Housing Headlines

In an effort to spark economic development in the state's so-called Gateway Cities, the Patrick Administration is putting the final touches on the Housing Development Incentive Program, a tax credit program designed to support the development of market-rate housing.

UXBRIDGE --- The Uxbridge Housing Associates (UHA) recently presented a plan to selectmen to convert the historic Virginia A. Blanchard school building into affordable housing units. The preliminary plans include 21 apartments, 14 two-bedroom units and seven one-bedroom units. All units will be affordable with the hopes that local families and veterans would live in the units. If UHA was awarded the contract to develop the site they would seek state and federal funding in the fall.

HOLYOKE --- The Holyoke Housing Authority will seek approval from the federal government to demolish the Lyman Terrace public housing complex, explaining that it would cost $24 million to renovatae the project. The 167-unit development is home to 400 resdients. After demolition, the authority said it would like to issue an RFP and have a developer build new affordable housing on the property.

EDGARTOWN --- Edgartown selectmen have voted to authorize an additional $3,000 to subsidize rents at the Morgan Woods affordable housing development in the current fiscal year. The money, which will come from the town's Affordable Housing Trust, is needed because rents for the market-rate units in the project have fallen below what was originally projected.

SUDBURY --- Following reported working sessions with town officials, Robert Moss of Moss Development has downsized his Ch. 40B proposal to develop the Johnson Farm property, scaling back the project from 120 to 64 units. The new plan drew some positive reactions from the Zoning Board of Appeals but was viewed as still too big by residents attending a public meeting.

DEVENS --- After voters in Ayer and Harvard voted against Trinity Financial's plans to build 246 units, followers of the various attempts to redevelop the army base say it will never happen as long as development plans require approval of all three towns abutting the base.