Housing Headlines

AMHERST --- A local development company's quest to seek a special permit to build a five-story mixed-use building with four commercial spaces and 78 market-rate units on the second through fifth floors has drawn a cool reception from some local officials, who feel the building will be out of character with the downtown.

BOSTON --- The state has unveiled new plans for a $25 million commuter rail station as part of a $260 million improvement project to develop the rail yards along the Mass Pike in the Allston-Brighton area of the city.

WESTPORT --- A local developer has indicated plans to build 16 affordable three- and four-bedroom homes to sell between $200,000 and $216,000 as part of a second phase of the Briggs Landing, a 40B homeownership development that generated 89 homes (23 affordable) during phase 1.

NORTH ATTLEBORO --- Great Bridge Properties, a New Hampshire-based developer, has officially presented to the town its plan to seek a Ch. 40B comprehensive permit to build 66 affordable one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, all affordable to families below 60 percent of median income. The development would be at the downtown's Jeweled Cross site.

QUINCY --- Neighbors and pro-union groups are protesting Avalon Bay's plan to build 398 apartments next to the 394-unit High Point Apartments. Neighbors are arguing that Avalon Bay should go through the public process again, even though the property it bought from the High Point developers had its permits extended to 2016 by the city due to the recession.

SALEM --- Residents attended a public meeting recently to discuss the impact of homeless families being placed in local hotels, a practice the state has been trying to reduce as it works to find permanent housing for the homeless. According to the Salem News, due to lack of capacity in state shelters, 181 families are living in three Danvers hotels as of Sept. 2.