Way Finders’ City of Homes Initiative redevelops distressed properties in Springfield, MA and offers them for sale to first-time homebuyers.

Our goals:

Revitalize vacant city-owned properties through rehabilitation or new construction and bring them back onto the tax rolls.
Benefit neighborhoods and nearby homeowners by reducing blight and improving property values.
Create wealth-building opportunities for first-time homebuyers in Springfield. Each home will be sold at below market price to ensure it is affordable.

These fully renovated or new-construction homes are offered at a below-market sale price to expand homeownership and generational wealth-building for lower income households in Springfield.

City of Homes broke ground in October 2024 and development work is ongoing.

Location of first six properties

Map is not to scale, and property locations are not exact. Used with permission: Simtropolitan, CC BY 3.0 US via Wikimedia Commons

An innovative approach to acquiring properties

One of the ways that Way Finders acquires properties is through a new process called Special Attorney Receivership, or SAR, which was created by Honorable Dina Fein (retired). SAR is an offshoot of a traditional receivership, the process where a city seizes distressed property to enforce the sanitary code.

Typically, seized properties sit empty for months or years and may eventually be sold at auction to the highest bidder.

With SAR, the court system offers properties to a qualified nonprofit developer like Way Finders, giving it the ability to renovate the homes and keep sale prices affordable for first-time homebuyers.

Click here to read more about City of Homes in our News section.

Learn more the innovative Special Advocate Receiver process in this interview with Dina Fein

Property Updates

18 Highland Street

Years vacant: 6
Project approach: demolish and build new
Project result: single family home
Expected completion date: Summer 2026
Status: Demolished; under construction
Status date: 11/6/25

24-26 Los Angeles Street

Years vacant: 11
Project approach: renovation
Project result: duplex
Expected completion date: Fall 2026
Status: Renovation is underway
Status date: 10/22/25

119 Melville Street

Years vacant: 14
Project approach: vacant lot
Project result: single family home
Expected completion date: Winter 2026
Status: Demolished
Status date: 10/22/25

26-28 Terrence Street

Years vacant: 14
Project approach: demolish and build new
Project result: single family home
Expected completion date: Summer 2026
Status: Demolished; foundation poured
Status date: 11/6/25

191 Tyler Street

Years vacant: 5
Project approach: demolish and build new
Project result: single family home
Expected completion date: Winter 2027
Status: Contract in place for demo; waiting for utility discontinuation to advance
Status date: 10/22/25

193 Tyler Street

Years vacant: 6
Project approach: demolish and build new
Project result: single family home
Expected completion date: Winter 2028
Status: Contract in place for demo; waiting for utility discontinuation to advance
Status date: 10/22/25

524 Union Street

Years vacant: 11
Project approach: demolish and build new
Project result: single family home
Expected completion date: Summer 2026
Status: Demolished; foundation poured
Status date: 11/6/25

City of Homes press coverage

Listen to or read WAMC coverage

Read The Reminder's coverage

Watch WWLP coverage

City of Homes Groundbreaking, October 4, 2024

Click on the images below to view larger.

: Way Finders President and CEO, Keith Fairey

: Pictured, L-R: State Housing Secretary Ed Augustus, Rep. Orlando Ramos, Rep. Carlos Gonzalez, Way Finders President and CEO Keith Fairey, MassMutual Foundation President Dennis Duquette, Judge Dina Fein, Ret., MassHousing’s Beverly Estes-Smargiassi, and Springfield City Councilors Michael Fenton and Victor Davila.

: First City of Homes property in Springfield, MA

: L-R: Way Finders board members Alicia Raymond and Melissa Prohaska; Way Finders President and CEO Keith Fairey; Way Finders board members Jasmine Naylor, Lenny Underwood and Jim Broderick.