This Dewey Avenue modular home is nearly ready for a family to move in. It is one of several projects housing projects undertaken by Westside Legends to boost home ownership in Pittsfield's West Side.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Westside Legends has several housing projects underway through a home ownership program that aims to buy back the neighborhood. 

The nonprofit's President Tony Jackson and Treasurer Marvin Purry detailed its attainable housing efforts that were partially funded by the American Rescue Plan Act.  The nonprofit has a mortgage program and buy-back program for refurbished West Side homes, as well as other initiatives in the pipeline.  

"We intend to sell, with all our houses, under market so somebody can get in there and enjoy the perks of home ownership," Perry told the Affordable Housing Trust recently. 

"Our little motto is: Why pay somebody else when you can pay yourself?" 

The city's Affordable Housing Trust, through a request for proposals, awarded more than $860,000 in ARPA funds to foster affordable housing development in the city. Berkshire Habitat for Humanity received its full request of $240,000 for six new housing units, Hearthway about $363,000 for a rehabilitation project on existing housing, and the Westside Legends more than $258,000 for a modular home project.

The Westside Legends is working on homes at 72 Dewey Ave., 17 South Church St., and 34 Daniels Ave.

The land for the modular on Dewey Avenue was purchased for $10,000 from an abutter. The home is about 85 percent complete, installed in November, and should be move-in ready by January. 

The WSL requested an additional $60,000 for the project, which it was not granted, and is looking at other sources for gap funding. Purry pointed out that there are many open lots in this part of the city, and members feel this is "more or less our thing going forward." 

The discrepancy in time and money between modular home builds and refurbishments was noted.  Modular homes are 80 percent complete when delivered. 

Purry explained that the South Church Street home, about 90 percent finished, was the first project under the ARPA funds, and that Westside has spent about $110,000 rehabilitating it over the last few years. 

Payments are expected to be under $2,000 per month for the four-plus bedroom, two full bathrooms, 1,400-square-foot home with a large yard.  

"The nice thing about 17 South Church St. is it's so centrally located, and it's a big back yard. That's a big plus. If you have a family. It's a three-bedroom, possibly four-bedroom, depending on what you do with that extra room, brand new heating unit, new roof. I mean, if you check all the things that are new there. It's a new house with old character, which is a great way to sell that in that neighborhood," Jackson said. 

"I'm really happy the way this turned out. It's a great house in a great location." 

For this home, Westside is partnering with Aaron's Rent-to-Own on South Street to furnish one room, a partnership the nonprofit hopes to expand. 

The Daniels Avenue home is near complete, and boasts five bedrooms and two bathrooms, and a new heating system. WSL spent more $200,000 for this rehabilitation. 

Pittsfield's Director of Community Development Justine Dodds, said the nonprofit has "real tenacity and patience" in completing these projects and appreciated how they are rehabilitating storied homes as well as placing modulars. 

"You don't take 'no' for an answer. I think that's really, that's really to be admired and respected," she said. 

"You guys have done a lot of work and really stuck with stuff when I think lesser humans would have run away crying." 

The nonprofit is also working on a multi-unit build at 363 Columbus Ave.

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