Housing Headlines

BERLIN --- Developers recently celebrated the ground-breaking ceremony for a new elderly housing complex on Pleasant Street. The project, sponsored by Montachusett Home Care Corporation (MHCC) and Berlin Retirement Homes, will add 40 units of housing for seniors earning no more than 50 percent of the area median income (AMI) which in Berlin equates to $35,950 for a single person and $41,100 for a couple. Developers expect the project to be completed by next spring.

LOWELL --- An editorial in the Lowell Sun has urged the towns of Shirley, Ayer and Harvard to OK a 246-unit housing proposal for the former Fort Devens base, saying it will add badly needed affordable housing and help boost economic growth.

WENHAM --- The town is weighing whether to pass a zoning bylaw that would clear the way for the former Penguin Hall estate to be redeveloped into 238 units of independent living units for seniors. One key issue for the town is making sure the project garners a suitable amount of affordable units, either in the project or built by the developers at another location. Penguin Hall, the former headquarters of Mullin Advertising, is owned by ad company founder Jim Mullin, who is trying to develop the property in partnership with Wise Living.

SOUTHBOROUGH --- Developer Robert Moss recently proposed an affordable housing complex to the local Zoning Board of Appeals. The 140-unit complex, called Madison Place, will feature 86 one-bedroom units and 54 two-bedroom units with a third of units designated as affordable. The next town meeting to discuss the proposed project will take place on March 29.

WORCESTER --- A New Hampshire based developer recently won approval from the Planning Board to redevelop the former Junction Shop mill complex into apartment units. Built between 1870 and 1878, the complex is one of the few remaining structures in what was the Junction Shops Manufacturing District. The developer plans to convert the four building that make up the complex into 181 loft-style apartments. "Some of us had trepidations about the previous plans because some demolition was involved," said planning board member Satya Mitra. "This is certainly an improvement when it comes to the preservation and maintenance of all these structures."

EASTON --- Some members of the town's Community Preservation Act Committee are wondering whether the town is spending too much of its CPA funds on housing. The concerns were voiced after the town's trust requested $520,000 to support homeownership assistance and home repair programs.