Housing Headlines

ARLINGTON--Claire Ricker, Lowell's director of real estate for Coalition for a Better Acre, has been appointed Arlington’s director of planning and community development. She will oversee planning, housing, economic development, arts & culture, zoning, and transportation initiatives. She begins her new role September 19th.

The story of Kimberly O'Connor puts a face on what happens to working people who have to leave behind their home because of no-fault eviction. An increase in rent made her apartment unaffordable. She, her husband and the two children---one on the autism spectrum--had to move from their 3-bedroom apartment in Weymouth, to a smaller 2-bedroom apartment costing $625 more.

NEWTON--A public hearing is set for September on a proposed change in a local ordinance in the hopes of encouraging more housing units. Newton Zoning and Planning Committee will consider the proposal to allow accessory apartments to be included as part of new construction. Currently, they are allowed in primary residences that are at least four years old, or by special permit.

FRAMINGHAM --- Framingham officials are reviewing response received during recent public hearings to a proposed policy change for affordable housing. It would require developers seeking to build apartments in the city to make at least 15 percent of their units affordable, including 5 percent that would accommodate an even lower income threshold. Currently, new projects must include at least 10 percent affordable housing, which accommodates those who earn 80 percent or less of the area median income.

WAREHAM --- Faced with the prospect of having their mobile home park bought by national investors, the senior residents of the Royal Crest mobile home park fought back, using the state's Right of First Refusal statute to form a cooperative and buy their mobile park for $12.1 million. Support for their bid came from the Cooperative Development Institute, which helps support efforts to turn housing parks into cooperatives. Additional support came from from private lenders, state funds and ROC USA Capital.

Massachusetts workers, flocking to southern New Hampshire to take advantage of its relatively affordable home prices, have helped jack up the Granite State housing market, pushing demand to previously unseen levels. According to the city of Nashua’s July housing market report, the median sale price for a single-family home jumped to $440,000. The inventory of homes in Nashua dropped almost 15% from June to July. And most of the home sales during that time exceeded the list price.