Housing Headlines

WATERTOWN --- The Watertown Town Council has voted to strengthen its inclusionary zoning bylaw, upping the number of affordable units that must be included in a project from 10 to 12.5 percent.

WAYLAND --- A developer's bid to comply with the town's inclusionary zoning bylaw by building affordable units on another site rather than on a residential site with million dollar homes has met with stiff opposition from neighbors, who feel that portion of town already has its share of low-cost housing.

SUDBURY --- With Raytheon set to close its Rte. 20 plant by 2016, town officials have signaled that they wouldn't mind seeing the site turned into an affordable housing development to help the town get closer to having 10 percent of its units considered affordable.

TISBURY --- The Tisbury zoning board of appeals (ZBA) unanimously approved a six-unit affordable rental apartment building on Water Street at a hearing on Friday. The written decision on a comprehensive permit for the Island Housing Trust's (IHT) project, with conditions, is expected to be finalized this week.

SOMERVILLE --- Mayor Joseph Curtatone recently released details of an affordable housing plan that calls for taxing home flippers and giving tax breaks to landlords who keep their rents low.

TOWNSEND --- With 24 rental apartments completed and rented within 30 days, the developers of the Ch. 40B Turnpike Village apartment complex say the 24-unit second phase will be completed and ready for occupancy by Jan. 2015.