B
OSTON– WinnCompanies and Westmass Area Development Corporation (Westmass) have unveiled The Residences at Mill 8, a $43.2 million mixed-income community in Ludlow, MA, featuring 95 apartments for adults 55 and older.

    State and local leaders gathered to cut the ribbon on the project, which transformed a historic mill building into much-needed housing while restoring the iconic clock tower and clock that has been featured on the Town seal since 1919. "Today marks another milestone in our region's growth," said Congressman Richard E. Neal. "This project showcases the power of public-private partnerships to address our housing needs."

    The community offers a range of income levels, with 43 affordable units at 60% of Area Median Income (AMI), 40 market-rate units, and 12 extremely low-income units for those earning below 30% of AMI. All units have been leased, with the community set to be fully occupied by December 1.

    "This effort marks a pivotal step in our preservation and redevelopment of the historic Ludlow Mills campus," said Jeffrey Daley, president and CEO of Westmass. "We're thrilled to welcome more residents to the campus and witness the restoration of Ludlow's most iconic landmark."

    The project received financing from state and federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), as well as funds from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) and the U.S. National Park Services.

    Bank of America purchased the federal LIHTC and historic tax credits, providing a construction loan for the project. "We're proud to help finance the adaptive reuse of the Ludlow Mill into vibrant mixed-use housing," said Mary Thompson, senior vice president of Community Development Banking at Bank of America.

    The Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP) provided a permanent mortgage, while MassHousing offered Affordable Housing Trust funds. BlueHub Capital provided a loan for state LIHTC and historic tax credits, backed by equity from Bank of America.

    The Residences at Mill 8 features modern amenities, including on-site laundry facilities, management, a fitness room, resident lounge, and outdoor recreation areas. The property was designed to meet Enterprise Green Communities standards, ensuring water conservation, energy efficiency, healthy materials, and green operations.

    WinnDevelopment Vice President Dana Angelo oversaw the project with Vice President of Construction Jason Quinn. Dellbrook Construction LLC served as general contractor, working from designs by The Architectural Team. Since 1981, WinnDevelopment has transformed 46 historic buildings into over 5,275 modern apartments, earning numerous awards for adaptive reuse projects.

    The clock tower underwent a complete restoration, including replacement of rotted wood and copper urns, and the installation of new aluminum screens at the belfry level. The bell weighs 3,064 pounds and was produced by Meneely & Co., the same company commissioned to replace the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia.

    Westmass will oversee commercial development and leasing on the first floor of Mill 8, driving economic impact for Ludlow and Western Massachusetts.