Crossway Tower Senior Housing

History

During the 1970's Berkshire County faced serious housing problems. Urban renewal programs had demolished hundreds of housing units and few had been replaced. The number of families increased and a serious housing shortage developed; families were forced to double up. Housing code violations and substandard living conditions were prevalent in both large and small communities. New federal housing programs had been established to address these housing issues, but there was no organization in Berkshire County equipped to work with these programs because of their complexity. In 1970, several local organizations began discussions to address these problems. They included the Berkshire County Regional Planning Commission, the Association of Business and Commerce (now the Central Berkshire Chamber of Commerce) the Northern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce and the now defunct Pittsfield Urban Coalition. With a HUD planning grant, they hired the National Urban Coalition to study the County's housing problems and devise a strategy to address the problems. The result was a report issued in May 1970, which recommended the establishment of a new non-profit organization. Berkshire Housing Development Corporation, dedicated to developing improved affordable housing opportunities for low and moderate-income residents of the Berkshires. It also recommended that a management company, Berkshire Housing Services, Inc., be established to manage the housing that was built.

The organization voted to implement the recommendations and developed a plan to raise working capital and organize the new corporation. Bonds were sold to local banks, churches and others made sizeable donations. The bondholder and donors named representatives to the first Board of Directors and they were joined by a number of community representatives. Many of these institutions have maintained the Board membership for many years. Berkshire Housing Development Corp., was incorporated in April, 1971 and Berkshire Housing Services, Inc. was incorporated in December, 1971. In September, 1971 Berkshire Housing hired a President and began their mission of developing affordable housing. Some of the bondholders regarded their investment as contributions to a noble cause, but had low expectations for the new organization. Those founders still in the area expressed wonderment at Berkshire Housing's accomplishments over the first 25 years and the strong position and reputation it enjoys as it continues its second quarter century of work.