Housing Headlines

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.

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.

QUINCY --- Five months after uncovering dozens of health and safety violations at Quincy Housing Authority apartments, state housing officials have announced they will fund more than $1.7 million worth of repairs to hundreds of public housing units.

NORWOOD --- The town has issued building permits to two affordable housing development proposals, thereby pushing it closer to having 10 percent of its housing considered affordable or the threshold that grants towns greater latitude if 1.5 percent of its land is being used for affordable housing.

SOMERVILLE --- Aldermen are charging the city's planning department with watering down a proposed affordable housing law that is designed to add affordable units. The city's planner has suggested a change that would absolve smaller property owners from the law if their rehab projects aren't adding or subtracting affordable units but aldermen say the new language will create loopholes that will hurt the city's attempt to add affordable units.

WORCESTER --- In an effort to help residents move on from public housing, the Worcester Housing Authority (WHA) and the Chamber of Commerce have announced an initiative that would encourage the chamber's 2,500 members to hire public housing residents who are enrolled in the Better Life Program, a life and work skills program run by the WHA.