Housing Headlines

SHREWSBURY --- With three Ch. 40B comprehensive permit applications totalling 475 units on the horizon, Shrewsbury officials have indicated an interest in pursuing 'friendly' 40Bs that suit the town and are reluctant to make exceptions to a town bylaw that only grants sewer tie-ins for commercial projects.

CHICAGO --- A new survey of housing attitudes shows that six in 10 people (58 percent) believe that the government should be doing more to ensure that there is more rental housing and housing to buy, but 52 percent say they would not be in favor of relaxing zoning regulations so that different types of housing could be built.

CHELMSFORD --- Despite concerns from residents about impacts on the neighborhood, the Chelmsford Zoning Board of Appeals last month unanimously approved a Ch. 40B comprehensive permit for Princeton Properties, allowing it to move forward with a 108-unit rental apartment development on Mill Road. Eighty-six units will be rented at market rates and 22 will be affordable to households whose income is less than 50 percent of the area's median income.

FALL RIVER --- Discussion are continuing over what to do with the demolished Watuppa Heights public housing property, with the state and the local housing authority proposing a 50-unit rental development and the city countering with a plan to create 26 homes to be purchased by low-income buyers.

WORCESTER --- State and local officials recently celebrated the ribbon-cutting ceremony for a completed adaptive reuse project at the site of a former vocational school. Called Voke Lofts, the 116,306 residential building is made up of 84 mixed-income apartments, half of which will be restricted to households with incomes between 30 and 60 percent of the area median income. The development also includes a community room with a kitchen, a computer learning center and a play area for children.

SHREWSBURY --- After receiving indications that three developers will be seeking comprehensive permits to build large 40B apartment complexes, selectmen this week appointed two if its members to work on a so­-called 'friendly 40B' request for proposals, which the board says will allow the town to be proactive rather than reactive when it comes to affordable housing developments.