Housing Headlines

FOXBORO --- Concerned about the impact of a 20-unit, 5.5 acre homeownership subdivision proposal that would be built with a Ch. 40B comprehensive permit, one nearby resident brought her 10-year-old son to a zoning board of appeals meeting to help illustrate neighborhood concerns about traffic. In addition to traffic and child safety, residents at the hearing also voiced concerns about drainage, the impact of blasting ledge, water quality and fears that the development could decrease property values.

FRANKLIN --- A little bit of history was made on Sat., July 26 as the town held a lottery for the first home purchased by the town's municipal affordable housing trust. The two-bedroom home on Landry St. was purchased by the trust for $253,000 and will be sold to the lottery winner - a Franklin couple - for $160,000 after the trust used its funds to reduce the purchase price.

WEST BOYLSTON --- The Northborough man who wants to buy land from the town and build housing has promised that he would not pursue a Ch. 40B permit but would instead construct eight homes on the 11-acre site. The parcel is part of the 40-acre Malden Brook Farm, most of which has been protected from development by the state or because it abuts wetlands. Eleven acres were not protected by the state and have been deemed suitable for housing.

DANVERS --- In a bid to bring more bustle to downtown streets, Danvers officials are pursuing changes that could entice property owners in the area to include a mix of housing and businesses in their buildings. The town has hired the Metropolitan Area Planning Council to help develop zoning changes that would allow mixed-use developments in the town center, with a particular goal of adding housing to the vacant floors above downtown stores.

AUSTIN --- Former Somerville resident Maria Massello, whose family dates back four generations in the city, writes about how rising prices in her beloved city forced her and her family to make the toughest decision of their lives - leave the place they love for a more affordable lifestyle in Austin.

ASHLAND --- About 50 residents attended a zoning board of appeals meeting on July 23 to voice their concerns over Southborough-based Capital Group Propertes' pursuit of Ch. 40B permit to build 140 units of rental housing on West Valentine St.