Housing Headlines

BOSTON --- The Baker-Polito Administration recently awarded $40,000 in Planning Assistance Toward Housing (PATH) grants to Lynn and Rockland to help these communities meet their housing needs. Lynn received $25,000 to support the creation of three Ch. 40R Smart Growth districts while Rockland received $15,000 to create a Housing Production Plan.

WORCESTER - The city's historical commission has voted to allow the exterior of the historic Vernon Theatre Block in Kelley Square to be modified to accommodate plans to convert the upper two floors into 10 apartments.

TYNGSBORO --- Met with stiff opposition, developer George Psoinos is dropping plans to use the state's Local Initiative Program (aka friendly 40B) to build 48 age-restricted units on 4.5 acres. "I'm not going to force something down people's throats," he said. "We were trying to do a friendly thing that worked. It obviously didn't work out that way."

UPTON --- The town's affordable housing trust is considering using Community Preservation Act funds to support an inclusionary zoning bylaw and the hiring of a housing consultant who would help the town manage its affordable housing activities.

SOMERVILLE -- Hundreds of residents packed City Hall recently to urge the city to move faster on its efforts to rewrite its inclusionary zoning laws so that more affordable units can be created. A plan put forth by city planners was rejected in 2014 and the city has been working on a new plan that they expect to unveil in 2016. Residents at the meeting said the city needs to move faster as rising prices are pushing lower- and middle-income families out of the city.

WALTHAM --- After months of debate, the city council approved just before Christmas a measure that will use $2.1 million in Community Preservation Act funds to create a rental voucher program that will help 50 families secure affordable housing.