Residences at the Park

Residences at the Park

Residences at the Park is an exciting new project led by NewVue Communities that will help the town of Athol reuse two abandoned historic schools while creating much-needed new housing for seniors and families.

In September 2019, the Athol Board of Selectmen chose NewVue Communities and ICON Architecture as the town’s developer/partner to renovate the two-building campus of the Riverbend and Ellen Bigelow Schools, add a new building for senior housing and redevelop play space, community space and parking.

The project will create 53 units of mixed-income and intergenerational housing. Thirty-three units will be reserved for families and 20 one-bedroom units will be dedicated for residents 62 and older.

NewVue Communities took ownership of the property in early 2025, closed on its construction financing on May 1, 2025 and immediately started construction.

We anticipate the project will be completed mid-summer 2026.

Funding for the $32 million project is primarily through tax credits. Other funds include loans, as well as $1 million in federal funding secured by Rep. Jim McGovern and $400,000 in ARPA funds from Athol.

The Riverbend School was constructed in 1907 and was expanded in 1937. The Ellen Bigelow School was constructed in 1912 and underwent a basement renovation in 1954.