Pennrose has started construction on a new affordable rental community at 238 Pittsfield Road in Lenox, MA. The development is planned as a 68-unit multifamily property and is positioned to expand the stock of income-restricted housing in the town. Site work and vertical construction mark a new phase for the project, which is being delivered as a ground-up community rather than a renovation of existing buildings.
The plan calls for 10 residential buildings distributed across the property. Within those buildings, the unit mix will include 23 one-bedroom apartments, 38 two-bedroom apartments, and seven three-bedroom apartments. The design is intended to accommodate a range of household sizes, with a notable share of family-sized units in the two- and three-bedroom categories.
Affordability restrictions will apply to the majority of the homes. Of the 68 total apartments, 57 are designated as affordable for households earning between 30% and 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI). The remaining 11 units will be offered at market-rate rents. This blend of income-restricted and market-rate housing creates a mixed-income profile for the community while keeping most of the homes targeted to lower- and moderate-income residents.
The project also incorporates a standalone community building at the entrance to the site. This building is planned to house resident-focused amenities, including space that can be used for events as well as a fitness center. In addition, the community building will include onsite offices for Pennrose management and resident services staff, allowing day-to-day operations and support services to be delivered from within the development.
In announcing the groundbreaking, Pennrose leadership framed the project as part of the Town of Lenox’s broader efforts to respond to regional housing pressures. Karmen Cheung, regional vice president at Pennrose, noted that 238 Pittsfield Road is intended to build on the town’s progress in addressing demand for affordable, family-sized rental housing. Cheung highlighted the role of local partnerships in bringing new communities online that can serve households of varying sizes and income levels.
Cheung also referenced a collaboration with an effort known as Forge, describing the Lenox development and that initiative together as part of Pennrose’s longer-term commitment to Berkshire-area families. The emphasis on a sustained approach underscores that the 68-unit community is being positioned not as an isolated project but as one element of a broader strategy to expand the supply of affordable and workforce-oriented housing in the region.
As construction advances, the combination of affordable and market-rate units, the range of bedroom counts, and the inclusion of onsite amenities and resident services is expected to shape how the community functions once occupied. While specific delivery dates, development costs, and financing details have not been disclosed, the groundbreaking signals that the Lenox project has moved from planning into active execution.
