NO PARKING? NO PROBLEM!

Anyone who has driven in downtown Springfield within the past year can attest to the trouble in finding a parking spot. With the closing of several lots, the quest to find one open or an available meter can be challenging. No longer is it easy to zip in and zip out of downtown. No one knows this better than you – the public – who oftentimes encounter a stressful experience when trying to conduct your business in this area.

Today, Lisa, who had an appointment with our office to be sworn in as a notary public, circled the Hall of Justice for over 45 minutes in an attempt to find a parking spot. Rather than simply telling her to keep looking, Register Ashe offered his services – curbside. That’s right, folks! Mr. Ashe took his office on the road! Lisa was asked to wait in her car while we came down to retrieve her paperwork, prepared it back in our office, and returned down to State Street to administer her oath.

Register Ashe swears in Lisa for her notary oath

Though the setting was a bit different than the Register is used to, he made it work and was very happy to help Lisa out. Register Ashe values customer service above all else and as our environment evolves, so will we! The Hampden County Registry of Deeds will always strive to make conducting business with our office as efficient and pleasant as possible.

Register Ashe poses for a photo with Lisa after swearing her in as a notary public

The Hampden County Foreclosure Crisis on WWLP

22 News picked up Register Ashe's segment on foreclosures. Watch his exclusive interview here!

Real Time with Donald Ashe: The Hampden County Foreclosure Crisis

Watch as Register Ashe discusses some of the key reasons behind the recent rise in foreclosure recordings.

Affordable Housing Awards Bring More Homes to Springfield

On Monday, August 15, Governor Charlie Baker announced the Commonwealth’s latest endeavor to provide affordable housing to its communities in need, awarding over $90 million dollars in funding for 26 different affordable housing projects throughout the state.

The awards from the Department of Housing and Community Development include $31 million in state and federal low-income housing tax credits (which will generate over $218 million in equity for these projects), as well as over $59 million in housing subsidy funds (including federal HOME funds and state capital funds).

With these awards, the Commonwealth seeks to provide affordable housing opportunities, with specific focus on the elderly, disabled, and homeless. The 26 funded projects consist of development projects, renovations, and preservations of older buildings, including three preservation projects here in Springfield. In Springfield alone, these preservations will create 276 rental units, with 43 units reserved for families with household incomes less than 30% of the area median.

The Springfield housing projects sponsored by the grant include:

·         Henry Twiggs Phase II: 61 units of fully rehabilitated affordable housing, with 16 units reserved for households earning less than 30 percent of AMI, sponsored by Home City Housing

·         Maple Commons Apartments: 173 fully rehabilitated affordable housing units, with 18 units reserved for households earning less than 30 percent of AMI, sponsored by First Resource Companies.

·         St. James Commons Apartments: 42 affordable units for families, with 9 units reserved for families earning than 30 percent of AMI, sponsored by Valley Real Estate.

As of 2013, nearly 38% of Springfield residents live below the poverty line, and 5.8 in every thousand were homeless. According to a 2012 study, nearly half of all households in the city were considered cost-burdened, contributing more than 30% of their income to housing costs. Despite the fact that Springfield was once known as the “city of homes” only 29% of homes were designated as “affordable.”

A 5-year investment plan released by the Governor’s office shows plans in place to continue increasing housing production throughout the Commonwealth, including an 18% increase in funding for mixed-income housing. Though specific plans have not yet been released, it is our hope that the proposed changes to the local economy will revitalize the market and allow more people access to affordable housing.