SPRINGFIELD, Mass (WWLP) - City and State officials as well as contractors and subcontractors all participated together in the ceremonial ribbon cutting of new homes in Springfield's South End. "Housing is desperately needed," said Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno. The ribbon was cut for the Gemini town homes in Springfield on Morris Street. The site was once the Gemini factory which was destroyed in a massive fire in 1999 and was left vacant, now it is 40 single-family homes. "It's not often we get to celebrate the opportunity for 40 families to take their first steps towards generational wealth through homeownership," said Melvin Edwards, Springfield City Councilor. And the price of the homes is starting at $170,000. "A lot of people wake up in the morning and they say, the American dream of owning a home is lost. We're working hard to make sure that dream, of owning a home, comes true" said Mayor Sarno. The homes have 3 beds, 1.5 baths, a kitchen, garage and even their own washer and dryer. Not only will families have the opportunity to own a home, but the ability to own a home will be beneficial for themselves and their families in the future. "They are going to take some of that equity and they're going to put their kids to college. They are going to take some of that equity and they're going to invest in their own retirement futures. They're going to have the spin-off benefits for decades and generations to come from the opportunities that have been created here today" said Massachusetts Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities, Edward Augustus. The construction was supported by MassHousing's Commonwealth Builder Program which is a fund intended to encourage the building of single-family homes or condos that are affordable to households with moderate incomes. Mayor Sarno not only highlighted local businesses that were involved in the building and make-up of the townhomes, but he also said that with new housing and families moving in, the local businesses in the area like grocery stores and restaurants will also benefit. Local News Headlines Commonwealth Care Alliance Day of Service September heat follows record-breaking warm August FBI warns Sec. of the Commonwealth about “suspicious packages” Dry weather may dull fall foliage across the region WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.