Housing Headlines

BOSTON --- Housing authorities could lose their state subsidies for apartments that are unoccupied for more than 60 days or have their reserve accounts frozen by the Department of Housing and Community Development under a new policy that goes into effect Jan. 1.

SALISBURY --- The Salisbury Affordable Housing Trust is considering turning the former 12-room Spalding School into affordable housing and recently heard development proposals from four groups - North Shore Community Development Corporation, Harborlight Community Partners of Beverly, the Newburyport YWCA and a partnership of Caruso McGovern Construction and the Salisbury Housing Authority. Propoals ranged from 12 to 40 units for the 15,000-square foot building, which is nearly 100 years old.

DORCHESTER --- At its recent annual meeting, the Massachusetts Affordable Housing Alliance honored former state deputy banking commissioner Thomas Curry for his role in making sure that the state's banks offer services and locate branches and ATMs lower-income neighborhoods

MILTON --- Residents of Fuller Village - a 319-unit senior village on 60 acres - joined other concerned neighbors, town leaders and Sen. Brian Joyce to voice their opposition to a plan by Mill Creek developers to build 300 units on 22 acres across the street. Joyce, who is president of the Fuller Village board, moderated the event. He explained the Ch. 40B law and said while he disapproves of this proposal, he supports the 40B law in general and says the town hasn't done enough to gain more control of how to handle 40B proposals.

WILLIAMSTOWN --- In the wake of a movement by some residents to remain at the flood-ravaged Spurces mobile home park, Town Manager Peter Fohlin met with tenants to ask for their collaboration on a town plan "to re-create the Spruces community" to pre-Tropical Storm Irene conditions on a nearby 30-acre site known as the Lowry property. Fohlin told residents that the town's plan, centered on its application for a $6.25 million Federal Emergency Manage ment Agency (FEMA) grant, was "worth fighting [for]," and that FEMA sees it as an opportunity "to really do some good here" by helping to fund low-cost cottage-style homes on the Lowry property.

DENNIS --- With a study saying year-round rental costs are up 32 percent and the town manager saying many families in Dennis may have to move because of soaring housing costs, the town has passed a bylaw permitting its Affordable Housing Trust greater powers to spend money without needing town meeting approval.