Housing Headlines

PROVINCETOWN --- Despite an emotional plea from a proponent that the lack of affordable housing in town was an act of "essentially committing community suicide," most attending a public discussion were against transferring $1.6 million in Land Bank funds into the CPA fund so it can be used for affordable housing.

ANDOVER --- Residents fighting two major senior housing developments will be going before Town Meeting this spring to propose three zoning bylaw amendments aimed at better controlling the location and size of assisted living developments.

BOSTON --- To cope with the city's growing need for senior affordable housing, the Boston Housing Authority is planning to file a request asking the federal government to up its required ratio of seniors in elderly-disabled housing from 70 to 80 percent.

SOMERVILLE --- City officials have agreed to help fund a $9 million plan to turn the 1.4 acre Mystic Valley Water Works property into 25 one-bedroom units for financially insecure and homeless residents. The city's housing trust recently voted unanimously to spend as much as $500,000 to support the project and more support is expected through funds raised through the Community Preservation Act.

NATICK --- Town Meeting this spring is expected to debate two citizens petitions aimed at controlling growth, including one that would impose a two-year moratorium on multifamily developments so that the town could measure the financial impact of development on schools, services, traffic and parking.

NORTHAMPTON --- The Valley Community Development Corp. efforts to redevelop the former Northampton Lumber Company site into a mixed-use development with 55 affordable apartments received more city support recently as the city council OK'd a $300,000 grant in Community Preservation Act funds to support the CDC's effort.