FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Lindsi Mailler, Executive Assistant
lmailler@easthamptonma.gov
WITH MORE HOUSING IN SIGHT, CITY LOOKS TO COMMISSION IMPACT STUDY
EASTHAMPTON, MA - Increasing accessible and affordable housing units is a well-established goal in Easthampton. City leaders and residents understand that Easthampton's resilience depends on a larger housing pool. After a lot of hard work, the City is starting to see the fruits of its labor. Established developers began presenting draft plans to the City and its multi-member boards in the past month.
Similar to water, conservation, and traffic studies, the City is contracting with a third-party firm to measure the impact of housing on the Easthampton Public School Department (EPSD). The study’s outcomes allow the City, its departments, and the public to form opinions and decisions based on data rather than anecdotal evidence, housing stereotypes, or past projects.
Additionally, the Mayor and EPSD Superintendent agree that a thorough examination of EPSD’s capacity as the Massachusetts School Building Authority set the number of students in EHS and Mt View School long before shovels were in the ground. The study considers any short or long impacts due to the pandemic are considered in the study.
Once completed, the Mayor’s Office will share the study with the City Council and School Committee for public comment.
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