Housing Headlines

BILLERICA --- Another affordable-housing project in a single-family residential neighborhood is not ideal, but the 179-unit Alpine Village Local Initiative Project (LIP) proposal in North Billerica is countless times better because developer Ray Cormier is working with the town and has offered more than $1 million in mitigation, selectmen told about 50 abutters on Monday.

MARTHA'S VINEYARD --- The Island Housing Trust (IHT) has announced it has combined forces with the Martha's Vineyard Land Bank to purchase a 15-acre parcel off State Road in Tisbury for $1.2 million. The two agencies plan to create 11 duplexes for the year-round workforce while also preserving open space.

BOSTON --- With properties like the Flower Exchange and Widett Circle being eyeballed for development, some are worried that the Hub's appetite for new housing is chewing into its dwindling supply of industrially-zoned land and employers may have to move elsewhere if they want to expand, reports Tim Logan.

AMHERST --- Amherst Town Manager John Musante, whose town was recognized by MHP for its outstanding work in affordable housing, passed away suddenly over the weekend. He was 53.

WEYMOUTH --- The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority last week gave preliminary approval to allow the SouthField development at the former So. Weymouth Naval Air Station to tie into the MWRA's water system.

ARLINGTON --- In response to a report predicting that the town will gain more than 1,000 students in the next five years, local realtors said people are attracted to Arlington due to its relatively affordability and proximity to Boston but they were unanimous in saying they did not believe any of the apartment complexes built in recent years are contributing to enrollment increases.