelines range from $1,360 for a one-bedroom to $2,100 for a three-bedroom.
"What that means is that people with varied life resumes will be living here in this beautiful community," Peltier said.
"A wonderful reflection of our beautiful Berkshires."
The project was financed by a long list of sources, including funds from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, MassHousing, the Massachusetts Historical Commission, the Town of Lee, Berkshire Regional Planning Commission.
Jon Rudzinski said there are so many public and private entities involved.
"It's what we have to do, and for better or for worse, that's how we build this wonderful housing," he said.
Several homes along West Center Street were demolished to make way for development. The 44 apartments will be built with passive house design, and groundbreaking is expected next year.
Town Administrator Chris Brittain shared some of the mill's history as "a symbol of Lee's industrious spirit," with its origins going back to the 1800s.
"By the late 1800s, Lee had more paper mills per capita than almost any town in the United States of America. The Eagle Mill played a central role in this boom, employing many local families and attracting skilled workers from other regions, and though its machines fell silent several years ago, its story surely never ended. Today, we gather to turn a page to a new chapter that blends our proud history with our shared vision for the future," he said.
"…The Eagle Mill has always been more than brick and mortar has been a gathering place, an economic engine, and a source of pride. Now it will once again serve the people of Lee, not as a factory but as a home, and will welcome families, seniors, and individuals who want to live, work, and thrive here in the Berkshires."
Selectboard Chair Bob Jones added that this project combines historic preservation and restoration, economic development, and housing. They presented a declaration from the town stating the Eagle Mill Lofts will "serve as a beacon of innovation, sustainability, and community pride for generations to come."
Senator Paul Mark and State Rep. Leigh Davis attended the ceremony, as well as the former state secretary of housing and economic development, Jay Ash.
Davis was the director of development for the Eagle Mill between 2018 and 2020. She said it will provide a new beginning for so many people who want to live where they work, have access to the downtown, and to public transit.
"This is what this mill provides. It's a new life," she said. "And to take something that was derelict for so long and to give it hope is so beautiful."
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