Housing Headlines

BARNSTABLE --- While packing his moving van, freelance writer Jeff Harder articulates why he, his wife and so many other young people are leaving the Cape. This story illustrates why MHP worked with rural and Cape leaders for over a year on what could be done to address the cost of housing and stem the loss of people young and old. This resulted in Gov. Baker okaying a rural policy commission.

DORCHESTER --- Disgusted with the condition of their apartment building, the site of strangers smoking crack in the hallways and the apparent failure of building management to do anything about it even after attracting the notice of the city, more than 40 tenants and community organizers - including City Councilor Ayanna Presley - gathered recently outside 200 Hancock St. to protest unsafe and unsanitary conditions in their building.

SOMERVILLE --- In an effort to help younger residents remain in the city, a working group is considering changes to the city's housing policy that would give low-income residents financial assistance when buying properties and increase the number of smaller housing units in the city. No funding source has been identified yet. The city currently distributes almost $500,000 per year to support similar programs for tenants, using federal and state grants, city funds and Community Preservation Act funds.

GLOUCESTER --- In one of three scheduled community meetings to discuss plans to redevelop the former Cameron's Restaurant into affordable housing, two nonprofit organizations which hope to buy and redevelop the site said their plans include ground-floor retail space with 30 to 40 apartments on the upper floors. Action Inc. and Salem-based North Shore Community Development Coalition have secured a purchase and sale to buy the building. Their plan is to raze it and seek financing from the state to develop affordable apartments on the upper floors.

NORTON --- In his regular commentary for the Attleboro Sun, columnist Bill Gouveia - who is also the Norton town moderator - argues that the 188-unit Ch. 40B development currently under construction is just what the town needs.

GREAT BARRINGTON --- The town's zoning board of appeals is continuing to hold hearings on whether to grant a nonprofit developer a Ch. 40B permit so that an 11-unit affordable housing development can be built on a 12-acre parcel on State Road. Previously, the selectmen, planning board and board of health have all voted to support the project.