Housing Headlines

BOSTON --- The BRA recently approved the $11 million renovation and new construction of the Whittier School Apartments in Codman Square. The project will consist of the renovation of 14 units of existing affordable housing and the new construction of 15 units. The project is set to begin in December 2013 and construction is expected to last a year.

BOLTON --- Voters at the Nov. 7 special town meeting will be asked to approve the expenditure of $125,000 from the town's local housing trust to help purchase and clean up the Smith Property, which is located in the town center. Voters will also be asked to OK to changes to the town's inclusionary zoning law.

FALL RIVER --- Now that the renovation of the 131-unit Pleasant View public housing is complete, housing authority officials will be able to move nine families from the Corky Row project into new units at Pleasant View and begin the process of tearing Corky Row down.

NEW BEDFORD --- Gov. Deval Patrick was in New Bedford recently to celebrate two housing events --- Preservation of Affordable Housing rehabilation of the 173-unit United Front Homes (now known as Temple Landing) and the beginning of construction on the Cliftex Mill, which will be turned into7 6 low-income and market-rate housing units for people 55 and older.

SUDBURY --- Around 60 residents packed the hearing room in Lower Town Hall recently to hear the Zoning Board of Appeal's consultant advice on how the town should proceed in considering a comprehensive permit (40B) application by Avalon Bay to build 120 apartments.

VINEYARD HAVEN --- The nonprofit Island Housing Trust has been able to break ground on a six-unit affordable homeownership effort thanks in part to the town's approval of a Chapter 40B comprehensive permit and $380,000 in Community Preservation Act funds. Accoring tto IHT's Philip Jordi, Wentworth Way will be built in two phases, with two duplexes expected to be done and sold by next spring to income-qualified households earning 80 percent and 100 percent of the average median income (AMI).