Construction for Villas and Pine Crossing in Agawam now underway

Jan. 12, 2021 | Ryan Feyre
rfeyre@thewestfieldnewsgroup.com

AGAWAM – The Villas at Pine Crossing, a 55-and-over community currently under construction, have all been sold – with the exception of one condominium.

Kathleen Sweeney and Victor Shibley, the two developers for this project, bought the land at 466 S. Westfield St. from a private owner a couple of years ago, and had the zone changed by presenting their proposal to the Agawam City Council. The plans for this 44-unit project were then approved by the Planning Board and Agawam’s Conversation Commission.

“Between that and getting the zone change, this process took quite a while,” said Sweeney. “But we’re on our way now, and it’s certainly a successful journey.”

According to Sweeney, units were sold before anyone even officially closed the agreement. Their first official closing is sometime next month. Units are currently under two categories, which are “Purchase and Sales” and “Unit Reservation.”

Condos that are under “Purchase and Sales” are ones that are currently in the process of being built, while the remaining units are under “Unit Reservation” agreement. Under this category, Sweeney and her partner take a deposit, and the buyer puts their name on that condo. Once these units are in the process of being built, that is when they go under “Purchase and Sales.”

“We started cutting out the road last spring,” said Sweeney. “And shortly after that, we started building.”

Assistant Town Planner Pam Kerr said that the final permit allows for construction of 22 two-unit buildings for a total of 44 units. So far, eight units have been built, and eight more are currently in their construction period, according to Sweeney.

“From the town’s perspective, we were thrilled to see that this type of age-restricted 55-and-older housing development was being built in town,” said Kerr. “Agawam would benefit from more of these types of age-restricted developments.”

Outside of the Villas at Pine Crossing, Sweeney also helped develop the Canterbury and Beach Hill 55-and-over communities in West Springfield. Those are all one level, and they all have two-car garages.

“People like that one-floor living,” said Sweeney. “When you get to a certain age, you want everything on one floor. It’s just a nicer way of living.”

There is currently no timetable for when all of the units will be built, as much of the progress depends on weather. Sweeney believes that, if all goes according to plan, the project could be completed in another year and a half.

“Can you imagine I didn’t have one advertisement in the paper,” said Sweeny, with regards to promoting the project. “This has just been word of mouth, and people are just calling me. It’s pretty remarkable.”

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