From a hospital to a home, people are now moving into apartments and condos on the former site of the Northampton state hospital.

City officials, contractors, developers and newly moved in residents were all on hand Friday for the official opening of Hillside Place.

Its the latest apartment building built on the large piece of land that the Northampton State Hospital used to stand.

The walls of the historic asylum are now gone, replaced with state of the art, eco-friendly and energy efficient architecture.

The cutting of the ribbon has been a long time coming in Northampton, the project has spanned four mayors since its inception.

Former Mayor David Mustane was served Northampton from 1980-1991, lived across the street form the hospital in its heyday.

He remembers how important a role the hospital played in the community

"We probably had forty members of the family that worked here, including myself while attending Umass, I worked here as and attendant"

Mustane, along with three other Northampton mayors where honored with street signs in there names that now line the sidewalks in this new neighborhood.

"Now we are seeing it come to life with this housing and light industry, recreation an open space." said Mustane

The vision for developing

Miriam Mansour and her son Farris moved in two weeks ago.

"Its a great set-up and extremely nice set up, extremely quiet neighbors, very diverse , really fits with the area"

All together about 80 new housing units now sit on hospital hill, offering homes to people from all walks of life.

For Mansour, the scenic Northampton setting which once helped so many people, is now helping her feel right at home.