Housing Headlines

FRAMINGHAM --- The town recently completed renovations on three homes and are inviting the public to enter lotteries to purchase these properties. Two three-bedroom homes, with prices ranging from $217,000 to $225,000, are included in the lottery as well as one condominium unit, available for $75,000. A public information session is scheduled for Sept. 7 at 7 p.m. in the Memorial Building's Blumer Room and all applications are due by September 29.

SPRINGFIELD --- WinnDevelopment recently completed a $21 million redevelopment of the former Longhill Gardens condominium development into a new affordable rental project. The project, now called Forest Park, contains 112 units with 80 percent of units affordable to families earning up to 60 percent of the area median income ($40,000 per year).

FALL RIVER --- After pulling back $1.5 million in federal HOME funds and demanding that the YMCA pay back a $262,000 city loan, Mayor Will Flanagan now says he's willing to forgive the city loan and refund the $30,000 building permit fee the Y paid to rehabilitate its top two floors into 42 units of affordable rental housing. Flanagan said the project's 11 units for Section 8 tenants making less than $15,000 was a "deal killer" for him as he wants to decrease "low-income housing" downtown. "I put the ball back in their court," said Flanagan, referring to his objection over the Section 8 part of the project.

WEYMOUTH --- State and local leaders gathered yesterday to celebrate the beginning of the redevelopment of the 1500-acre South Weymouth Naval Air Station. Stalled during the economic crisis, the first phase calls for the construction of 500 homes, with with another 2,300 homes, 2 million square feet of stores, and offices, film studios, and a golf course to come later. The project has been bolstered by $45 million in state funds, which were used to build a 3.5 mile parkway through the project.

With the fate of the state's affordable housing law (40B) now in the hands of the voters, developers on the South Shore are trying to get their projects started so as to avoid having their permits revoked if the law is repealed in November.

LAWRENCE --- In coordination with the city and state, Lawrence Community Works is taking steps to stabilize neighborhoods by purchasing distressed properties in areas hard-hit by foreclosure and turning them into stable rental properties.