Goshen Senior Housing

Goshen, MA

We were tasked with designing senior housing located as close as possible to the center of town. These energy-efficient buildings serve seniors of limited income, allowing them to continue to live with dignity and comfort in a community that is beautiful, convenient, and supportive.

Goshen Senior Housing

Austin Design Cooperative worked with Hilltown Community Development Corporation (CDC), the Goshen Council on Aging, and members of the community to create this comfortable, bright, and airy, rural project within the village. Highland Village Circle, as it came to be called, consists of 10 single-floor, one-bedroom apartments, including one fully accessible unit. Each single-story building is comprised of either two or four units. The apartments are available for income-eligible seniors aged 62+.

The first challenge was to locate a suitable site that was close to the village center, sized to accommodate the needed number of units, and available at an affordable price. Another challenge was to design buildings that were efficiently small in size and cost, but had the required presence and character to fit in and complement the town center. Community involvement formed a critical component of the design process, with a number of charrettes held with the Town where we gathered input and suggestions from residents and seniors. Hilltown CDC completed extensive research on the local demand for housing, assisting in the design of unit size and make-up.

Drawing on our decades of experience and understanding of the specific needs and limitations of seniors, we designed with a commitment to building a community of homes that support and accommodate the residents’ changing needs over time. We worked successfully with Hilltown CDC, their myriad lending agencies, and the contractor to overcome design and construction challenges and finish the job on schedule and on budget.