Housing Headlines

PITTSFIELD --- At a recent public hearing, Berkshire Housing Development Corp. presented plans to create 28 units of permanent supportive housing for the homeless, nine units less than what it originally proposed. In response to concerns from business owners near the proposed site, BHDC CEO Eileen Peltier said, "(This) is not a shelter. It is permanent housing ... that combines affordable housing and support services to address the needs of homeless individuals."

NEW BEDFORD --- At a forum to discuss the city's housing challenges, Michael Goodman, a senior advisor and researcher at UMass Dartmouth, said one cause for rising home prices is the expected arrival of South Coast rail service is causing a rising appetite by investors for multifamily properties. The event, sponsored by the New Bedford Housing Options for Momentum and Equity, was held to focus on the root causes of the city's crisis, in which 23 percent of households pay more than 50 percent of their income on housing.

WORCESTER --- Social service agencies say a 60 percent year-over increase in homelessness in Worcester County is impacting public health and straining public services, with searches to find homes for clients taking up to 10 to 12 months and wait lists that have doubled since the start of 2022.

LITTLETON --- The former IBM campus on King Street is being considered for a multipurpose, large-scale development project to include 780 units of affordable housing, A portion would be dedicated to retail space with options to accommodate several housing units above the stores. The project received approvals from the Select Board and other town committees. Attention now turns toward sewer hookup.

NEWTON --- A five-story, 50-unit mixed-use addition is proposed to the back of the former Santander Bank building on Washington Street. Listed on the National Register of Historic places, the building would be preserved and renovated as a restaurant with outdoor seating. Mark Development, which has several project proposals in Newton, is required to have nine of the units designated as affordable housing.

WELLFLEET --- At a special town meeting, Wellfleet voters approved spending $6.5 million to buy Maurice’s Campground, a 21.3 acre property the town hopes to use for affordable housing. The town plans to use $675,000 in Community Preservation Act money to place a deed restriction on the property, if voters approve it at the Sept. 20 town election. Only 2.5 percent of Wellfleet’s housing is deemed affordable.