Housing Headlines

CAMBRIDGE --- The Cambridge City Council recently passed a zoning petition that will allow single- and two-family home owners to create accessory basement apartments with a special permit. The city council adopted the measure in its original form but may make changes leading up to the May 1 implementation date.

NORWOOD --- As the town goes to court to fight off a proposed Ch. 40B housing development, a 262-unit 40B is beginning to come on line as One Upland has begun leasing apartments in two of its seven planned buildings. Developed by Campenelli and Thorndike Development, the other five buildings are expected to be completed and leased up by the end of the year.

BROCKTON --- With an estimated 600 children in its schools who are classified as homeless, the city is organizing a collaborative effort with the business and nonprofit community to acquire funding to address family homelessness. The cy says these families are living in three hotels and 89 other scattered locations around the city.

NEWTON --- In the new print edition of Commonwealth Magazine, Jack Sullivan takes a look at the state's Ch. 40B housing law through what's going on in Newton, where the city overwhelmingly voted against a 2010 state referendum to kill the law, yet has been tough on most every 40B proposed in the city proposed since that ballot question.

NATICK --- Selectman Josh Ostroff pens a detailed column tracing Natick's housing history, how it once fought 40Bs and how it learned to use the law to gain greater control of its housing destiny.

ARLINGTON --- Following a presentation of calculations by town counsel, the zoning board of appeals voted to declare that 1.53 percent of its land is devoted to affordable housing, which if approved by the state would give the town safe harbor and greater control over developers trying to build with Ch. 40B permits.