Housing Headlines

BROOKLINE --- A developer’s proposal to build a six-story apartment building on the vacant site of a former bank on Harvard Street has frustrated town officials and raised new questions about the role of zoning in shaping Brookline’s housing landscape. Town officials say a proposed 40-unit building at 429 Harvard Street, on the corner of Coolidge Street, flies in the face of the community-led zoning plan. The architect told the Select Board that Oak Hill Properties proposes to demolish the existing Citizens Bank structure and build a 72-foot-high building in its place. The developer might be able to build at six stories because of Chapter 40b. The attorney for Oak Hill said her client considered four stories but "the numbers didn't crunch."

BREWSTER --The Town of Brewster has been designated as a Housing Choice Community by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. The initiative provides incentives, rewards, technical assistance, and targeted legislative reform to encourage and empower municipalities to plan and build diverse housing options. Brewster is now eligible to apply for an exclusive grant program for up to $500,000 in funding through the state’s Community Compact program.

STATE --- Abundant Housing Massachusetts hosted its first Lobby Day on the steps of the State House. Advocates, community organizations, and lawmakers gathered to rally support for the Affordable Homes Act. Advocates attended meetings in the afternoon with their legislators seeking support for the legislation. The bill was sent to the House Ways and Means Committee in mid-April.

ERVING --- The town is one step closer to affordable housing on Care Drive after residents voted to authorize the Selectboard to lease, convey or otherwise dispose of the property eyed for the development. Voters at Annual Town Meeting also gave the Selectboard their blessing to work out the terms and conditions of an agreement it “deems to be in the best interest of the town.”

MARBLEHEAD --- Residents shot down new zoning rules that would make it easier to build multifamily housing and comply with the state’s MBTA Communities law. Applause erupted as Town Meeting rejected Article 36 on a 377-410 vote. In doing so, Marblehead pushed back against the state’s Dec. 31 deadline to adopt zoning changes under the MBTA Communities Act. Finance Director Aleesha Benjamin spoke at length about state grants Marblehead could lose by voting no.

STOCKBRIDGE --- The town’s Affordable Housing Trust Committee voted to accept a $1 million donation of 34 acres of open land off Glendale Middle Road. The intention of the gift, from Hans Morris, board chair and co-owner of The Berkshire Eagle, and his wife Kate, is to create affordable and workforce housing units on the site adjoining a municipal solar farm and a Verizon cell tower. But whether that land ultimately gets developed into affordable housing, and to what extent, remains in question.