Introducing Village Hill Northampton: Community, Commerce and Culture

May 16, 2008

A who's-who of city and state officials, community leaders, area entrepreneurs and local residents turned out in Northampton today to launch the next phase of development at Village Hill.

Northampton Mayor Mary Clare Higgins and MassDevelopment President/CEO Robert L. Culver joined Wright Builders Founder/CEO Jonathan Wright and The Community Builders, Inc. Development Director Susan McCann to break ground for three new residential complexes and to unveil a multi-pronged marketing campaign to promote the project throughout the northeastern U.S.

“Move over 90210, 01060 is going to be the hot new place to live, work and play,” said Robert L. Culver, MassDevelopment president/CEO. “With more than 60 new homes and apartments in the pipeline and a comprehensive multi-media marketing campaign in place, Village Hill is poised to become a center for inspired living in Northampton.”

The ceremony marked the start of construction on 63 new units of market-rate and mixed-income housing. Northampton-based Wright Builders, Inc. is constructing Morningside and Eastview, new neighborhoods on Olander Drive and Moser Street featuring 11 environmentally friendly single family homes in the Victorian and Craftsman styles, and a 12-unit Craftsman style row house. The Community Builders, Inc. is building 40 new townhouse and apartment units for families and individuals with a range of incomes on Village Hill Road, Moser Street and Musante Drive.

“Northampton is proud to have not one, but two residential developers now at Village Hill, who are well known for building thoughtfully designed, energy efficient housing. We are pleased to welcome Wright Builders to Village Hill, and we congratulate The Community Builders on the start of its next residential project, after the resounding success of the Hilltop apartments. I would also add my thanks to MassDevelopment, for continuing to provide the project management and to build the infrastructure, to make Village Hill a reality.”

MassDevelopment unveiled a multi-year, multi-media marketing campaign to attract new residents and business tenants. Components include a dedicated website at villagehillnorthampton.com, a new logo and tagline, radio spots on WFCR and WBUR, print ads, a four-color brochure and Village Hill shopping bags. Building on the site's extraordinary natural beauty, proximity to Northampton's bustling town center and cultural offerings, and proximity to major highways, the campaign focuses on opportunities for inspired living in a setting that offers community, commerce and culture.

Village Hill Northampton is a master-planned community based on New Urbanist principles. It combines commercial, R&D/light industrial and residential uses with open space to support regional job creation, business development and recreational opportunities. Area housing developer, Wright Builders, Inc., joined the development effort last year. MassDevelopment officials estimate that at full build-out, Village Hill will support the creation or retention of 400 to 800 regional jobs.