Housing Headlines

SHREWSBURY --- Pulte Homes of New England has informed the town that it plans to seek a Ch. 40B comprehensive land use permit so it can build a 300-unit mixed-income condominium community. The proposal includes 30 three-bedroom homes for families, which one town official hopes to reduce so as to minimize impact on town services.

SWAMPSCOTT --- The town is hoping to create more housing and services for veterans as it will ask voters at spring town meeting to OK the purchase of a commercial property next to the VFW post. The town's plan is to build 30 to 40 units on the property and work with the VFW to build a new post on its site, which is already owned by the town.

Despite a good job and a recent raise, Cherise Kenner decided to downsize from a three- to a two-bedroom apartment to save money so she can buy home. She is symbolic of a red-hot housing market where it's estimted a household now needs an income of $138,000 to buy a home in the lower third of the market, up from $96,000 in 2021.

WORCESTER --- As part of its ongoing "Priced Out" series documenting the fight for housing in Massachusetts, WGBH follows up with Worcester's Dave Vespucci, who struggled to find affordable housing after losing the apartment he had been renting for over 20 years.

BROOKLINE --- This town will be an interesting test for the state's new MBTA multifamily zoning law. As one of 12 towns served by rapid transit, it must have an approved zoning plan in place by the end of the year. But unlike all but one other community served by rapid transit, Brookline is governed by Town Meeting so the new zoning that is being is drawn up for Coolidge Corner must be approved by 2/3rds of the voters, not a few elected city representatives. The Globe's Andrew Brinker reports on the aried reactions to the proposal and why Brookline could be a bellwether for other MBTA zoning proposals subject to a Town Meeting vote.

DRACUT --- At a packed Board of Selectman meeting, officials and residents raised concerns about a proposed 300-unit housing development in East Dracut. Known as the Murphy’s Farm development, local officials and resident voiced concern about the proposal's impact on traffic, safety, sewers and schools. Final local approval for the project rests with the town's Zoning Board of Appeals.