Housing Headlines

NORWELL --- Selectmen are considering sending a letter to Gov. Deval Patrick outlining their opposition to the state's affordable housing law after the town's zoning board of appeals OK'd a Ch. 40B permit for a 126-unit project on 17.5 acres known as Simon Hill.

CENTERVILLE --- Lack of interest in applying to buy an affordable home built by Habitat for Humanity has Cape Cod housing advocates wondering whether there's a stronger need for rental or if better outreach is needed to make more people aware of these homeownership opportunities.

BROOKLINE --- Brookline officials and residents are concerned that the proposed 192-unit expansion of Hancock Village will add sigfnicant amounts of school children and impact how stormwater drains into adjoining neighborhoods. Chestnut Hill Realty has proposed to build 28 four-bedroom apartments, 28 three-bedroom apartments, 70 two-bedroom apartments and 56 one-bedroom apartments.

BOSTON --- Governor Deval Patrick today announced over $73 million in affordable housing resources and tax credits for projects in 17 communities across the state. The $73.6 million investments includes over $14.8 million in federal low-income housing tax credits, $7.8 million in state low-income housing tax credits and $5.1 million in state and federal housing program subsidies. Of the 1,145 units preserved or created, 1,084 will be affordable to low- and moderate-income households, with 228 units reserved for extremely low-income families, including those making the transition from homelessness.

BOSTON --- As part of the federal government's goal to end homelessness among veterans by the end of 2015, the City of Boston's Department of Neighborhood Development is aiming to house 100 veterans in 100 days, in partnership with the New England Center for Homeless Veterans, the Pine Street Inn and HomeStart.

DORCHESTER --- The $56 million renovation of nine public housing buildings and the construction of two new public housing buildings is at the centerpiece of a $100 million effort to revitalize the Quincy Street Corridor, an artery between Blue Hill Ave. and Columbia Road. A collaborative effort involvling Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corp., Quincy Geneva Development Corp., United Housing Management, Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative and Project RIGHT, investments will go toward rehabilitating existing housing, creating 129 new affordable units and the creating a $14.5 million Pearl Small Business Food Production Center, a shared, multi-tenant food production facility.