Do you have a stuck historic preservation project? The Massachusetts Underutilized Properties Program (UPP) is a great opportunity to move planning, feasibility studies, or construction projects forward. Via the Community One Stop for Growth, the program is now accepting letters of interest for FY2027. Expressions of Interest are being accepted now through June 3, 2026.
AHF has extensive experience with this state program, and has successfully supported several projects to gain funding. Wondering if your project might be a good fit, and looking for grant writing support or project consulting? Reach out to AHF today – email info@ahfboston.com.
Case Study:
Built in 1896, the Berkshire Country Savings Bank (BCSB) building is a notable cornerstone of the Park Square Historic District in Pittsfield. Listed on the National Register, the 6-story brick and limestone Renaissance Revival historic building has a prominent presence in Park Square, which at the end of the 19th century was considered the commercial and civic center not only of Pittsfield, but of all of Berkshire County. Today, Allegrone Companies aim to redevelop the historic building into market rate housing and bring back the historic first floor retail/restaurant. The adaptive reuse of this prominent building will bring desperately needed housing and economic activity to the downtown, building on the success of other Park Square historic projects.
AHF is assisting Allegrone Companies with accessing both State and Federal Historic Tax Credits and general historic preservation consulting. Last year, AHF was successful in accessing grant funding for the project through UPP allowing for interior remediation and structural stabilization to prepare the site for construction.
About the Underutilized Properties Program
Administered by MassDevelopment, for the purpose of funding “projects that will improve, rehabilitate or redevelop blighted, abandoned, vacant or underutilized properties to achieve the public purposes of eliminating blight, increasing housing production, supporting economic development projects, increasing the number of commercial buildings accessible to persons with disabilities.”