Housing Headlines

CONCORD --- While the Concord Housing Development Corporation (CHDC) considers a dozen proposals for affordable housing at Junction Village in West Concord, a number of residents have come forward to say they would oppose a large-scale project there.

WILLIAMSTOWN --- Continuing its progress toward finding safer affordable housing after Tropical Storm Irene damaged or destroyed 200 units, selectmen have approved two requests for proposals to develop affordable housing on a pair of town-owned "brownfields" parcels. By a 4-0 vote, the board OK'd the RFPs for the former town garage site and the former Photech mill property. The board also OK'd the hiring of a relocation specialist to help residents at the soon-to-be-closed Spruces Mobile Home Park, which was badly damaged in 2011 by Irene floodwaters.

WALPOLE --- After months of preliminary discussions with town officials, Barberry Homes of Framingham has officially filed to seek a Ch. 40B comprehensive permit from the town so it can build 174 one- and two-bedroom rental apartments on land known as Moosehill. As required with a 40B permit, 25 percent of the units (44) will be reserved for households making no more than 80 percent of the area median income.

NEWTON, Dec. 29, 2013 --- Local leaders in Needham and Newton are discussing ways to create an "innovation corridor" in the office park area near Rt. 128 on the Needham-Newton line. The area was recently enhanced by a major hotel and the decision by TripAdvisor Inc. to build an expanded headquarters in the office park. Local leaders hope to create a district similar to Boston's Seaport District and Cambridge's Kendall Square and indicate that housing for young professionals needs to be part of the equation.

EASTHAMPTON --- With tax credits and other public subsidies now in hand, Arch Street Development has purchased a former dye works building and next month will begin transforming the three-story brick building into 50 affordable rental apartments.

PITTSFIELD --- With an overnight cot shelter not operating this winter, a local non-profit is trying a different approach to providing affordable homes by turning homes into shared living spaces with monthly rents no higher than $350 per month. Berkshire Community Organizing for Acton has turned one donated house into homes for eight people and is now talking with the owners of three adjacent homes about doing the same thing.