Housing Headlines

HARWICH --- The Harwich housing trust took a key step recently, purchasing 13 acres from the Marceline Family Trust for $800,000. Known as "Jimmy Marceline's cow yard," there are no plans on exactly what will be built yet, but the spirit of the transaction indicates the land will be used for affordable housing. “Jimmy (Marceline) and I knew each other and I knew how he felt about affordable housing," said Donald Howell, chairman of the town's housing trust. "It’s a wonderful conclusion to have something I know Jimmy would be proud of doing.”

WINCHESTER --- The town's attempt to convey a parking lot to a developer who would build mixed-income apartments next to the downtown MBTA station took a step back on June 22 as Town Meeting voters denied selectmen permission to sell the land by a vote of 2681 opposed versus 2614 in favor. The vote rescinds a May vote in which residents gave permission to the selectmen to negotiate a sale to Civico Development.

CHATHAM --- Concerned about becoming an enclave for wealth second home owners due to the lack of affordable housing, Chatham Town Meeting voted to buy 2.5 acres for housing, put $1 million in local funds into the town's housing trust and authorized the select board to file legislation so the town can tax home sales over $2 million.

SWAMPSCOTT --- Taking to heart the sometimes heated concerns from residents, WinnDevelopment presented a modified plan for its mixed-income transit-oriented development at a commercial site at 21 Elm Place, which is a four-minute walk from the commuter rail. The developer's new plan cuts the number of apartments from 128 to 120, increases parking from 109 to 120 spaces and reduces the height of the project. Neighbors greeted the changes with a mix of concerns and grudging approval. “I’m glad to see it’s not horrifically ugly anymore,” said one resident.

CAPE COD --- During a regional panel discussion on the Cape's housing situation, state Senator Julian Cyr said the pandemic has exacerbated the Cape's affordable housing situation where it's now "a near-existential crisis." Cyr called upon local officials to address a problem that is hurting people and the economy. “It's really incumbent upon local officials to recognize our own agency in solving this problem,” Cyr said. “(If not) we will not have sustainable year-round communities."

WELLFLEET --- The town's 20-year quest to use a tax delinquent site to build affordable housing may finally be nearing the end as court records indicate that the town has settled with three abutters who have been holding up the project over concerns about driveway slope, water runoff and potential well contamination. The settlement paves the way for Community Housing Resources to build eight units on the property.