Development delivers 65 workforce and affordable homes in the Berkshires 

Pennrose celebrated the grand opening of Forge, a new mixed-income rental community for individuals and families in Lenox, Massachusetts. Nestled within a beautiful, wooded setting, the community features 65 thoughtfully designed apartment homes across 13 townhome-style buildings, along with a modern clubhouse and inviting shared amenity spaces. 

Speakers at the grand opening ceremony included: Karmen Cheung, Regional Vice President, Pennrose, LLC; Marybeth Mitts, Chair, Lenox Select Board; Don Weber, Chair, Lenox Affordable Housing Trust; Paul Mark, State Senator, Commonwealth of Massachusetts; Leigh Davis, State Representative, District 3, Commonwealth of Massachusetts; Mark Antonio Wiliams, Regional Director, Office of U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren; Rachel Heller, Executive Director, Massachusetts Housing Partnership; Robert Fraser, President & CEO, MountainOne Bank; Thomas Plihcik, Executive Director, New Lease For Homeless Families; Susan Faas, Forge resident; and Rebecca Schofield, Senior Developer, Pennrose, LLC.

Forge offers spacious one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments available for a broad range of residents, made up of 50 affordable homes serving households earning 30% to 60% of AMI, including nine homes with project-based MRVP assistance, alongside 15 workforce housing units for households earning up to 120% of AMI.

The new community is designed to integrate seamlessly within the local neighborhood and reflect the distinctive characteristics of the region. Each brand-new residence features a private entrance along a carefully designed road loop that preserves the site’s existing trees and natural landscape. Apartments boast open-concept floor plans with modern finishes, spacious closets, in-unit washers and dryers, dishwashers, and resident-controlled heating and cooling for everyday comfort and convenience.

Residents will also enjoy access to a range of community amenities, including indoor and outdoor gathering spaces, a 1,300-square-foot clubhouse, state-of-the-art fitness center, playground, covered bike parking, EV charging stations, and more. In addition to on-site amenities, Forge is conveniently located along Pittsfield Road Route 7/20 and BRTA Route 2, providing easy access to nearby shopping, dining, recreation, and other services and amenities.  

"With few affordable housing options in the area, Forge will provide a high-quality, connected living experience for working individuals and families in Lenox," said Karmen Cheung, Regional Vice President at Pennrose. "We are proud to partner with the Town to help support its housing production plan and create diverse housing opportunities that will serve as a community asset for many years to come.”

"It’s been a long journey, and the Town of Lenox is pleased to be partnering with Pennrose, expanding the housing options for young families, singles and seniors who want to work or live in Lenox,” said Marybeth Mitts, Chair, Lenox Select Board. “This new housing is ideally situated close to public transportation, within walking distance to our historic village center and well-loved nature trails."

The development was financed through a diverse combination of debt, equity, and public funding sources. The National Equity Fund (NEF) is the project syndicator, MountainOne is the construction lender and Federal LIHTC investor, and U.S. Bank is the State LIHTC investor. The Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP) provided both permanent debt and Workforce Housing Program funds. Additional soft financing was provided by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (HLC), Affordable Housing Trust Fund, Housing Stabilization Fund, and HOME programs, as well as through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The Town of Lenox provided funding through their Community Preservation Committee.

Pennrose Management Company (PMC) will serve as the property manager and provide on-site supportive services. The architect was The Architectural Team, Inc. and the general contractor was Haynes Construction. 

With regional headquarters in Boston, Pennrose has experience developing high-quality, mixed-income housing throughout Massachusetts and the New England region. Pennrose recently broke ground on 95 Everett Street, an 88-unit, transit-oriented, mixed-income development in Boston's Allston-Brighton neighborhood.