Housing Headlines

HOPKINTON --- Town officials have asked the developers of a Ch. 40B housing development on Lumber Street to increase their proposal from 250 to 280 units so that the town can raise its supply of affordable housing above 10 percent, thereby gaining more control over future Ch. 40B multifamily requests. If passed, Mill Creek Residential's development will include 84 one-, 122 two- and 36 three-bedroom apartments spread out over six buildings.

GREENFIELD ---- Governor-elect Charlie Baker's pledge to put an end to homeless families living in hotels has resonated in Greenfield, where approximately 85 homeless families live in two hotels - a number that has been pretty steady for the past two years, the newspaper reported.

SUDBURY --- Voters at a special Town Meeting on Dec. 3 unanimously agreed to spend $2.9 million to buy the 35-acre Johnson Farm from developer Robert Moss, whose four-year effort to develop the property has become bogged down in litigation with the state's Department of Environmental Protection.

EASTON --- Hoping to gain greater control over affordable housing developments, selectmen voted 3-1 to support Avalon Bay's 290-unit Ch. 40B proposal over Dolben Company's 228-unit plan because it would put the town's supply of affordable housing over 10 percent.

NEWTON --- The developer who pursued a 'friendly' 40B and eventually got the permit from the city to build 36 condominiums now says he is seeking a partner because the seven-month permitting process took longer and was more costly than expected.

WESTON --- Residents voted at special Town Meeting on Dec. 2 voted to spend $2.7 million to create seven units of affordable housing and another $1.2 million to acquire and renovate another property into two units.