ADAMS, Mass. — A section of Route 8 has been designated a “blighted” area so the town can target Community Development Block Program funds toward redevelopment.
According to a slum and blight report by Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, the target area is located along the Hoosic River in the “northern and southern gateways to downtown and the Summer Street area.”
“We’re wanting to focus this on the Route 8 corridor within the town center, although progress has been made towards eliminating blight conditions, the area still has the greatest concentration of the oldest and most deteriorated buildings in the town,” Community Development Director Donna Cesan told the Select Board recently in requesting a vote on the designation.
This will help define how the program’s future funding will be directed within Adams for projects that meet the national objectives of eliminating slum and blighted conditions, in addition to providing assistance to people with low and moderate income, she said.
CDBG is a federally funded competitive grant program administered by the state. It can be used for activities that address blight, housing, beautification, demolition and economic development.