Housing Headlines

MILLBURY --- A Millbury Special Town Meeting voted down an article that would have amended the town's zoning bylaw and zoning map to be in compliance with the state law. Residents at the meeting said they feared the zoning law could alter the character of the town and would relinquish the town's zoning to the state.

NEEHAM --- Town Meeting voted to adopt an expansive approach to compliance with the state’s MBTA Communities Act. The decision will create zoning that allows substantial building of multifamily housing near the town’s MBTA stations. The vote was 118-90. The next step is final compliance review by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities and the attorney general.

STATE --- The Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association has lined up 11 prominent business and nonprofit leaders as co-chairs of its new “Our Massachusetts” campaign. Their goal: helping yes-in-my-backyard folks get more housing approved at the local level. The ultimate goal is seeing 200,000 homes across income levels built by 2030.

SOUTHBOROUGH --- By a vote of 281 to 273, Southborough voters approved an article to amend the zoning bylaw to include the MBTA Communities Overlay Districts (MCOD) during Town Meeting on Sept. 30. Planning Board member Marnie Hoolahan said 90 percent of the housing inventory is single-family homes. The average selling price is $1.1 million. “We don’t have a lot of diversity [in the housing inventory]. We don’t have townhouses, condominiums, condos, apartments. There’s really no place to downsize,” she said.

WESTWOOD --- Construction has begun on a 160-unit residential development in Westwood, one of the first multifamily projects to break ground in zoning approved under the MBTA Communities law. Petruzziello Properties, a subsidiary of Dedham-based Supreme Development, began foundation work earlier this month for the first building at The Block at 22 Everett St. The 22 Everett project includes 12,000 square feet of commercial and retail space. Of the 160 residential units, 15% are income restricted.

SPRINGFIELD --- The New England Farm Workers Council has sold three properties, continuing its yearlong liquidation to pay off a debt owed to the state over misspent home heating funds. Sales include the Farm Workers former offices at 9-13 Hampden Street and three vacant lots in the North End sold to the New North Citizens Council for New North’s affordable housing program. “It gives a family that American dream,” said Jose Claudio, chief operating officer of the New North Citizens Council.