In 2014, the Town of Sunderland formed a committee to explore development of senior housing at 120 North Main Street in Sunderland. The Town purchased the site in 2014 with Community Preservation Act funds from the former owner who wanted the site to become affordable housing for seniors. In 2017, RDI’s proposal for the site was chosen by the Town. RDI worked with the Town as a project sponsor, with the support of Valley CDC as lead project manager. Sanderson Place was funded in its first rental round in June 2020. Construction began in March 2021 and was completed early in 2023. Residents began moving into their new homes at the end of January 2023.
The project includes historic preservation and renovation of the “Village House,” the original home on the site, into three one-bedroom apartments, and construction of a new, energy efficient 30-unit elevator building in the rear of the property, containing three two-bedroom units and 27 one-bedroom apartments. Three apartments are fully accessible, two are sensory adapted, and all apartments are designed to be visitable by persons using wheelchairs and have fully accessible bathrooms.
A variety of public and private funding sources were used to finance the development, including Low Income Housing Tax Credits. Sanderson Place is a mixed-income, senior (age 62+) development. Apartments are affordable at 60%, 50% and 30% of Area Median Income for Franklin County. Fourteen apartments are subsidized with Section 8 or Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program project-based vouchers. Franklin County Regional Housing and Redevelopment Authority manages the property, and LifePath provides on-site, voluntary services for residents.
Please visit the Franklin County Regional Housing And Redevelopment Authority Website for eligibility and to apply for an apartment at Sanderson Place.
