Housing Headlines

GREENFIELD --- The Congress Companies - owner of a 94-unit apartment building on Congress St. - has received a $6.8 million low-interest loan that it will use to make necessary system repairs and preserve 20 of its apartments as affordable for the next 20 years.

BOSTON --- The Urban Land Institute takes an in depth look at the success of the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative, a federal program that provided a $20 million grant to support the rehabilitation of 129 apartments in Dorchester and the renovation of an old meat factory into a food production center that resulted in 84 jobs.

BOSTON --- The Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation (JPNDC) has filed a letter of intent with the Boston Redevelopment Authority for a $16.4 million affordable rental development at City-owned land formed by the triangle of Heath, New Heath and Bromley streets.

FOXBORO --- In their final meeting with the zoning board of appeals, residents near a proposed 248-unit Ch. 40B apartment development expressed frustration at the developer's refusal to compromise on the size of the project, which they have described as a "battleship in a creek" in a formal letter of protest to the board. Residents also say if the project goes forward, proposed road improvements onto Rt. 140 are too small to handle the expected traffic.

PITTSFIELD --- Rees-Larkin Development has secured bond financing to proceed with the $12 million renovation of the 100-unit, 11-building Dalton Apartments. The combination of tax credits and loans will ensure that the apartments will continue to be rented at affordable rates.

NEW BEDFORD --- Standard-Times reporter Kathleen McKiernan take a detailed look at how the Section 8 federal housing subsidy program is working in New Bedford (2,200 households use the program) and how the city handles problem properties, landlords and tenants.