Housing Headlines

BOSTON --- In response to a 2010 state law mandating that each administration develop and publish an economic development strategic plan, the Patrick Administration has released its plan for growing the state's economy through strategic investments investments in education, innovation and infrastructure. The full report can be found at: http://www.mass.gov/hed/docs/eohed/economicdevpolicystrategy.pdf

WORCESTER --- Despite data showing that rental apartment vacancy rates for Worcester have dropped from 6 percent to 3.8 percent in the last four years, housing developers say they are facing stiff resistance from towns when trying to gain approvals to build multi-family housing.

GROTON --- Rather than risk the possibility of a Ch. 40B proposal that could result in more units, the Groton Planning Board has approved private developer Robert France's plan to build 15 market-rate and three affordable townhouse-style homeownership units on a site within the town center's designated special overlay district. Known as Boynton Meadows, the town is also supporting the project with a $412,000 loan from its affordable housing trust.

BOSTON --- Two nonprofit housing organizations - Madison Park CDC and Nuestra Comunidad - are among four developers who are publicly airing plans to develop vacant parcels along Melnea Cass Boulevard, the major artery that cuts through Boston's South End and Lower Roxbury neighborhoods.

LOWELL --- Hoping to gain more control over unwanted Ch. 40B housing developments, the town's affordable housing committee has drafted a 100-page plan that calls for the production of 69 units of affordable housing per year. If the town can develop at this pace for six years, it would boost its percentage of affordable housing to above 10 percent (from 995 to 1,374 units) and would gain more control over 40B developments.

CANTON --- After seven years of legal challenges that also resulted in a change of developers, the so-called Roseland 40B development is set to move forward, with Avalon Bay preparing to build 196 units of rental housing.